FIFO 101: What FIFO Actually Means

FIFO stands for fly-in, fly-out. It is a working arrangement used to bring employees and contractors to remote workplaces without requiring them to permanently relocate.

In Western Australia, FIFO is closely associated with mining, maintenance, construction, oil and gas, and shutdown work. A worker travels to site, stays in accommodation provided for the duration of their roster, completes their scheduled shifts and then returns home for a period of rest.

That sounds simple, but FIFO affects much more than transport.

It determines how you work, sleep, eat, communicate with home and organise your life. It also affects how employers manage recruitment, mobilisation, fatigue, accommodation and workforce availability.

Understanding that system is the first step towards deciding whether FIFO is right for you.

FIFO Is a Work Arrangement, Not a Job

FIFO is often described as though it were a profession. It is not.

A mechanical fitter, boilermaker, electrician, operator, rigger, scaffolder, cleaner, chef, nurse, engineer or planner may all work FIFO. The actual job depends on the worker’s trade, qualifications and experience.

FIFO simply describes how the worker gets to the workplace and how their time is organised.

For example, you could be:

• a permanent employee working the same FIFO roster throughout the year;
• a casual worker mobilised for individual shutdowns;
• a contractor moving between different sites;
• or a project worker engaged for a fixed construction period.

Two people may both say they “work FIFO” while having completely different jobs, pay structures, employers and rosters.

What Is a FIFO Swing?

A swing is the complete period you spend working away from home.

A roster written as 8/6 generally means eight days working followed by six days off. A 2/1 roster usually means two weeks on site followed by one week off.

Other roster patterns may include:

• 7 days on and 7 days off;
• 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off;
• 9 days on and 5 days off;
• or shorter, irregular rosters for shutdown work.

There is no single standard FIFO roster. It depends on the employer, project, occupation, site and whether the position is permanent, casual or shutdown-based.

Before accepting any role, make sure you understand:

• how many days or weeks you will be away;
• whether you will work day shift, night shift or both;
• how long each shift is;
• where the flight or transport departs from;
• whether travel days fall inside or outside the roster;
• and how much recovery time you will have between swings.

The roster advertised in the job description should never be treated as a minor detail. It will shape your income, family life, recovery and overall experience of the role.

What Happens During a FIFO Swing?

The exact process varies between employers and sites, but a typical swing may look like this:

1. Mobilisation

Before travelling, the employer or recruitment agency confirms that you have completed the required mobilisation steps.

These may include:

• identity and right-to-work checks;
• a pre-employment medical;
• drug and alcohol screening;
• site or company inductions;
• licences and competency checks;
• travel information;
• and confirmation of your availability.

Missing or expired information can delay mobilisation, even when you have already been offered the job.

2. Travel to Site

Many WA FIFO roles depart from Perth, but this is not automatic.

Always check the stated point of hire. A position advertised as “FIFO ex Perth” may require you to make your own way to Perth before the employer-provided travel begins.

Depending on the site, workers may travel by charter flight, commercial flight, bus or a combination of transport methods. After landing, there may still be a bus trip between the airport, camp and workplace.

3. Arrival and Induction

New starters normally complete a site induction before beginning work.

The induction introduces site rules, emergency procedures, restricted areas, communication protocols, hazards and expected behaviour. Even experienced mining workers must complete the relevant induction when entering a new operation.

Do not treat this as paperwork to rush through. Every site is different.

4. The Work Cycle

Once the swing begins, the daily routine is usually structured.

A typical day may include:

• waking and preparing for shift;
• breakfast at camp;
• transport to the work area;
• a pre-start meeting;
• task planning and risk assessments;
• a long shift with scheduled crib breaks;
• transport back to camp;
• dinner, personal time and sleep;
• then the same process again the next day.

The rhythm can feel repetitive, but that structure is part of how remote operations manage large workforces safely.

5. Demobilisation and R&R

At the end of the swing, workers travel home for their break, often called R&R, meaning rest and recreation.

