Tucking kids into bed on Christmas Eve is a highlight for parents, but for families tackling shiftwork and a fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) lifestyle, it can take some extra planning to make it work.
This can mean bringing celebrations early by two weeks, as Taryn Hicks and her FIFO husband David McCubbin did in 2022 to coincide with his rotating roster.
She said an elf-on-the-shelf note informed their five and seven-year-olds that the household would be on Santa's "sleigh trial run".
"It was amazing because in the lead up to Christmas when everyone else is stressed out, I'd already done it," Ms Hicks said.
The 44-year-old said the couple, who live in Humpty Doo near Darwin, took a similar approach to other festive events throughout the year.
"I don't want the kids to be sad he's not there or [that] he's missing out," Ms Hicks said.
Ms Hicks says that while the family "live our life by a roster", it is important to adapt and embrace their lifestyle.
"We're also trying to be extremely flexible about it … and not make a big deal out of it," she said.
Implementing strategies is key
University of Central Queensland psychologist Cassandra Dittmann has studied parenting and child dynamics in FIFO families.
Dr Dittmann said the families who coped well with the lifestyle were often those who implemented strategies to support the children and their relationship.
She said this was particularly important when preparing for big events like Christmas.
"For a lot of FIFO workers, a positive thing about their work is, generally speaking, they have their roster and they're able to plan ahead," Dr Dittmann said.
"As opposed to people who might be working with a first responder type situation where things are much more unpredictable.
"We can work with our kids to deal with those sorts of setbacks or changes in routines or in expectations and that's all about good communication."
She said many families around the country were separated for various reasons at this time of year.
"Generally speaking, families are pretty creative and resilient and find ways to celebrate," Dr Dittmann said.
"The important thing is to come up with a plan that works for the family."
Celebrating twice
For the Price family in Mackay, planning to navigate special occasions is exacerbated by both parents working FIFO.
Stacey Price says at times it has led to having not one, but two celebrations.
"We have had a couple of birthdays this year that have fallen on the day that we're leaving … or on the day that we've come home," Ms Price said.
"We still make a bit of a big deal, but we make the [real] celebration on the weekend."
Ms Price joined her husband Travis on a week-on-week-off roster at a mine site in the Bowen Basin four months ago.
On the weeks they are both at work, Ms Price's mother looks after their two kids.
Mr Price says while it can be challenging, he believes he gets to spend more quality time with his family, and swapping around important dates can be just as special.
He said for everyday life, keeping up communication was key.
"They [the kids] don't get to see you or feel you that whole week, so talking to them every day is so important," Mr Price said.
"In turn, them talking to you and sending you messages about all the important things they've done during the day, just so it makes you feel like you're still there and a part of it."
This Christmas is the couple's first together on a FIFO roster and Ms Price is grateful it has fallen in the family's favour this year.
"We've both always said that before everything we are their parents and each other's husband and wife and then work comes after that," she said.
A double whammy
In Rebecca Brown's home, Christmas will be coming twice this year because her FIFO husband Travis Brown is rostered on.
"We'll celebrate when my husband's home and then while he's away, that's actually Christmas day, so we'll celebrate again and get a double whammy," Ms Brown said.
Ms Brown said while FIFO life had its challenges, it was not dissimilar to other family dynamics.
"If you're working a nine-to-five job in town five days a week and 48 weeks of the year, that brings its own stresses that are huge," she said.
"Neither situation is perfect but there's huge advantages having more mental, physical, emotional energy when he's home and he can really switch off from work."