‘The Survival Guide for Mining Families’ is a 32-page book which abounds in professional advice aimed at helping families cope with fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) or drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) lifestyles!

The idea of the book, written by Alicia Ranford - the co-founder of Mining Family Matters -, came from the personal experiences of the author, who has moved six times in the last 12 years, has brought up two children, and seen many marriages fall apart due to the strain of living separately.

The guide includes professional advice from a registered psychologist as well as children’s behavioural issues, conflict, and sex; and highlights the mining industry’s not-too-known downside --- that is, the long hours spent away from family, a lack of communication, and isolation which can be one main reason for broken families.

Noting that the families of mining industry workers faced a real need for expert counsel, Ranford said that the guide featured adequate content to offer help to these families.

Further adding that there already is lack of “enough information”, Ranford said that, thanks to the growing popularity of the FIFO lifestyle, the need for professional guidance, to keep the families from breaking apart, is increasing all the more!

The author has largely targeted the ‘Survival Guide’ at mining companies, for distribution as an “induction tool” that can be of immense help to the new as well as existing employees!