FIFO Mining Shutdowns: What They Are & How to Get on One

If you've been applying for FIFO jobs, you've probably seen the word "shutdown" (or "turnaround" or "TAR") in job ads - and it's one of the best entry doors into the industry.

Shutdowns are intense, short-term projects that hire in bulk, pay well, and don't always require years of experience. Here's what they are, what the work is like, and how to get on one.

What Is a Mining Shutdown?

A shutdown is a planned period when part or all of a processing plant stops operating so crews can complete maintenance, repairs and upgrades that can't happen while the plant is running.

Think of it like servicing a car - except the car is a giant processing plant worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and the "service" happens over days or weeks:

• Planned shutdowns happen on a schedule (often yearly) and are booked out months in advance
• Major turnarounds run every few years and involve hundreds or even thousands of extra workers
• Unplanned outages happen when something breaks - less common for hiring, but they create urgent short-term roles

Because production stops during a shutdown, the pressure is enormous: work around the clock, hit the deadline, get the plant running again. That pressure is exactly why the pay is good and why they hire lots of people fast.

What the Work Is Like

• Shifts are long: 12-hour days or nights, sometimes 7 days a week for the duration of the shutdown
• Swings are longer than usual: shutdown rosters can run 2-3+ weeks straight, often with no days off until the work is done
• It's project work: when the shutdown ends, so does the job. That's the trade-off for the rates
• It's physical: scaffolding, insulation, confined spaces, working at heights - shutdowns are where a lot of the tough jobs live

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Common Shutdown Roles

Shutdowns hire across every trade and plenty of unskilled/semi-skilled roles:

• Trades & qualified: mechanics/fitters, boilermakers, electricians, riggers, scaffolders, crane operators
• Semi-skilled: trades assistants (TAs), trades labourers, blasters and painters, insulation installers
• Support roles: spotters, fire watch/hole watch, cleaners, drivers, camp services

Many people break into mining as a shutdown trades assistant or labourer, prove themselves for a couple of projects, then convert into permanent roles or upskill into a trade.

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Shutdown Pay: What to Expect

Shutdown rates are usually higher than equivalent permanent roles - often a base hourly rate plus overtime (and there's plenty of overtime on a 12-hour, 7-day swing). The exact numbers vary by role, site and agency, but the combination of long hours and penalty rates is why workers talk about shutdowns as "savings sprints".

Two honest caveats: the work ends when the shutdown ends, and you'll need your own tickets and PPE for most roles (some agencies provide them).

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How to Get on a Shutdown

1. Get your base tickets first. A White Card plus (for many TA/labourer roles) tickets like Working at Heights, Confined Space and Gas Test make you far more employable. Some agencies train you if you're keen

2. Sign up with labour hire agencies. Shutdowns are staffed through agencies more than direct company ads - get on the books of several, and keep your resume short, relevant and current

3. Watch Seek and Facebook groups. Search "shutdown", "TA", "trades assistant" plus the state you're in. Shutdown hiring often happens weeks out, in waves

4. Be available. If a recruiter calls and you can start Monday, say yes. Availability is the currency of shutdown work

5. Nail the induction and safety basics. Show up clean, rested and switched on. Safety observations matter more than speed - shutdown sites are busy and risk-heavy

6. Do the first one well. Shutdowns run on referrals and rehires. If a supervisor trusts you, you'll be top of the list for the next project - and permanent roles often follow

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Is Shutdown Work Right for You?

It's a great fit if you want mining money fast, you're happy with project-based work, and you can handle long swings and physical days. It's a poor fit if you need a fixed routine or hate changing sites and crews every few weeks.

Plenty of FIFO careers started with one shutdown gig and a willingness to go back. If that sounds like you, get the tickets, get on agency books, and watch for the next wave.

More FIFO Guides

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• FIFO Mining Rosters Explained: 2/1, 8/6, Even Time & More
• FIFO Camp Life: What Mining Village Accommodation Is Really Like
• FIFO vs Residential Mining: Which Career Is Right for You?
• 6 Types of FIFO Mining Jobs