Time off is not only an opportunity to socialise or complete jobs around the house. It is also recovery time.

Long shifts, travel, heat, physical work and disrupted sleep can build fatigue across a swing. Workers need enough rest to return safely and perform consistently.

FIFO, DIDO, Residential and Shutdown Work

These terms are related, but they do not mean the same thing.

Arrangement	What it means
FIFO	You fly to a remote work location, stay for the roster and fly home afterwards.
DIDO	You drive to the work location instead of flying.
BIBO	Workers are transported to and from site by bus.
Residential	You live permanently in or near the regional community where you work.
Shutdown work	You join a planned period of intensive maintenance while plant or equipment is taken offline. The role may be FIFO, DIDO or locally based.

A shutdown worker may complete several short mobilisations across different sites rather than following one permanent roster.

This makes availability particularly important. A shutdown opportunity can move quickly, and agencies need to know who is qualified, reachable and genuinely free to work.

What FIFO Life Is Really Like

FIFO can offer attractive opportunities, but it is not a paid holiday in the Pilbara.

Workers may need to manage:

• long shifts and early starts;
• night work;
• high temperatures and remote conditions;
• strict safety and camp rules;
• repetitive routines;
• time away from partners, children and friends;
• limited privacy;
• and the adjustment between site life and home life.

Some people enjoy having blocks of time off and a clear separation between work and home. Others struggle with the time away, fatigue or loss of routine.

Neither reaction makes someone stronger or weaker. FIFO is simply better suited to some lifestyles than others.

Before pursuing it, ask yourself honestly:

• Can I handle being away from home for the full swing?
• Can my family or relationship manage the roster?
• Am I comfortable following strict procedures?
• Can I maintain good habits when tired?
• Can I work safely with the same crew for long shifts?
• Will I use my time off well, or spend the entire break recovering?

The salary may attract you to FIFO, but the lifestyle determines whether you stay.

What Employers and Recruiters Look For

Experience matters, but being experienced is not enough if nobody can quickly understand your work history or confirm that you are ready.

Recruiters and planners generally need clear answers to a few basic questions:

• What trade or role do you perform?
• What relevant experience do you have?
• Which licences and competencies are current?
• Where are you based?
• When are you available?
• Which rosters can you work?
• Have you worked on similar sites or shutdowns?
• Can you complete mobilisation on time?

A long CV does not always answer these questions clearly.

In shutdown recruitment, speed matters. When information is incomplete or scattered across emails, text messages and ticket screenshots, the worker becomes harder to qualify and mobilise.

A clear and current work profile reduces that friction.

How to Prepare for FIFO Work

You do not need to know everything before your first swing, but you do need to be organised.

Start with the essentials:

Keep Your Documents Current

Check expiry dates on licences, tickets and qualifications. Store readable digital copies and use clear filenames.

Know Your Availability

Do not tell several agencies you are available if you have already committed to another swing. Clear availability builds trust and prevents last-minute cancellations.

Understand the Role

Read the position description carefully. Confirm the roster, site, duties, pay structure, point of hire and mobilisation requirements.

Prepare for Site Life

Learn the basic language, understand what to pack and be ready for camp rules, inductions and long workdays.

Communicate Early

Tell the recruiter immediately if a document is missing, a ticket has expired or your availability changes. Problems become much harder to fix on the day of travel.

The Bottom Line

FIFO means travelling to a remote workplace, completing a roster and returning home for scheduled time off.

But successful FIFO work depends on more than getting on the plane.

It requires organisation, reliable communication, current information, safe work habits and a realistic understanding of the lifestyle.

The workers who stay ready before an opportunity appears are usually easier to assess, easier to mobilise and easier to place.

Stay Ready with WATAhub

Your work details should not be scattered across old emails, messages and screenshots.

WATAhub is designed to help shutdown and FIFO workers keep their professional profile, work history, tickets and availability organised in one place.

One profile. Less chasing. Be visible when you are available.