Print this page with your browser’s print command to take a copy. Items with an amber note depend on your employer or the camp, so ask first. New to rosters? Read what FIFO work involves.
PPE: supplied or bring your own?
This is the biggest unknown for a first swing, and there is no single rule. Some employers and contractors issue PPE on site, some expect you to arrive with your own, and some do a mix. Your contract, induction pack or site contact will say. Ask in writing before you spend money on boots.
Ask your employer first
- Safety bootsSupplied or bring your own, and which type the site accepts, varies. Check with your employer.
- Hard hat, safety glasses, hi-vis, gloves, hearing protectionOften issued on site or by your contractor, but not always. Check with your employer.
- Prescription safety glasses, if you need corrected visionAsk whether the site has a process for these before you order.
- Sun protection that meets the site's PPE rules (hat, long sleeves)Some sites specify what is allowed. Read the induction pack.
Usually yours to bring
- Your own broken-in socks and any boot inserts you rely on
- Personal items that are not site PPE: sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses
- Any PPE your employer has told you in writing to bringKeep that email or message with your documents.
Clothing
Pack for the roster length and the work, then add a spare. Check the site’s dress code and whether laundry is available, because that changes how much you need.
Clothing
- Work clothes for the whole roster, plus a spare setThe site's dress code decides fabric, sleeves and colour. Check with your employer.
- Underwear and socks for the roster length
- Sleepwear and thongs or slides for the shower block
- Casual clothes for the mess and your downtime
- A warm layer and a rain layerRemote sites can be cold at night or at some times of year. Check the forecast for your site's region.
- Gym or exercise gear and runners, if you plan to train
- A laundry bag or a separate bag for dirty work clothesWhether the camp has a laundry or a laundry service varies. Check with your employer.
Camp room
Rooms differ between camps. Ask what is supplied (linen, towels, fridge, kettle, air-conditioning) before you bring duplicates, and what appliances are allowed.
Camp room
- Towel and toiletriesLinen and towels are camp-dependent. Check with your employer.
- Earplugs and an eye maskUseful if you sleep during the day around night shift.
- Charging cables and, if the camp allows it, a power boardSome camps restrict appliances and extension leads. Check with your employer before you pack one.
- A refillable water bottle and a mug or insulated cup
- Small personal comforts: photos, a book, headphones
- A padlockOnly if your room or locker is advertised as needing one. Check with your employer.
Travel day
Your carry-on carries the things you cannot afford to lose or that the airline requires there. Check the airline pages for your ticket: Qantas baggage, Qantas carry-on, Virgin Australia baggage. Power bank rules are on the Qantas and Virgin Australia battery pages. If you fly on a charter or another airline, use that operator’s page.
Travel day
- Photo ID that matches the name on your ticket
- Boarding pass, bus or flight itinerary, and your pickup contactYour employer or the travel coordinator usually books this. Keep the confirmation on your phone and a copy printed.
- Power bank, spare batteries and essential medication in your carry-onQantas and Virgin Australia both say power banks and spare batteries are carry-on only.
- A change of clothes and your toiletries in your carry-onCovers you if your checked bag turns up late.
- Carry-on liquids, aerosols and gels within the airline's rulesQantas states Australian Government restrictions apply and gives 100 mL or less in a clear resealable bag for toiletries. Read the airline page.
- Snacks and a water bottle (empty through security)
- Heavier items such as boots worn on the flight or packed in the checked bagBaggage allowances are set by the airline or charter operator. Check your ticket.
Documents and tickets
Keep these together in one folder in your carry-on. Which tickets you need depends on the job. Our tickets and certificates directory explains common ones, and mining jobs with no experience covers what to get first.
Documents and tickets
- Employment contract or offer letter and your roster
- Site induction pack or confirmation of your induction booking
- Driver licence, passport or other photo ID
- Tickets and licences your job requires (white card, high-risk work licence, first aid and so on)Carry the originals or the card, and a photo copy. See our certs directory for what each involves.
- Medical clearance or fit-for-work paperwork, if your employer required it
- Bank details, tax file number and super details for payrollOnly provide these through your employer's official onboarding process.
