WORLD FIRST: A Self-Help Book for Mining Families

Mining Families Rock, the world’s first self-help book for mining families, is being launched Australia-wide today.

The 176-page book offers professional advice and practical strategies for the growing number of mining workers coping with fly-in/fly-out, drive-in/drive-out or life in isolated mining communities.

Mining Families Rock features professional advice by a psychologist, personal anecdotes from mining family members, and a raft of simple tips for keeping relationships healthy and kids happy.

The book is also aimed at Australians hoping to tap into the mining boom, with timely advice on where to start when you want a job in mining and what to expect from life on a mine site.

It’s published by the award-winning online support network Mining Family Matters, with 70 chapters including:

·        Staying connected when you work away

·        Helping children (from toddlers to teens) cope

·        Using time wisely on precious days together

·        Rebooting your sex life in a mining marriage

·        Beating the ‘black day’ blues

·        Building a new life in a mining town

·        Mine site etiquette and what to pack for your first shift

Mining Family Matters co-founder Alicia Ranford says Mining Families Rock has been carefully compiled, not only to help people through any challenges they face as a result of their work choices, but also to help people feel good about those choices.

“The mining boom offers great opportunities for families, but after six moves in a decade and eight years of fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) I know it can also put intense pressure on couples trying to maintain a strong relationship and raise happy, healthy kids.

“Great communication is the absolute key, and hopefully this book will start a lot of conversations on many personal levels,” she says.

Mining Family Matters psychologist Angie Willcocks says there is a lot of attention in Australia on the negative impacts of FIFO rosters on families, and it’s time to turn the focus onto how to make these couples more resilient.

“Working away from home is a fact of life for a growing number of Australian families and it can be a positive experience so long as couples are very clear about goals and potential problems up front. They need to tackle any issues as a united team and regularly reassess how the whole family is coping.”

Mining Families Rock is written by mining mum Alicia Ranford, psychologist Angie Willcocks and journalist Lainie Anderson. It’s priced at $24.95 and is available from the Mining Family Matters website www.miningfm.com.au.

The creation of a comprehensive self-help book follows the success of MiningFM’s 32-page Survival Guide for Mining Families. More than 50,000 copies have been sold to mining companies Australia-wide since March 2011.