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Mining Family Matters (or MiningFM for short) is a free, independent website that’s committed to providing professional support and practical advice to families in Australian mining and resources.

The website (www.miningfm.com.au) is positive, informative, personal and fun. Since its launch in February 2010, the site has attracted more than 100,000 visitors from across Australia and as far afield as Canada and Argentina. The site now attracts more than 6500 people every month and features more than 400 pages of advice and information, which is regularly updated and promoted via free monthly e-newsletters.

MiningFM – which in September won the inaugural Community Interaction category of the 2011 Australian Mining Prospect Awards – is the brainchild of Alicia Ranford. Alicia is a registered nurse and mother of two who decided to create a support network after her children struggled to cope with their dad’s fly-in, fly-out roster.

A key feature of MiningFM is a series of in-depth monthly columns and Q&A sessions with registered psychologist Angie Willcocks, offering expert advice on the unique challenges facing mining families.

An online forum breaks down the barriers of isolation and FIFO mining by inviting families to chat and share ideas about the positives and negatives of their everyday lives. Other website highlights include a comprehensive guide to key mining towns (with testimonials from families), a detailed careers section (including expert advice on getting into the industry and women in mining), relocation tips for families on the move and financial guidance.

Another Mining Family Matters initiative is The Survival Guide for Mining Families, which aims to help mining families survive and thrive despite the pressures of FIFO rosters and living away from family and friends. The 32-page, A5 guide was launched in March 2011, with more than 28,000 copies now sold to mining and resources companies Australia-wide.

The guide includes key Mining Family Matters advice from our resident psychologist, as well as practical ways to keep relationships healthy and families happy. Topics include mining dads and parenting, sex and FIFO couples, the art of making new friends, house rules for happy homes, relocating with kids and women in mining.  

The guide (which has now also been reproduced in generic form for FIFO workers outside mining and resources) is recommended for use as an induction tool for new employees, and also to support existing workers.

For more information visit www.miningfm.com.au