Support and counselling for remote FIFO workers
These are the boots of someone who works in the mining industry and while many think, it’s the ideal job for making a lot of money, and it is, but there is also a dark side.
The media has made no secret about the psychological effects of working in this kind of industry, so I am not going to throw statistics at you. Rather I am going to write about my own personal experience as an ex-FIFO worker - Health and Fitness Coordinator. My personal struggles and the many stories that I heard while being in this role.
Being away from family and friends creates an isolation that no one understands until they experience it. You have this idea of what it would be like, but until you live it, you really have no idea, I certainly didn’t. In fact, I had romanticised the whole concept, go away, it’s only two weeks after all, make some good money, come back home and go do it all again. Boy was I wrong!
I worked FIFO for 6 years, granted for the most part as a casual, but it still took its toll. What I found the most interesting was the psychological effects that came with the job. Although, subtle to begin with, they eventually make themselves much known. I believe it’s my - self awareness and experience as a counsellor, which made me identify these, signs, albeit subtle. The first was being 3 months on the job and going straight to my room instead of socialising with my co-workers. I am a social person by nature, so this should’ve been obvious from the beginning; I just thought it was because I was new. It took a friend to convince to go to the mess i.e. the pub, and I did. Moving forward, socialising with co-workers became the norm, the problem was when I returned home. I was losing the ability to communicate with friends, not talking as much, rather staying quiet, which for anyone that knows me is quite the phenomenon. As these signs became more and more evident, I needed to make a change, and the change came whether I wanted it or not, be careful what you wish for, long story short I went from permanent to casual and then back to permanent. Thankfully working a 1/2 for a couple of years and then leaving the industry all together at the end of last year.
However, some don’t always have a choice! Although, they have this discussion with their partners, loved ones that it’s only going to be for a short time, 6 months, 2 years, sometimes it turns into longer. Clearly not by choice, but rather by circumstance, family member gets sick, unexpected bills, purchases etc, and this is where the problems begin to occur.
Through these 6 years I heard many stories from people who initially came to see me for a gym induction, leaving hours after, having told me about their struggles. In fact, I can’t be 100% sure, but I do believe I saved someone from suicide, having caught his wife having an affair with his best friend. What the most surprising and not surprising thing from listening to all these stories was they mostly came from men, I’m talking at least 95%. Surprising, because men don’t usually talk about their feelings and not surprising, because while they were aware working their wives, partners, girlfriends were home looking after their family. And while this doesn’t only apply to men, the numbers didn’t lie. And while I was privileged and honoured to hear their stories, it’s quite an epidemic, which is being ignored, especially in the industry itself.
Therefore, given my experience in the mining industry, and experience as a psychotherapist, counsellor and personal trainer, I can help you. If you live in Melbourne, you will be offered a variety of therapies, if you live outside of Melbourne, you can talk to me via Video chat.
For the further details please contact Vickie Simos at Thelo Active therapy.