Exacavator Operator heading to Perth in Feb on 2nd WHV

[Diggerman]

hello all, just recently found the forum! :D

Im 27 and heading to Perth in Feb time, no flights booked as of yet. In 2007 i spent the whole year backpacking round this amazing country after graduating from uni. While working in Brisbane i bought a car, and did the classic drive up to townsville, worked there for 3mths then with a mate drove to carins.

We did the overland route on un-paved roads to burketown - daly waters - darwin -wolfe creek - broome - tom price -perth! what a trip! haha! my car, a mitsi magna was about trashed at the end of it!

Worked near moora then for 3mths for a future 2nd whv, cutting hay silage for a farm contractor driving a big john deere tractor! (alot easier than fruit picking!)

Does anybody know where i get my Excavator ticket from in the Perth area? http://www.richardsmining.com.au/training_courses any places any cheaper? back in 07 i took a nsw construction card course, this became valid for my work in queensland, would this still be valid or would i need to re-take it?

Ive been to 2 expos this year, in manchester and brum, both events were sort of positive, well although im not on the skills list for the 457 visa, everyone said basically, if i can over there, then i would find work easily, so hence why im heading the 2nd whv route, as it seems the easist route for me to take to get back in OZ.

I hope i dont sound ignorant, but i basically plan to crash at backpacker hostels for a few weeks, while buying a cheap car or ute, get my excavator ticket, then find work. Once in work i would get rented appartment etc. Its just me and suitcase and my laptop! Im single and it is abit daunting, but when i was backpacking i flew out on my own and made alot of friends in hostels. I do have some contacts, but i also intend to seek the Perth offices of mining companies and hand my cv to them direct.

Has anybody else started a new life in Oz from road construction and groundworks backround?

Im a finish grade excavator operator, also drive dozers and adts. Im used to fine grading stone and soil to precise grades and levels, foundations, roads, ponds etc so i have no experience driving equipment of 200tonnes in a mining enviroment, but id like to get into that because of the big bucks! :)

Any tips or help will be apreciated! Cheers Mike

[WeegieDave]

Plenty of infrastructure works being done in WA. Mine infrastructure being one of the main ones at the moment so I imagine with all the roads being constructed then a grader or dozer operator will have no problem finding work. As for the tickets, I'm not sure but no doubt someone will point you in thebright direction.

[scottishstacey]

im a bit confused, can you get a second working holiday visa? i thought once you used it that was it. Get in touch with mrs keily, she'll be able to point you in the right direction with everything, her hubbys a digger driver in perth. shes in scotland on holiday at the moment but she should be back in january. x

[Diggerman]

hello, yes you can get a 2nd working visa, if you have done 3mths rural work in your first whv, hence why hundreds of backpackers do the fruit picking, i wasnt keen on picking bananas for peanuts, so got a well paid job in a air-conditioned tractor in W.A! thanks!

[scottishstacey]

aah sorry i just assumed that after you did your 3months you had to continue your next year, i didnt realise you could go home and come back after a few years. not sure if im making any sense lol. I'll let you know when mrs keily is back online, theres also a guy on here called James thats a digger driver in the northern territory but i dont think hes been online for a while, ill check for you.

best of luck :)