title: Does on-site chaplaincy enhance the health and well being of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) personnel?
abstract: Issue addressed The fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) work style has been linked to mental-health and interpersonal issues and a need for strategies that maintain a healthy workforce. This study investigated whether 24/7 on-site chaplains deliver a service that promotes the health and well being of FIFO personnel. Methods A phenomenological approach was used to explore the perceptions of FIFO personnel working in different roles and organisational sections on a remote mine site in Western Australia. Multi-pronged strategies recruited 29 participants who represented management, supervisors, workers and support staff. Participants took part in semistructured interviews conducted either one-on-one or in pairs. Results Chaplains were described as making a valuable contribution to the physical and mental health of FIFO personnel. Specific aspects of the service such as active outreach, effective trust building and the on-site availability were identified as central to the service being accessed and overcoming barriers embedded in mining culture and masculinity. Conclusions On-site chaplaincy appears to be effective in promoting the physical and mental health of FIFO personnel working at a remote mine site. So what? This promising model of active on-site outreach offered by chaplains is set apart from existing FIFO support structures. We recommend further exploration of its potential to become part of an integrated health-support system in the mining sector and other industries.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions, Counselling, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strehlow
mesh_terms: D002977:Clergy; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D008603:Mental Health; D008906:Mining; D009790:Occupations; D014904:Western Australia