Meet Mining Family Matters in the Pilbara Next Week

Pilbara families will be armed with practical strategies to overcome the pressures of mining life when Mining Family Matters presents two workshops in Port Hedland and Karratha next week.

The free presentations, proudly sponsored by Caltex, are aimed at celebrating families in mining, oil and gas, while also offering professional advice and simple tips for tackling fly-in/fly-out rosters and living in isolated mining communities.

The one-hour presentations on Mining: making it work for your family, will be presented by Mining Family Matters founder Alicia Ranford, who will draw on her own amusing experiences as a mining mum to offer practical insights on topics including:

• What partners find most challenging about life with a FIFO/DIDO miner;
• How to communicate effectively to tackle relationship issues;
• The importance of consistency in parenting and strong routines for children, whether parents are home or away;
• Strategies for raising healthy, resilient children in mining households;
• Getting the most out of life in remote mining towns.

Alicia, who spent five years as a FIFO mum and also moved six times in the space of a decade with her mining husband, says her most important message is always to reassure mining couples that they’re not alone in doing it tough sometimes.

“Communication, spending precious time together and making sure the kids are OK – we’ve found these are some of the most common pressures raised by mining couples on the Mining Family Matters website,” Alicia says.

“The mining couples who cope well are those who tackle issues together as a team, instead of regularly banging heads about the same old issues.

“Many couples, for example, agree on a set number of social activities when the miner is home on days off. Some partners write lists of jobs that need doing around the house.”

Alicia said Mining Family Matters had been planning for some time to visit key mining towns such as Port Hedland and Karratha to celebrate the role of families in mining, oil and gas, and also offer one-on-one support.

“We’re extremely grateful to the team at Caltex for their sponsorship of this Pilbara roadshow, and for their continued support of our website which allows us to provide free professional support and advice to more than 11,000 families every month.”

Caltex Business Development Manager – Mining, Amanda Keogh, says the Pilbara roadshow is an important part of Caltex’s commitment to local mining communities.

“Caltex is committed to supporting communities in which we work and live. Our sponsorship of the Mining Family Matters website and the Pilbara roadshow are key parts of that commitment,” Ms Keogh says.

"We’re proud to lend our support to Mining Family Matters so that miners and their families can access information and support services when they need it.”

Details for the two presentations are:

• Port Hedland: All Seasons Hotel, 10am Tuesday 11 September
• Karratha: Frank Butler Community Centre, 10am Thursday 13 September

Morning tea will be provided after both presentations and all participants will receive a free copy of The Survival Guide for Mining Families, containing information and advice most commonly requested off www.miningfm.com.au.

To register for the free presentations, please email lainie@miningfm.com.au.