Hello Orynoco
Welcome to Poms in Oz.
Painter & Decorator is here:
Painter and Decorator 4421-11 - Australian Skills Recognition Information
The skills assessment authority for it is Trade Recognition Australia. Regardless of what it says on the document above, you must now produce evidence of formal qualifications in your occupation.
It may be possible for you to undertake a workplace based assessment and get yourself a formal British qualification:
Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News
Alternatively it would definitely be possible for you to be assessed for the Australian AQF III qualification instead if you are able to come to England for a few days:
ACTS UK | Welcome to Trade Train
ACTS charge £3,750 but for that they assess you, award AQF III, help with your TRA application, do some sort of safety course that enables you to get a safety card to work on construction sites in Oz and the service they offer is - I am told - called "Hit the ground running." All of the members on here who have used ACTS have said they were delighted with the help and felt it was money well-spent.
You have not mentioned your age. 44 is the cut-off age for skilled independent migration. You cannot apply for a GSM visa until you have obtained a positive skills assessment from TRA first, and the visa application must then reach DIAC before your 45th birthday. You say you have been a painter & decorator for 26 years? If so, I would guess that you are around 42 now?
For the visa, start by considering the subclass 175 and 176 visas if age is on your side (ie you are not about to turn 45 within the next 6 months or so.)
Visa Options – Professionals and other Skilled Migrants – Workers – Visas & Immigration
Australian General Skilled Migration Booklet
Please shout if you have any queries.
Best wishes
Gill