Tracyb37

After some advice if possible. We moved to WA in 2009. Hubby got skills assessed through Vetassess for visa and when we arrived he did the two week sparky course and then got his A licence. He has worked at several companies since then. He has recently applied for a job with Downers on the Wheatstone project and they have asked him for a copy of his ARTC. Now we don't think he ever got that but they are saying that he has to have it before he can be mobilised.

Has anyone else had this problem? I understand there were some issues with energy safety processing licences wrong but trying to find any concrete information is proving to be a nightmare!!

Hi yes that is right re licence in WA, see my previous post on how my OH got his. Two week course anlthough there could be a waiting list for the course - and you pay more for the intensive course, about $800 plus $300 for books. Geoff did get a cheque back for $700 as a refund from his course fees, not sure why but hey $700 is $700!

Hi guys

Trying to keep track of this thread so I thought I would post about my hubbys vetassess/otsr/artc experience in WA!

Geoff was one of the first sparkys to go through the vetassess route and when we were still in England, trying to get info on how he would get his licence was a nightmare. Nobody seemed to have a clue what was going on. Once we had the OTSR we were originally told by Energy safety that he would still need to apply for ARTC via TRA. And we were also told that he would have to work for a year supervised before he could get his licence. We then wrote to TRA who told us no you don't have to apply for an ARTC if you are assessed under Vetassess. I then contacted Energy Safety again who told me TRA didn't know what they were talking about and without an ARTC Geoff couldn't apply for a restricted licence! Then shortly before we came out I was looking on energy safety website and the form for the restricted licence had changed to say you had to provide EITHER an ARTC OR OSTR!!! Confused - we were!! As soon as we arrived off we went to Energy Safety with the form filled out and the $37 fee. We were then given a list of colleges that Geoff needed to go to. Turns out he only needed to do the Electrical Trade Licence course to get his A licence and not have 12 months experience.

Geoff was given the choice of a 10 week part time course or a two week intensive course to do. He opted for the two week course and after a stressful two weeks got the nod to say he had passed. So we went back to the Energy Safety with our $325 and they gave him his licence there and then.

So in the end it was a lot more straightforward than what we had anticipated.

Our only problem now is finding a job. A lot of companies seem to be laying people off so it seems things are starting to hit here. Keeping everything crossed that an opportunity comes along soon