In the last few months, hashtags such as #Miningaustralia, #Fifoaustralia #Flyinflyout have been heralding a new trend racking up millions of views on social media with the idea of promoting Australian mines to Internauts around the world

In vlogs both short and long on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, young people have been sharing their experiences working in Australia's mining industry, recounting the type of work they do and in particular, highlighting their salaries. Mining jobs all come with very comfortable salaries. For example, AUD2,000 €1,833) per week, AUD8,400 (€7,700) per month and AUD140,000 (€128,000) per year. On top of which, workers are fed and housed on-site, and the only qualification required is motivation.

Anyone can try their luck at getting a job in cleaning, camp administration and catering. Ambitious workers looking for a higher wage packet can take on-site training courses (payable) to become heavy machinery and excavator operators. "Imagine: You're in your twenties, you're living your best life in Australia making $100.000 a year and you get six months vacation a year," states a video on @Fifotok5, one of the most followed mining influencers on TikTok with almost 300,000 subscribers and several million cumulative views.

'Everyone has their place at the mines'

When we spoke with aspiring mining workers, who have tried it, the financial aspect was certainly the primary motivation, but the lifestyle sold on the networks also plays a part. "In France, I was on a treadmill and needed a change," said 25-year-old Mathieu from France (first name changed), who spent six months working in a mine in Western Australia. "When I came across these videos on TikTok, I said to myself that I had to grab the chance." Some mining influencers have even devised an ideal routine: make good money on-site for two weeks, fly to nearby Indonesia for a good time, and then return to the mine for more of the same.

The influencers' arguments are all the more forceful, as they are not, seemingly, commissioned by companies in the sector. On the contrary, they are put forward by young, penniless Australians in search of quick money, by international workers looking to amass money as a personal challenge, or simply travelers looking to finance their trip to Down Under.

Sienna Mallon, the daughter of a farming couple in the Australian state of Victoria was 25 years old and studying agronomy when she discovered the Western Australia and Queensland mines. Two years later, she was chronicling her mining life on TikTok with over 180,000 subscribers and has become an ambassadress for the mining El Dorado. "There's an audience for content like this," she said. "When I make a video about mining, I know I'll get five to seven times more views than usual." Mallon feels that her videos also help to feminize a very male-dominated sector. "It's important to show that everyone has their place at the mines!"

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