The World of Accommodation Villages

Evolution

The author’s first experience of FIFO work was what we called the Leighton’s (now CPB) fortnight back in the early 1990s. It was called the Leighton’s fortnight because typically the commitment was to go to site for two weeks which inevitably became two years. In those days, construction camps (accommodation villages) were almost as uncomfortable as the typical four and one roster one had to endure while residing in one.

A focus in recent years has been to design and build accommodation villages that, amongst other things, encourage more people, and in particular females, into the workforce by promoting an atmosphere of safety and inclusion. Swimming pools, places of worship, gymnasiums and other recreational facilities have overtaken (but not replaced), the importance of the wet mess (bar area).

Safety and security are now key components of a well-considered design of an accommodation village. Responsible mining companies seek to improve the experience of individuals working in remote locations by introducing these cultural changes. In the early 1990s rationing of alcohol at an accommodation village would almost certainly have resulted in industrial action whereas today it is accepted as usual practice. Vending machines dispensing cigarettes have been replaced with those dispensing non-alcoholic beer and wine.