AN expo providing fly-in fly-out workers with support services and practical advice will open at Arena Joondalup this Friday.
The event, a partnership between the Cities of Stirling, Joondalup, Wanneroo and the FIFO advisory reference group, aims to link FIFO workers and their families to services that can provide them with the support, tools and advice to help them live a well-balanced lifestyle. Mental Health Minister Helen Morton will open the expo and launch
This FIFO Life, a new program to promote the mental health and wellbeing of fly-in fly-out workers. Program co-ordinator Sue Crock said This FIFO Life highlighted challenges of the FIFO lifestyle and the strengths and resilience of workers and their families.
“As part of this project, FIFO workers and their partners shared their strategies for making FIFO work well and identified areas where more information is needed to raise awareness of mental health and build resilience,” she said.
Keynote speaker Glenn Mitchell, former ABC sports broadcaster and well-known mental health advocate, will share his mental illness story and his experiences of regularly working away from home. Other speakers will present on relationships, financial management and time impacts of the FIFO lifestyle.
Research shows 2.1 per cent (1518 people) of the City of Wanneroo’s population are FIFO workers, the City of Stirling has 1.2 per cent (1211) and Joondalup 1.4 per cent (1176). The event is free and bookings are essential.