Neil Noble
Managing Director | Emergency Services Australia
The mining industry is notoriously difficult to get into unless you know the right steps to take, & qualifications to obtain, & then find the right company to get you in the door. Most mining companies want experience first, & this is where the greatest challenge lies for new applicants to the industry.
Let's get right into it: Here is my list of what you need to enter FIFO Emergency Services in the mining industry.
#1 - Get the qualifications first
Don't flounder around looking for scholarship programs & grants unless you absolutely have to. Some sites take on apprentices but these are few & far between & very competitive. Here are the basic qualifications that you will need & the approximate costs:
Certificate IV Healthcare (Ambulance) (HLT41120), or equivalent - yes your Diploma of Paramedical Science/Diploma of Healthcare or Bachelor of Paramedicine degree is more than sufficient. If you don't have your Certificate IV then there are many RTO's across Australia who can assist. We have worked with Head Health Education before & they have been excellent. Course cost approximately $6000 & can be completed in 3 months if you're dedicated.
Certificate III Emergency Response and Rescue (RII30719), or equivalent. Again there are RTO's across Australia who provide this program. Be careful who you choose though as the cheaper options generally offer the cheaper competencies. Choose a course provider that includes at a minimum:
Open Circuit Breathing Apparatus
Fire Fighting Operations
Vertical Rescue
Road Crash Rescue
HAZMAT
Confined Space Rescue
Course cost approximately $5000 & can be completed in 3 weeks.
Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing (HLTPAT005). This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to confirm collection requirements, prepare client and equipment and collect specimens via urine and/or oral and breath testing following the special procedures that apply for drugs of abuse testing. Course cost between $500-$750 depending on where you go, can be completed in a week.
Current MR/HR Drivers License - manual. You need to be able to drive a fire truck
National Police Clearance (Valid 12 Months). This is mandatory across all sites. You can apply online & provide your details & their normal turnaround is 24-48 hours. Cost between $55-$80
So all up, starting from scratch you're looking at <$12,000 in education to land a job with a minimum starting salary of $130,000 a year in the mining industry. That's not a bad start.
#2 - Experience counts
I cannot state this enough. Mining companies pay top dollar for the right people & sadly some companies are happy to just tick the qualification boxes & put a bum in a seat. These people do not last long - the employees or the company.
What the mining companies are really after is someone who is experienced enough to step up & look after their people & their assets when all other risk mitigation measures have failed & the !@#! is hitting the fan. So scraping through an RTO course with the help of ChatGPT alone isnt helpful. When things go wrong in mining it is seldom insignificant - be it medical or rescue.
If you have previous experience in a state service - police, fire, ambulance, SES or health then you are immediately raised to the top of the pile. For those university paramedic graduates, your state service placement hours are highly regarded.
Experience in most cases also means more dollars for you. Companies are prepared to pay up to an extra $20/h for people with >3-5 years industry experience.
"What the mining companies are really after is someone who is knowledgeable & experienced enough to step up & look after their people & their assets when all other risk mitigation measures have failed & the !@#! is hitting the fan."
#3 - What does the job advert say?
Each site across the country is different. Some want ESO's only, some want paramedics/nurses only, some (most) want a combination of both to make it a MESO (Medical Emergency Services Officer) role.
If the advert says that you need a Certificate III Emergency Response & Rescue & you do not have this, please do not apply. You will not make the merit pool on the first round. Believe me there are so many people looking for work in this industry that, unless you meet the minimum requirements, please do not waste your time.
Also list qualifications that you have that match what they want in dot point format early in your cover letter/resume. I read on average 30 resumes per week & when you start with flowery paragraphs of how you're a kombucha drinking team player who wants to save the world etc etc I put that resume aside & move to the next one that lists how they match the job requirements succinctly. With the volumes of applicants we do not want to go searching through your resume to see if you have everything that we are after.
Less is more.
#4 - What kind of salary can I earn?
This depends on where you go & who you work for. Most of the mining industry is in WA & the going rate there, for casual contractor staff, is no less than $60/h which equates to ~$130,000 per year + 11% superannuation. Please note that this is the rate for a casual contractor so includes the 25% leave loading & is the total remuneration amount. The catch with casual contractor is that you are only paid for hours worked. If you book off sick etc then you lose money. The up side of this is that if you decide you don't want to work Christmas etc you don't have to.
There are also full time employment options working for the mining companies themselves which can pay higher & include leave entitlements, professional development, share options & bonuses. The average wage for a full time MESO/ESO (it varies by state) is in the region of $140,000 per year.
#5 - So what are you waiting for?
Do not hold back here. Where else can you earn $130,000 a year with an educational outlay of about $12,000, without a degree, working only 6 months of the year? Unlike the state ambulance services there are literally thousands of jobs in the mining industry & there is the opportunity to expand once you're in, into roles like Occupational Health & Safety, Training etc. There is so much opportunity.
Do not sit around waiting for a state ambulance service job - broaden your horizons!
If the mining industry is not your scene and you are after the fun, excitement and adventure, whilst being highly paid then I strongly urge you to broaden your horizons. We have just had our first cohort of paramedics arrive in San Diego USA with Australia EMS. Head over to their website to see how you can live & work in the USA as a Paramedic. All expenses paid & free education. They are so keen for Australian Paramedics as there is a national shortage in the USA. https://www.australiaems.com.au/usa-recruitment-home