Life balance
We are a Thai owned oil and gas company with Australasian
headquarters in West Perth and onshore project management
facilities in Darwin. Our exploration and offshore activities are
centred in the Timor Sea, off the North West of Australia.
Why Perth?
Set on the banks of the beautiful Swan River, Perth is the
capital of Western Australia, the country's largest state. Despite
being large enough to accommodate the whole of Western Europe, WA
has a relatively small population of 2.3 million people, 1.65
million of whom are based in Perth.
The City features regularly in the top 10 world's most liveable
cities surveys, due largely to a Mediterranean climate, blue skies
and pollution-free environment. Well maintained parks and unspoilt
beaches promote an active, outdoor lifestyle, whilst the City
boasts good schools, excellent roads and an efficient public
transport system.
WA plays a key role in Australia's economic performance. With just
ten per cent of the national population, it generates an impressive
40 per cent of the country's export income. The resources sector is
the backbone of the State's economy with its emerging Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) industry ranking second only to Qatar.
Perth's geographical location means it is within the same time
zone as many Asian countries, making it easier to communicate with
major trading partners such as Thailand, China, India and
Singapore.
Why Darwin?
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory but is not a big city. It has a population of around 127,500, and is situated centrally on the northern coast of Australia, on the Timor Sea.
Darwin is closer to the capital of Indonesia than it is to the capital of Australia. It's also very close to the equator. Darwin and the surrounding areas offer the kind of stunning beauty not easily found anywhere else in the world. That beauty is enhanced by Darwin's tropical climate which has a "wet season" and a "dry season".
This natural beauty has led to a thriving tourist industry. The area is steeped in Aboriginal history and culture and surrounded by National Parks, the biggest and most impressive being Kakadu.
With close to 80 ethnic groups, Darwin is a truly multicultural city. It has one of the largest Aboriginal populations of any Australian city, as well as a large Greek community. These different cultures bring a vibrancy and diversity that is unexpected in such a small city and makes for an exciting range of dining experiences.
The two largest economic sectors are mining and tourism. Mining and energy industry production currently exceeds $2.5 billion per annum; the energy production is mostly offshore with oil and natural gas from the Timor Sea.
Life offshore
If you've already spent periods of time working offshore, you won't need us to tell you what to expect. If you are considering it for the first time, however, there are a number of aspects to the life that you should think about before putting in your application.
Whilst our favorable Norwegian roster is designed to provide the optimum balance both for the company's needs and, of course, for yours, it does inevitably mean that you are away from home for periods of time. And, obviously, the environment means that it isn't possible to get off unless it's a genuine emergency.
So, life offshore is certainly different - you need to be comfortable not just working in a team but being around other people when off-shift too. The prospect of being in a relatively confined living space with only work colleagues for company for periods of time is something many can find challenging, although, once used to it, they inevitably enjoy the camaraderie and team spirit it generates.
In terms of living space, whilst the accommodation is compact, it's perfectly comfortable. And the food is always plentiful and of good quality. Understandably, though, alcohol and smoking are strictly forbidden offshore.
When off-shift, there are a number of facilities provided to pass the time when not asleep or relaxing with work mates. These include a fully equipped gym, satellite TV, DVDs, snooker and a library. Internet is always available so keeping in touch with friends and family is straightforward.
The only aspect of life offshore we can't influence, of course, is the weather. However, we will never compromise our commitment to the safety of our employees irrespective of the conditions.
Life offshore is different and needs getting used to. Equally, though, many find it a refreshing alternative to the day-to-day routine endured by those who work in more traditional careers.
Useful links
Here are some web sites that might help if you are researching a move to Australia.
Moving to Australia - www.movingtoaustralia.com.au
Real Estate - www.realestate.com.au; www.domain.com.au; www.reiwa.com.au
Tourism - www.australia.com
Dept of Immigration & Citizenship - www.immi.gov.au
Tax information for individuals - www.ato.gov.au