Staying connected to their kids back at home is crucial for fly-in, fly-out workers in Western Australia's mining industry and can be a vital cog in support of mental health and well-being for the worker on-site.

FIFO Family Project founder Vicky Pellowe, told Australia's Mining Monthly that knowing their kids felt secure, valued and connected helped reduce the stress and worry that FIFO workers might feel while they worked away.

That allowed them to stay focused and safe on the job, she said.

Pellowe started the FIFO Family Project in April after noticing that there was little support for FIFO families.

Her aim was to support every FIFO family every step of the way through social connection, resources, and educational workshops, to create happy, healthy and supported FIFO lifestyles.

"The FIFO Family Project is going really well [and] it's been amazing to see FIFO families connecting, sharing their experiences and building a real support network," Pellowe said.

"In just six months, we've hosted 14 community in-person meet-ups with more than 550 families registered and two online webinars, with many more to come next year.

"Our forthcoming webinar with Dr Joanna Fortune is another exciting step and we're always working on new resources, like our FIFO Family Christmas survival guide, to help families feel supported and make the most of the FIFO lifestyle."

Pellowe said the plan for 2025 was to grow the project even more by expanding its educational offerings.

"We plan to introduce more guides, online webinars and in-person workshops to give FIFO families even more tools and support [and] we're also aiming to expand our meet-up networks to other locations, so more families across Australia can connect and support each other," she said.

"It's an exciting time and I'm thrilled to keep building this community."

How important is it for FIFO workers to stay connected to their kids?

Pellowe said for the kids, meaningful connection with their FIFO parent could foster emotional security and stability, which was vital for their development.

"Even brief, intentional moments of connection can reinforce family bonds, ensuring that children and parents feel close despite the physical distance," she said.

"This mutual support benefits the worker's mental health, their children's emotional development and their family's overall wellbeing."

Are kids affected by absent FIFO parents?

Pellowe said every family was different and some children adapted well to the FIFO lifestyle and even thrived when taking some of the unique experiences it offered, such as longer periods of quality time with parents.

She said with the right support, children could build resilience and a strong sense of emotional intelligence.

However, it is natural for kids to miss parents while they are absent and they sometimes feel sadness around separations.

Pellowe said the project was designed to equip FIFO parents with the practical tools to stay connected and create consistent, meaningful interactions, so their children felt secure, valued and loved.

"By fostering these bonds, we're helping families embrace the FIFO lifestyle while reducing any potential impact of the physical distance," she said.

"The feedback we've received from FIFO families has been incredibly positive and the numbers speak for themselves."

Pellowe said in the project's first six months, and despite a lack of marketing, more than 550 FIFO families registered for meet-ups.

"Parents have shared how our resources and events have helped them feel more connected to their families and less isolated [and] we've seen families form new friendships and support networks through our community events," she said.

"Knowing we're helping FIFO workers and their families navigate the challenges of this lifestyle and strengthen their connections confirms we're making a real difference in their lives."