[Honeyblonde]

Hi all,
Quick version, DH worked for Coles for 15 years in various retail management positions, then left and got into the IT industry in the last 3.5 years. He has since been unfairly dismissed (for reporting his superior for workplace bullying, so she sacked him that night) and we are going through Fairwork as he has a very strong case for Unfair Dismissal.

Anyway, we live in Vic, I have previously lived in Qld as a child, and have been yearning to live there again, especially near the beach. Suddenly today DH decides maybe working interstate in the mines is a possibility. Obviously this is a complete career change and he would have to get appropriate qualifications first, he is thinking even as a truck driver in the mines etc. Initially he would do FIFO, and if the job goes well, we would move up to Qld also, (not necessarily near the mines, more near the coast) So i would stay here in Vic with our 5 kids, put the house up for sale, DH hopefully gets a FIFO job in Qld (also looking at WA) and once our house sells we move interstate also. We have been wanting to sell our home since last year, and were going to move to the next town as DH initially didnt want to leave his job, but now seeing as his job is gone, whats stopping us!

Obviously we realise its not easy as pie to get into the mining jobs, but what sort of qualifications would he need to get to do this, and how does he go about applying for jobs etc, has anyone elses DH done this, and did you move interstate also or did you stay in your home in your own state? I am not worried about coping with the kids as I have done it before, he has previously done a job that involved a lot of interstate travel and I was on my own with 4 kids AND pregnant with #5, so I know I can handle it.

Any advice, hints, suggestions that are helpful would be appreciated, this is just an option he has thought of as we are struggling now to pay our mortgage and support 5 kids, and this may be a way to help us get out of the hole of debt we are teetering on the edge of!

Thanks!