Like Rhino said most of the IT people who are skilled in programming will not be on site. For Xstrata (previously Mount Isa Mines) we employ a contract with a computer company called CSC to maintain our networks and do the fiddly things.
Myself I am a Communications Tech but I work onsite maintaining the LAN, Phones, Radios, PED, Remotes, Cameras and just about anything else with a few Transistors inside. Because we are onsite we're almsot always dirty as hell by the time our 12hrs is up.
Xstrata employs some inhouse apprentices (electrical, diesel) but most of our apprentices are fed from the local apprenticeship agency M.I.G.A.T.E (Ph: 07 4743 9088) give them a call to see what's open at the moment.
Mount Isa has a fairly strong community base and many schools. There is a shortage on childcare centres, and the waiting list for the ones we have can be up to 2 years. The temperatures here vary throughout the year, going from hot to even hotter then peaking at ultra hot and wet, although rain is tentative at best as it doesn't make a lot of appearances. We have the largest man made lake in the Southern Hemisphere (this information may be outdated) where there is fishing, skiing and crocodiles. Bordered on all sides by barren crap there is also the oportunity to do some outdoorsy things. Situated apporximately 180Km from the Northern Territory border and about 200Km from the first 'open speed' sign, just for the rev-heads.
There's more but it's getting long as it is.
