Help !!!!! .....panel beater with city & guilds

[lynne1266]

Hi PIO,
My OH is a Panel Beater with City & Guilds part 1 & 2 n were thinking of going 4 a 176 visa instead of a 457.

I have been told by an agent that because he doesn't have a certificate from the employer stating that all modules were completed and stating how many hours were completed on each section then he will have 2 get assessed - TRA $300 may b ok but it might not b enough and he will have 2 get AQF (I think thats what she called it !) which will need 2 b completed in Australia and cost $2000 plus the cost of the flights !!!. Is this the same as VETASSESS that i've seen on this forum ?? n is what i've been told right ????

Can anyone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me out with this cos i'm begining 2 change my mind completely n not bother going at all !!!!

Lynne xx

[MazPaul]

Hi i am a paintsprayer and i passed tra. You need to have 3 years college qualifications and then evidence of doing your fourth year at work that part is easy to sort out.Pm me if you want to ask me any questions.

[Gollywobbler]

Hi PIO,
My OH is a Panel Beater with City & Guilds part 1 & 2 n were thinking of going 4 a 176 visa instead of a 457.

I have been told by an agent that because he doesn't have a certificate from the employer stating that all modules were completed and stating how many hours were completed on each section then he will have 2 get assessed - TRA $300 may b ok but it might not b enough and he will have 2 get AQF (I think thats what she called it !) which will need 2 b completed in Australia and cost $2000 plus the cost of the flights !!!. Is this the same as VETASSESS that i've seen on this forum ?? n is what i've been told right ????

Can anyone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me out with this cos i'm begining 2 change my mind completely n not bother going at all !!!!

Lynne xx

Hi Lynne

Unfortunately the agent whom you have consulted may well be right.

http://www.workplace.gov.au/NR/rdonl...tember2007.pdf

The document above is TRA's Uniform Assessment Criteria or UAC. Please see Sections 8, 9 & 10. With a TRA application based on Hubby's training and his C&Gs he would have to prove that he complies with either Pathway A or Pathway B. It sounds as if the agent is saying that there could be problems with proving the 900 hours of formal tuition?

The agent is therefore saying that if TRA won't cooperate with either of Pathway A or Pathway B then in order to become eligible for a skills assessment under Pathway E instead, Hubby would first have to obtain the Australian AQF III qualification.

Some trades skills occupations can now be assessed for AQF III in the UK because the assessors come from Australia for the purpose. Unfortunately, though, this is confined to construction trades, Hairdressing and a couple of engineering skills only at present.

I have heard that somebody in Victoria is offering to do AQF III assessments for Panel Beaters & Vehicle Painters. If this is so then I think the assessors might be involved with Holmesglen Institute of TAFE which is in or near Melbourne somewhere.

Alternatively the agent may be referring to Skillstech Institute of TAFE near Brisbane:

Welcome to SkillsTech Australia: the lead TAFE institute in trade and technical training - SkillsTech Australia

Basically Skillstech, Holmesglen and a couple of others now offer to assess Aussies for the AQF III so there is no reason why they can't do that with overseas candidates as well.

I don't know what Skillstech would charge but I am told that they are offering to pay commissions to migration agents who introduce business to them. The first thing I would so is ask Skillstech (a chap called Mike Baker) what sort of commission he would be paying and insist that the price is discounted by that amount instead. Agents make more than enough with their own (exorbitant) fees without needing commissions as well in my view.

However there would be the cost of flights, accommodation in or around Ipswich (near Brisbane but not actually in Brisbane) for at least a week and maybe two. As against that I am told that Skillstech offer introductions to local employers and even if that turns out to be a none-too-reliable promise, Hubby would be able to take his CV around and bang on doors by himself.

I hope this clarifies what you have been told.

Best wishes

Gill

[KIRK AND CO]

Hi PIO,
My OH is a Panel Beater with City & Guilds part 1 & 2 n were thinking of going 4 a 176 visa instead of a 457.

I have been told by an agent that because he doesn't have a certificate from the employer stating that all modules were completed and stating how many hours were completed on each section then he will have 2 get assessed - TRA $300 may b ok but it might not b enough and he will have 2 get AQF (I think thats what she called it !) which will need 2 b completed in Australia and cost $2000 plus the cost of the flights !!!. Is this the same as VETASSESS that i've seen on this forum ?? n is what i've been told right ????

Can anyone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me out with this cos i'm begining 2 change my mind completely n not bother going at all !!!!

Lynne xx

900 hours is the problem for most & nearly cost me my application. In my case colledge not there any more, Tuitor dead , firm I did apprenticship gone so buy buy oz as I thought then a mirical happend my mum had kept attendance reports that most would of discarded so this verified my 900 hours so do not lose heart miricals do happen.

[Alan Collett]

Hi Lynne

<snip>

I don't know what Skillstech would charge but I am told that they are offering to pay commissions to migration agents who introduce business to them. The first thing I would so is ask Skillstech (a chap called Mike Baker) what sort of commission he would be paying and insist that the price is discounted by that amount instead. Agents make more than enough with their own (exorbitant) fees without needing commissions as well in my view.

<snip> Best wishes

Gill

Alternatively, the 3rd party referrer fee (which you call a commission) might be subsidising the agent's fee, might it not ...?

Best regards.

[Gollywobbler]

Alternatively, the 3rd party referrer fee (which you call a commission) might be subsidising the agent's fee, might it not ...?

Best regards.

This may be so but being secretive about the identity of the third party service provider (eg Skillstech or one of the others) until the Agent has convinced the client to take pot luck on whether or not the agent will come up with something reliable - via getting money out of the client before revealing the identity of the service provider - is bound to cause suspicion and mistrust in the mind of any averagely intelligent observer, I would suggest.

"I found this rattle and I am not going to let you share it with me unless you pay me first" is both unprofessional and childish, is it not? You might not stoop to that level yourself but unfortunately far too many of your fellow RMAs do.

Best wishes

Gill

[Alan Collett]

Lynne,

I will send you a PM with the contact details of an organisation that is able to carry out assessments of Panel Beaters with a view to the issuing of an AQF Certificate III. It isn't Skillstech - and so far as I know we won't be receiving an introductory commission if you engage their services.

Best regards.

[Alan Collett]

This may be so but being secretive about the identity of the third party service provider (eg Skillstech or one of the others) until the Agent has convinced the client to take pot luck on whether or not the agent will come up with something reliable - via getting money out of the client before revealing the identity of the service provider - is bound to cause suspicion and mistrust in the mind of any averagely intelligent observer, I would suggest.

"I found this rattle and I am not going to let you share it with me unless you pay me first" is both unprofessional and childish, is it not? You might not stoop to that level yourself but unfortunately far too many of your fellow RMAs do.

Best wishes

Gill

I hear what you say, Gill, but in the absence of any incentive (financial or otherwise) there will be many firms that would simply not bother taking the time or making the effort to develop relationships with others.

Referrer fees tend to oil the wheels of the advisor relationship, and can provide suitable encouragement to make known the services of others, to the benefit of all - I'd not be too quick to pass an adverse judgement.

Best regards.

[Gollywobbler]

I hear what you say, Gill, but in the absence of any incentive (financial or otherwise) there will be many firms that would simply not bother taking the time or making the effort to develop relationships with others.

Referrer fees tend to oil the wheels of the advisor relationship, and can provide suitable encouragement to make known the services of others, to the benefit of all - I'd not be too quick to pass an adverse judgement.

Best regards.

Fair comment, Alan.

Best wishes

Gill