FIFO Meaning: What FIFO Jobs Involve
FIFO stands for fly-in fly-out, and the fifo jobs meaning is simple: you fly to a remote work site, work a block of rostered shifts, live in on-site or nearby accommodation, then fly home for time off. Legally you are still an employee under the Fair Work Act, so your award or agreement sets pay, rosters, allowances and leave.
The same arrangement is common in mining, construction and energy projects. Some workers also see the spelling fifio, which is a typo for the same term.
FIFO jobs meaning: how it works
Each employer sets the details, but most FIFO arrangements follow the same pattern.
- You are rostered for a block of consecutive days on site, followed by a block of days off, and the pattern is written into your contract or agreement.
- The employer books flights between a home airport and the site, and your contract should say who pays and what happens if a flight is delayed.
- You stay in a camp or village near the site, where meals and basic facilities are often provided, depending on the employer and the project.
- Pay is calculated from the award or agreement, with ordinary hours capped at 38 a week and overtime rates set by the instrument that covers you.
- Safety inductions, medicals and licences are usually completed before you travel, so confirm what you need to bring, such as a white card for construction work in NSW.
- When the roster ends you fly home, and travel time may or may not be paid, so ask before you accept the job.
Examples of FIFO jobs
FIFO is not limited to mining, though that is the best-known setting. Here are realistic examples across industries.
- A construction labourer flies to a remote infrastructure project, works the roster and shares a room in the camp accommodation.
- A plant operator runs an excavator or haul truck on a mine site, using a roster that suits the operation and returning home between blocks.
- A cleaner services camp accommodation and dining areas, and the crew leader checks the roster list on Monday-morning handover.
- A cook or kitchen hand prepares meals for a camp, working early shifts and relying on the employer for travel and lodging.
- A warehouse worker manages stores and deliveries at a remote site, where a late truck can push back the entire day's roster.
- An administration officer runs payroll and timesheets from the site office and flies home when the block ends.
FIFO work meaning: rules and key points
The table shows what the law and your agreement usually decide. Check your own award or enterprise agreement for the details.
| Item | What applies | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum pay | Award rate, or $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026 for award-free employees; casuals on the national minimum wage get at least $33.05 per hour | Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide |
| Ordinary hours | 38 per week for full-time employees, plus reasonable additional hours; overtime rates come from the award or agreement | Award or enterprise agreement |
| Super | 12% of ordinary time earnings for 2026-27, paid within 7 business days of payday | ATO |
| Travel and accommodation | Set by your contract, award or agreement, including who pays and whether travel time counts as work | Your contract and Fair Work Infoline, 13 13 94 |
| Safety and fatigue | The employer must manage risks, including fatigue, remote isolation and psychosocial hazards | State WHS regulator, such as SafeWork NSW |
| Labour hire licence | Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT have schemes, and NSW does not; check the state where you work | State regulator |
Related terms
- DIDO (drive-in drive-out): a similar roster where you travel to site by road instead of by air.
- Labour hire: a provider employs you and places you with a host business at the remote site.
- Roster: the pattern of days on site and days off that your contract or agreement sets.
- Seasonal work: short-term work tied to a time of year, which sometimes requires travel but is not always FIFO.
- Employer of record: a third party that legally employs you while the client directs your work.
FIFO jobs meaning FAQ
What does FIFO work mean?
FIFO work means fly-in fly-out. You fly to a remote site for a block of shifts, stay in accommodation provided or arranged by the employer, then fly home. Pay, rosters, allowances and travel rules depend on your award, enterprise agreement and contract, so read them before you accept an offer.
What does fifio mean?
Fifio is a common misspelling of FIFO, so it has the same meaning: fly-in fly-out. When you search for jobs, use the standard spelling and also try DIDO and remote site roles. Employers may also describe the same arrangement as camp-based work or remote rosters.
Is FIFO available in Sydney or NSW?
Most FIFO work is in remote parts of Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, but some NSW projects use similar rosters. Check that the employer is a legitimate business, confirm which state's labour hire rules apply, and ask for the travel and accommodation terms in writing.
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice, so check the Fair Work Ombudsman, the ATO or an employment lawyer for your situation. For the wider picture, read what is labour hire, or register with our recruitment team if you are looking for work.