FIFO guide

FIFO glossary — terms and phrases explained

By FIFO Planner · Published 26 May 2026 · Last updated 30 July 2026

New to FIFO work or trying to decode a site EBA? This glossary covers the most common terms used in Australian mining, oil & gas, and construction — from roster patterns and mobilisation days to dongas and wet messes.

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Roster and scheduling terms

Terms that describe how FIFO rosters are structured and how time on site is counted. See also: FIFO roster patterns and what is FIFO work?

Swing: The consecutive period a FIFO worker spends on site before returning home. On a 2/1 roster the swing is 14 days; on a 4/2 roster it is 28 days. Also called "on swing" or "on site."
R&R: Rest and recreation — the home period between swings. A 2/1 roster has a 7-day R&R; a 4/2 roster has a 14-day R&R. Also written as R’n’R.
Cycle: One complete swing plus one R&R period. A 2/1 roster has a 21-day cycle (14 days on + 7 days off). The cycle length determines how many complete rotations you complete in a year.
Pattern: The ratio of on-site days to home days that defines a roster — for example 2/1, 4/2, or 7/7. Also called a rotation or roster pattern.
Mobilisation day: The travel day to site at the start of a swing. Typically paid and counted as part of the swing. Referred to as "mob day" on most sites.
Demob day: The travel day home at the end of a swing (short for demobilisation). Usually the last day counted on the swing roster.
Fly day: A mobilisation or demob day that involves a charter or commercial flight. Common for remote sites in the Pilbara, Kimberley, and offshore operations.
Back-to-back: Working two consecutive swings without an R&R break in between. Usually requires mutual agreement and additional compensation under the relevant EBA.

Pay and entitlement terms

Key pay concepts that appear in FIFO employment contracts and Enterprise Bargaining Agreements.

Site allowance: A daily payment on top of base wages for working at a remote site. The rate is set in the relevant EBA and compensates workers for the remoteness, conditions, and loss of amenity.
EBA: Enterprise Bargaining Agreement — the legally binding document negotiated between an employer and employees (or their union) that sets out pay rates, conditions, allowances, and hours of work for a specific workplace or project.
Penalty rate: A higher pay rate for working weekends, public holidays, or overtime. Penalty rates for FIFO workers vary significantly by EBA and are often pre-included in a flat daily rate.
TOIL: Time off in lieu — accrued time instead of overtime pay. Rather than receiving extra pay for additional hours worked, the equivalent time is added to the worker's R&R. TOIL arrangements are specified in the EBA.
NES: National Employment Standards — the 11 minimum employment entitlements set out in the Fair Work Act 2009 that apply to all national system employees in Australia, including FIFO workers. EBAs cannot undercut NES minimums.

Site and accommodation terms

Terms describing the physical site environment and accommodation facilities at FIFO camps and villages.

Donga: A modular, transportable accommodation room used on remote mine sites and FIFO camps. Dongas are typically self-contained with a bed, desk, wardrobe, air conditioning, and ensuite bathroom. The term comes from the South African word for a dry gully.
Wet mess: A licenced bar facility on site where alcohol can be purchased and consumed. Not all sites have a wet mess — the decision is made by the site operator and is usually governed by a strict alcohol management plan.
Dry mess: A dining and recreation facility with no alcohol. Dry sites (no wet mess at all) are common on Western Australian mine sites under alcohol management policies.
Crib room: A designated break and meal room located on or near the work area. Workers take scheduled crib breaks in the crib room during a shift. The term is most common in underground mining and WA operations.
Village / camp: The full accommodation facility at a remote site — comprising dongas, a mess, recreational facilities, and laundry. Large operations may have permanent villages; smaller sites use temporary camps.
Muster point: A designated assembly location used during safety emergencies (fire, explosion, medical emergency). Workers must know their muster point and report there for headcounts during evacuations.
Fly camp: A small, temporary forward camp set up close to an active work area, separate from the main village. Used when the work front is too far from the main accommodation to commute daily.
Rec room / rec facility: Recreation room or recreational facility — the shared lounge, gym, games room, or entertainment area within a site village. Quality of rec facilities varies widely and is often a factor workers consider when choosing between sites.

Common abbreviations

Shorthand terms you will encounter in job ads, EBAs, and on site.

FIFO: Fly-in fly-out — workers fly to a remote site for their swing, then fly home for R&R.
DIDO: Drive-in drive-out — the same roster model as FIFO but workers drive rather than fly. Common for sites within 1–4 hours of a regional centre.
BIBO: Bus-in bus-out — workers are transported to site by bus. Less common than FIFO/DIDO and typically used for sites close to a major regional town.
R&R: Rest and recreation — the home period between swings. See full definition above.
TOIL: Time off in lieu — time accrued in place of overtime pay. See full definition above.
EBA: Enterprise Bargaining Agreement — the negotiated pay and conditions document for a specific workplace or project.
NES: National Employment Standards — the Fair Work Act minimums that apply to all national system employees.
EPCM: Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management — a common project delivery model where the EPCM contractor manages the project on behalf of the owner without directly employing all workers.
PPE: Personal protective equipment — hard hat, high-visibility vest, steel-capped boots, safety glasses, and other site-required safety gear.

Frequently asked questions

What does swing mean in FIFO work?

A swing is the consecutive period a FIFO worker spends on site before returning home. On a 2/1 roster the swing is 14 days. On a 4/2 roster the swing is 28 days. The swing ends on demob day when the worker travels back home.

What does R&R stand for in FIFO?

R&R stands for rest and recreation. It is the home period between swings — the time a FIFO worker spends at home before flying back to site. On a 7/7 roster, R&R is 7 days. On a 4/2 roster, R&R is 14 days.

What is a donga?

A donga is a modular, transportable accommodation room used on remote mine sites and FIFO camps. Dongas are typically self-contained with a bed, desk, air conditioning, and an ensuite bathroom. The term originates from South African English.

What is a site allowance in FIFO?

A site allowance is a daily payment on top of base wages paid to workers at remote sites. The rate is set in the relevant Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) and compensates for remoteness and site conditions. Site allowance rates vary significantly between projects and companies.

What is DIDO vs FIFO?

FIFO (fly-in fly-out) workers fly to a remote site; DIDO (drive-in drive-out) workers drive. Both use the same roster patterns — 2/1, 4/2, 7/7, and so on — but DIDO is typically used for sites within 1–4 hours' drive of a regional centre, while FIFO is used for more remote locations.

Plan your FIFO roster with FIFO Planner

Once you know the terminology, FIFO Planner helps you build and manage your actual roster. Track swing and R&R dates, overlay Australian public holidays, and share your calendar with your partner or family — all free.

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