[batiudrami]

My parents were teachers at the school (it was a 6 month posting while the permenant Principal took long service leave) so they were paid by the government.

I would be very surprised to hear that people were paid in anything other than cash, though wages would have taken into consideration that accommodation and food was free (as it does with all on site mine workers).

Mine workers in Australia are paid very well in comparison to a lot of other industries so a debt cycle mentioned by others probably didn't apply as much.