An Irish expatriate has shared his remarkable story of earning a life-changing salary in under nine months after securing a fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) role on a Western Australian mine site.
Cal McIlwaine, 31, left his positions at Amazon and Aldi in Ireland to move to Australia on a working holiday visa, with a clear goal of finding high-paying FIFO work. His determination paid off spectacularly, allowing him to accumulate more than $140,000 in just nine months.
The Path to a Mining Career
McIlwaine arrived in Western Australia with no prior mining experience or machinery operation background. His first step was a strategic investment of $1,600 to obtain the necessary qualifications.
He proactively secured a Heavy Rigid (HR) licence, a White Card for mine site authorisation, and completed an advanced first aid course including CPR. This foundational training was crucial for entering the industry.
After preparing his resume, he connected with a Perth-based FIFO recruiter and applied for an estimated 70 to 100 jobs. His persistence was rewarded when he landed his first FIFO position a mere 28 days after arriving in the country, a timeline he described as "insane".
Life-Changing Earnings and Travel
McIlwaine's initial role was on a three-weeks-on, one-week-off roster in the Pilbara region. The financial rewards were immediate and substantial.
"I earned $141,000 in nine months' worth of work — that was crazy money to me, I'd never made that back home," McIlwaine said. "That was no joke, probably more than double what I was earning back home."
This significant income provided the freedom to travel extensively. Following his nine-month mining stint, he spent a year exploring South East Asia and New Zealand, while also discovering various parts of Australia.
Return to FIFO and Current Role
After his travels, McIlwaine returned to the mining sector for the second year of his visa. He is now employed as a serviceman on a Pilbara mine site.
His daily responsibilities involve operating a service truck to maintain a fleet of 35 to 50 machines, including dump trucks, diggers, dozers, graders, and compactors. He ensures they are adequately supplied with fuel, grease, and oils, while also performing defect checks to prevent major breakdowns.
The financial benefits remain exceptional. He currently earns $60 per hour before tax, working 12-hour days. This translates to a daily income of $720, or $5,040 per week before tax. After tax, his weekly take-home pay is $4,284.
On his current two-weeks-on, one-week-off swing, he takes home $8,568 after tax per swing.
The Reality of FIFO Life
Despite the financial upside, McIlwaine offers a candid perspective on the challenges of FIFO work, describing it as a definite "mental game", particularly for expats separated from their support networks.
"It's a tough game — you're up early every single day, you've got long hours, the environment is hot, there's loads of flies, it's dusty and very very grimy," he explained.
He issues a stern warning for those considering the path: "If people do not think they're headstrong, I honestly would not even consider ever trying to do (FIFO) because it will chew you up and spit you out. All this money that you've just invested to try and get the job will just be all for nothing."
McIlwaine has since built a substantial social media following of 145,000 on TikTok, where he shares advice about moving to Australia and starting a FIFO career. He reports receiving thousands of messages from people worldwide hoping to replicate his success.
He notes that the competition for these coveted roles has intensified significantly. "It's way more competitive than it's ever been — the amount of people from all over the world that are all in Perth, all trying to get these FIFO jobs is insane," he said of the growing interest in the industry.
