A driller’s offsider supports a drilling crew with equipment, supplies, samples and demanding physical tasks under instruction. Some employers recruit trainees, but surface and underground roles differ and the required roster, fitness and licence conditions need careful checking.
You are ready for sustained physical work and want to support a drilling crew on a committed roster.
The trade-offs
Long shifts and extended blocks away underpin the advertised earning potential. It is a demanding industrial job rather than quick, easy travel money.
What does the work involve?
Offsiders support the drilling crew with equipment, consumables, samples, cleaning and preparation. The work differs between surface and underground drilling; ask which method and location the vacancy covers.
This is sustained physical work in an industrial environment, often on long shifts. Follow the driller’s instructions and exclusion zones, and never improvise around moving rods, lifting gear or pressurised systems.
Is this a quick way to earn travel money?
The advertised annual earning potential comes with long shifts and extended blocks away. Compare how many swings you can actually complete with the time you have available, rather than treating an annual figure as money you will receive during a short stay.
Does entry level mean an easy job?
No. An offsider supports drilling in demanding physical conditions and learns procedures around heavy equipment. This is a training pathway as well as manual work. Read the licence and work-rights conditions before paying for checks or relocating; no-experience recruitment does not establish WHV eligibility.
Look for an entry-level offsider intake if you have manual-work experience but have not worked on a drill rig. Experienced vacancies may expect previous drilling work and particular vehicle licences.
Compare the intake before paying for tickets
An employer-funded traineeship can have residency conditions as well as work rights. Compare the required licence, police clearance, medical assessment, first aid, training period and departure base in the company listing below. Include time and costs for obtaining any missing licence before the start date.
DDH1’s funded entry route below is restricted to Australian or New Zealand residents. Backpackers should establish eligibility for a suitable employed role before paying for that route’s requirements.
Training for this role
Learn the work on site
Entry training focuses on the drilling operation: handling equipment, exclusion zones, manual tasks and site safety. Vehicle licences and other tickets depend on the drilling role; buying a general mining course does not establish competence on a drill rig.
Companies and application routes
Find employers and recruitment contacts below.
Western Australia and drilling projects
DDH1 / Perenti
Official DDH1 portal includes drilling-offsider and entry-level traineeship searches. Check current openings, licence requirements and training commitments rather than assuming all offsider positions accept beginners.
Its 4 October 2026 funded traineeship requires Australian or New Zealand residency, manual-labour experience, an unrestricted HR-B licence before starting, First Aid/CPR, a police clearance under 12 months old and medical/drug screening. It lists Perth induction, flights from capital cities and 2:1 or 4:2 rosters with 12-hour shifts. These conditions belong to that intake; working-holiday acceptance is not established.
Employer career pathway and vacancy portal for underground drilling. Read the particular offsider requirements and ask about work rights, medical screening, roster and departure base.
Give examples of demanding manual work, safe team communication and reliable attendance. State licence class accurately and confirm that your available months meet the training commitment.
FIFO applications need your departure location, roster availability and current licences. Use the advertised recruitment process for medicals and site induction; those stages come after the employer assesses your application.
DDH1 advertises that entry-level offsiders can earn over $100,000 a year. That earning potential comes with demanding rosters and 12-hour shifts, including nights.
Role / shift
Hourly pay
DDH1 advertised entry-level earning potential
Over $100,000/year
Employer career information checked 17 October 2026. This is an annual earning-potential figure, not an hourly minimum or a guaranteed base salary. DDH1 describes 2-weeks-on / 1-off and 4-weeks-on / 2-off rosters.
DDH1 also describes production and retention bonuses after the six-month probation period. The annual figure should not be read as earnings from an ordinary 38-hour working week.
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