Driller's Offsider

A Driller's Offsider assists the driller in operating percussion, rotary, and diamond drilling equipment on mineral exploration, construction, and geotechnical sites across Australia. They perform manual tasks including site setup, drill rod handling, sample collection, and equipment maintenance under the driller's direction. The role requires understanding of drilling procedures, safe work practices, and basic geological observation to support exploration and resource extraction activities.

Assist in positioning and securing drilling rigs on site, ensuring stable setup in line with Safe Work Australia guidelines. Handle, assemble, and disassemble drill rods, bits, and casings, maintaining correct thread connections and torque specifications. Feed drill rods and augers into the borehole whilst monitoring depth and rate of penetration. Collect and bag core samples and cuttings according to geological logging protocols, recording sample depth and description. Operate auxiliary equipment including water pumps, mud circulation systems, and sample washers during drilling operations. Monitor bore fluid levels, density, and circulation to maintain drilling efficiency and stability. Maintain daily drilling records including hole depth, water strikes, formation changes, and equipment downtime. Clean, inspect, and perform basic maintenance on drilling equipment, drill rods, and sampling apparatus.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

It's physically demanding work in harsh conditions: you'll be handling heavy drill rods in remote sites, mud, dust, and heat for 10 to 12 hour shifts. Your pay ceiling is modest because you're support staff, not the lead operator. If the mine or exploration project winds down, you're out of work fast.

You'll need to relocate or fly-in-fly-out to remote sites. Almost no remote work. Check mining and exploration company websites directly.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Clean waste materials from machinescore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Address problems critically
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Dispatch Documentation
• Inventory Tracking
• Process Improvement Identification
• Supplier Communication
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026