- Emergency contact details for you and for the person at home
Health
Pack what you take regularly plus a small kit for minor problems. For anything prescribed, tell your employer or the site health service what the site requires before you travel.
Health
- Prescribed medicine for the whole swing plus some spare, in original labelled packagingPack in carry-on. Sites may have policies on medication and testing. Check with your employer.
- A copy of your prescriptions or a doctor's letter for regulated medicines
- Pain relief, blister care, a few plasters and any allergy items you use
- Sunscreen, insect repellent and lip balm
- Contact lens supplies or spare glasses
- Anything you need for sleep and recovery, such as a pillow you preferBeds and pillows are provided at most camps. Ask what is in the room.
Tech
Charge everything before you leave and keep batteries in your carry-on. Do not assume reliable phone coverage at camp, and ask the employer what is available.
Tech
- Phone, charger and a cable that reaches the bed
- Power bank, in your carry-on onlyQantas also says power banks cannot be used or charged on the flight. Virgin Australia says they must not be recharged from the aircraft's power supply.
- Headphones
- Laptop or tablet loaded with downloads before you leaveWi-fi and mobile coverage at camps varies. Ask whether the camp has wi-fi, and check your carrier's coverage map for the region.
- Any adaptors or cables for the devices you use at work
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for my first FIFO swing?
Pack for the roster length and for the site's rules, not for a holiday. Work out what the employer supplies (PPE, linen, laundry, meals), then bring documents, work clothes, personal health items, chargers and a spare set of clothes in your carry-on. Use the checklist on this page and confirm the site-specific items with your employer before you fly.
Do I need to bring my own PPE to a FIFO job?
It depends on the employer or contractor. Some supply boots, hard hat, glasses and hi-vis, and some expect you to arrive with your own. Your contract, induction pack or site contact will say which, so ask in writing before you buy anything.
Can I put a power bank in my checked bag?
No. Qantas says power banks and spare batteries must be packed in carry-on, not checked baggage, and Virgin Australia says power banks and spare batteries are carry-on only. Qantas also says power banks cannot be used or charged during the flight. We read both pages on 10 October 2026, and the rules can change, so check the airline's page before you fly.
How much luggage can I take on a FIFO flight?
The allowance is set by the airline or charter operator on your ticket, and it varies by route and fare. We do not quote weights here because they change. Check the Qantas and Virgin Australia baggage pages linked below, or the operator named in your itinerary.
Can I take medication to a mine camp?
Qantas says essential medications should be packed in your carry-on and kept within reach, not in checked baggage. Sites also have their own policies on medication and testing, so check with your employer or the site's health service before you travel, and carry prescribed medicine in its original labelled packaging.
Can I bring alcohol to camp?
That is a site rule, not a general one. Many sites restrict alcohol and apply testing, and policies differ between employers and camps. Read the site's alcohol and drug policy in your induction pack, and ask your employer if it is unclear. When in doubt, leave it at home.
Sources
Last updated 10 October 2026. Facts on this page come from the sources below.
- Qantas: Baggage (read 10 October 2026)
- Qantas: Carry-on baggage allowances (read 10 October 2026)
- Qantas: Spare batteries and power banks (read 10 October 2026)
- Virgin Australia: Baggage (read 10 October 2026)
- Virgin Australia: Batteries and power banks (read 10 October 2026)
Airline rules were read on the airline sites on 10 October 2026 and change without notice. We state only the carry-on rule for power banks and spare batteries, which both airlines publish, and do not quote baggage weights or sizes. Everything else is general packing advice, not a rule. Anything marked for your employer depends on the site, so confirm it with them.
Where to next
- FIFO meaning and rosters What fly-in fly-out work involves.
- Mining jobs with no experience Entry roles and how to apply.
- Mining tickets and certificates What employers ask for, with providers.
- How to get into mining Pathways, tickets and first steps.
- Take 5 template The pre-job safety check used on site.
- Salary calculator Work out pay from award rates.
Not sure where to start?
Take the free career quiz to see which mining roles suit you and which tickets they usually ask for.
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