I wanted job in fashion but chose to work in Oz mines instead

Male-dominated industry was big earner but 'emotional rollercoaster'

- BY SHAUNA BANNON WARD

ARLENE Dooley was only 22 when she started working in mining in Western Australia, having originally planned for a job in fashion.

When she first moved Down Under from Co Monaghan, she soon realised there were incredible opportunities in the mining industry there.

She said: "I initially wanted to work in fashion because I worked in fashion back in Ireland. When I got here, in 2012, there was a boom in mining. It's still really booming.

"You get paid for travel and they fly you there and then fly you back. Back then, they paid you to do induction, they paid for your travel and they paid for your bus travel to work-that's not the case anymore.

"It's still good money, but it's not as good as back then."