FIFO tragedy: ‘They hate themselves and the world’

Everyday thousands of Australians fly in and out of remote mining sites to work in one of the nations most profitable industries. But workers say punishing rosters and long periods away from home are taking a toll with a growing number of FIFO workers taking their own lives. Tune in to The Feed on Tuesday 14 April at 7.30pm on SBS2.

FIFO camps can feel terribly lonely for some workers. Source: SBS

FROM the outside, the FIFO life looks tempting.

You earn big bucks fast, and get weeks off at a time to spend with your family.

You get to socialise with colleagues after a long day, and your food and accommodation are paid for by rich mining companies.

But the high-pressure job is taking a terrible toll on Australia's thousands of fly-in fly-out workers. Separated from their families, many struggle with depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse. For a large number, suicide seems to be the only way out.

The suicide rate is high, but no one knows the exact figures. Source: SBS

"I've had some bloody horrible thoughts go through my head," FIFO worker Simon* tells SBS2's The Feed in a special report to air tonight. "People on the ground have been basically saying that something's not right for years and years.

"You can always tell the people who have been out there too long, because their social skills are gone, they just basically hate themselves and the world in general."

In Western Australia, at least nine FIFO workers committed suicide in less than a year, but the exact numbers are not recorded, especially because some take their lives when back at home.

The challenges of the job are manifold. Workers spend weeks away from their families, working 12-hour days at a remote camp. When they get a week off, they can spend two days travelling home, and only have five days with their loved ones.

FIFO worker Luke Baker said many rooms are not much more than a prison cell, and the life could have an emotional toll. "You have these sinking, lonely feelings," he told news.com.au. "You feel isolated and alone.

"Men in general feel intimidated to talk about these things ... Generally speaking, I don't hear a lot of guys talk about how lonely they feel."

Many workers only see their families for five days a month. Source: SBS

A recent survey showed that many experience break-ups in their relationships or marriages, with their job putting added pressure on partners left at home with young children.

The Feed journalist Joel Tozer told news.com.au that many workers reported a detrimental effect on their mental health and alcohol was a big problem in many camps. "Even at camps with strict alcohol rules you can get it easily," he said.

Few want to confess to having difficulties. "It's a very macho culture," he added. "Men are afraid to put up their hand and say they are struggling.

"Workers are reluctant to use counsellors. The counsellors we spoke to said that often supervisors don't know how to deal with it and say it would be easier if they weren't working there."

Most workers know there are people queuing up to take their highly desirable jobs. They are trapped in "golden handcuffs", perhaps only having intended to take the job for a few years to pay off the mortgage, and now stuck in debt from buying assets.

"People are too scared to put their hands up and basically say, 'Oh listen, I'm having a hard time this week, I need a week off' because they are scared of job loss, simple as that," the father of a worker who took his own life tells The Feed in the program.

Counsellors say men are reluctant to discuss mental health problems because of a macho culture. Source: SBS

Lynette*, a paramedic at a FIFO camp in Queensland, treated many workers with mental health problems and saw several suicides.

"I want people to know that it is not all it is cracked up to be," she says of the job. "It is not for everybody and you make a lot of sacrifices for companies that don't really care about you."

She said mining companies would pressure employees to go back to work while injured.

A father killed himself just days after speaking to support group This Fifo Life about how his young son didn't recognise him.

Another man was found hanging on his door just 15 minutes after he was last seen by his colleagues. Afterwards, the mining company didn't want to talk about it. It could affect their reputation, and make people less willing to invest in them.

Both BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto refused to speak to the program.

Mining companies do not want to discuss suicides. Source: SBS

In the past, companies would set up communities and families would live there, with partners working in local hospitals, for example. But mining giants are taxed less on FIFO workers, so these days they set up dedicated camps, forcing jobless residents to move away, leaving ghost towns behind.

"It's the ideal work practice for a capitalist mining company," said former independent MP Tony Windsor, who produced a government report into the issue two years ago. "Traditionally dealing with mining communities, mining families, mining unions: all that's just been thrown into the toilet."

Mr Windsor recommended 12 major changes to save rural communities and stop the growing problem of suicide. Nothing has been done.

"MPs say it was written when the industry was booming and it's no longer relevant," said Joel. "He says it's more relevant than ever.

"As the mining boom declines, this is only going to get worse."

Anyone with personal struggles is urged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Lost Miners — the tragic toll of FIFO workairs on The Feed tonight at 7.30pm on SBS2.

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