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Fiona Porter, Senior Site Administrator at AngloGold Ashanti Australia’s Tropicana goldmine, has taken part in WIMWA’s current awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of the FIFO lifestyle, because she admits to loving the flexibility it provides.

And she says since starting a fly-in fly-out job with AngloGold Ashanti Australia five years ago, she’s never looked back.

Married with two children, Fiona explains the move to FIFO work has been extremely beneficial in providing her quality time with her children, and she’s encouraged other mothers not to dismiss similar opportunities in the mining industry.

Currently working an eight day on and six day off roster in her role with Tropicana Gold Mine’s Business Support Services, Fiona first started out in exploration.

“For me going to FIFO meant I could have quality time with my children and you can guarantee with the eight and six roster that you’re going to get at least one week of the school holidays at home with them,” she said.

“I was able to go off and do things with the kids and attend sport days whereas when I worked in Perth, when I did get time off, it was usually very hectic.

“For instance, you would get home from work in the evenings and would then be rushed, with limited time, trying to get dinner and household chores done.”

Now with her 15 year-old son Payden playing for the Perth rugby team, sports continue to be a high priority for the Porter household, only now Fiona has more time to attend matches and watch his abilities grow. Meanwhile, her 18 year-old daughter Tianawa has also gone down the FIFO path and is also working at Tropicana.

“I really enjoy the FIFO lifestyle, in fact I’ve never looked back and would definitely recommend it to others,” she adds.

Women in Mining WA (WIMWA) was founded in 2003 to support women working in the largely male-dominated mining and resources sector.

The other side of FIFO is the organisation’s current awareness campaign which aims to foster a more balanced view of the industry’s Fly in Fly out lifestyle by giving voice to the individuals, both males and females, working in the sector.

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