Does on‐site chaplaincy enhance the health and well being of fly‐in, fly‐out (FIFO) personnel?

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.