HGV Mechanic Or Driver in Western Australia's Mining Inds

[dai1983]

Hi,

I am 30 YO and currently working as a vehicle mechanic in the Armed Forces. I service and repair a wide range of vehicles from new Man trucks to older 4 Tonne Dafs but also Land Rover Defenders, diesel generators, quads, tankers and light tracked vehicles. I also love working on my own cars and my motorbike when I have the chance.

I realise that my working hours and pay compared to civilian mechanics is very good but I'm slowly beginning to realise that I want an even better lifestyle for my small family. A collegue was recently talking about "month on month off mechanics jobs at the mines for an £80k tax free salary". There was also the recent tv show where drivers were getting £100k plus jobs in Western Australia.

I guess I'm looking for anyone who has experience in this area and to answer a few questions such as:

What the real hours and salary of these jobs?
What are the working conditions like?
What additional qualifications would employers be looking for?

Thanks, dai

[Condi]

dai1983 said:

Hi,
What the real hours and salary of these jobs?
What are the working conditions like?
What additional qualifications would employers be looking for?

I'll answer as best I can.

4 on 4 off, 12 hour days 7 days a week?
Hot, dusty, lots of flies. Very basic rooms etc. It is a working environment and that is all.
Not sure, although the company will put you through the tickets required for mining if they think you are worth employing.

[Centurion07]

Not watched it myself but the title might be of interest to you:

Australia's mining jobs myth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUncMQLpl-c

There's plenty of others on YouTube if you search for "documentary australian mining".

[dai1983]

Condi said:

I'll answer as best I can.

4 on 4 off, 12 hour days 7 days a week?
Hot, dusty, lots of flies. Very basic rooms etc. It is a working environment and that is all.
Not sure, although the company will put you through the tickets required for mining if they think you are worth employing.

Thanks for the reply.

Is that 4 days on or 4 weeks?
Those conditions wouldn't really phase me as Ive probably worked in worse places.

Is your experience in driving or mechanics/fitting? I will have a look at that documentary when I have time but I guess everything has a downside. I know loads of people who have left to do Maritime Security on the promise of £300 a day but its not really worked that way.

[dai1983]

I finally had a look at a couple of clips online. I guess a lot of the people who have problems are those with no quals or those with the quals but no experience? I have a clean UK C+E licence, a two month old ADR Hazmat certificate and I drive class C vehicles on a daily basis. Ultimately though I would prefer to work as a fitter/mechanic to driving. I'd consider doing courses so I could work other types of machinery or vehicles such a plant for example.