What tickets do you need for mining? Start with first aid

By PJ Adami, underground mine worker and ERT member, Queensland

"What tickets do I need for mining?" is probably the most common question I see in the FIFO groups. The honest answer is: fewer than you think. Entry-level mining isn't about having a trade or having 20 tickets to get in. It's about showing you're safe, reliable and you follow procedure.

The one I'd get regardless: First Aid and CPR

I work in an underground mine and I'm on the Emergency Response Team, so I'm biased, but first aid is the one ticket I'd tell anyone to get before they start applying. Every site I know of wants it, it's cheap compared to most courses, it's usually done in a day, and it shows you take safety seriously before anyone has to ask.

The unit most employers look for is HLTAID011 Provide First Aid. It includes CPR (HLTAID009). Some ads list both codes, for example a recent entry-level driller's offsider traineeship asked for "Current First Aid & CPR certificate (HLTAID009 & HLTAID011)" as a requirement. Keep it current: the CPR part is usually refreshed yearly and the full first aid every few years, so put the expiry date on your resume.

The basics that come up again and again

These aren't all "tickets" in the course sense, but they show up in entry-level ads all the time. Check the ads for your role, then sort the ones that keep repeating.

• Driver licence. A current car licence is asked for in a lot of ads. A manual licence is handy because plenty of site vehicles are manual. Some roles, like driller's offsider, ask for an HR licence or say you must be willing to get one.
• National Police Check. Commonly requested, usually issued within the last 12 months.
• White Card (CPCWHS1001). Required for construction work and asked for in many camp, TA and labouring ads. Cheap and quick, so if your target ads mention it, get it.
• Medical and drug and alcohol test. Not something you buy upfront. Employers usually book and pay for the pre-employment medical and D&A test once they're interested in you. Expect random testing on site too.
• Role-specific extras. Food safety or RSA for camp kitchen and wet mess roles. Working at Heights or Confined Space for some TA and maintenance roles. Only buy these if your target ads keep asking for them.

State and site inductions

Some regions have their own induction requirements. In Queensland coal, for example, the Standard 11 (S11) coal mine induction comes up a lot. In WA, some sites use MARCSTA-style inductions. Whether you need to pay for one yourself depends on the site and employer. A lot of employers put you through the site induction once you're hired. Before spending money on one, check that your target ads actually ask for it, and ring the agency to ask whether they want it upfront.

What not to buy (yet)

This is where people waste a lot of money. Course packages sold as "everything you need for mining" often bundle tickets that have nothing to do with the entry role you'll realistically get. Things like machine tickets, gas testing or advanced rescue certificates can be great later on, but most entry roles either don't need them or the site trains you on the job.

Before you pay for any course, do this:

1. Pick one realistic entry role (utility, TA, labourer, offsider, trainee operator, nipper). The role guides can help.
2. Collect 10 current ads for that role.
3. Write down every ticket or licence they mention, and count how many times each one appears.
4. Only buy what keeps repeating. Ignore anything that shows up once.

How to show tickets on your resume

Tickets are useless if nobody sees them. Put a short "Tickets and licences" section in the top third of page one, not at the bottom of page two. List the full name, unit code where there is one, and the expiry date. Only list what you actually hold. If something's booked, it's fine to write "booked, completing [date]", but don't round it up.

For more on getting the top of your resume right, see FIFO resume with no mining experience.

Tickets get you considered. A phone call gets you remembered.

Once you've got first aid and the basics your target ads keep asking for, stop buying courses and start making calls. Ring the agencies, talk to a real person, tell them you're keen and what you hold, then send your resume straight after. I've written up exactly how in how to actually get a FIFO job: ring the agency.

Requirements change by employer, site, role and state. Always check the current ad and the employer's instructions before paying for anything. This is worker-side guidance, not training or legal advice.

Quick answers