markstott1980

Went to a TAFE in Mt. Druitt, NSW today and presented my NVQ folders and VETASSESS qualifications. They said I could do my gap training there as well as get on the job experience and be done in 6 months.

Hello all, Just a quick update from NSW. I have registered with the VTT for recognition of skills and they will supply me with a craft certificate. I also called a couple of RTO's and was eventually directed to the Ultimo Campus of TAFE who basically put people with VETASSESS qualifications through a course to enable them to move from the provisional certificate to the full license. It's two nights a week for 6 months and costs $1500. That's as far as I know for now, I'll get back to you with updates. I've still only been here 3 weeks. Mark

Arrived in NSW a week ago, done a few tourist things and today set about the dreaded license thingy. Went to NSW office of fair trading with my VETASSESS certificate, a passport photo, and $126.......easy as that. I will receive a provisional electrical license in around 4-6 weeks meaning I can work as an electrician as long as I am supervised which suits me as I will be employed by an electrical contracting company.

Hello again, Seems like everyone is asking for a quick way or an easy way to get things done. All I want to know is the right way, nothing else about the visa process has been quick...... I have a VETASSESS certificate and an OTSR. I have been reliably informed that I can go to the NSW office of fair trading and get a provisional license. This will allow me to work under supervision which is handy because I have no interest in being self employed and have secured employment with an industrial maintenance company already. How does the provisional license get changed to a full license? What is the name of the course, where do I do it and how long does it take? Cheers Mark

Hey Sparkies. I'm not sure what background and experience you all have but I am offshore oil & gas based and had an interesting conversation with an employee of Randstad who are a recruitment agency. I applied for a particular job on SEEK and he got in touch and asked me to fill in a bunch of registration forms so he could advertise me to some of his clients. Try it if you like...... http://www.randstad.com.au/

The General Skilled Migration Program Some applicants may have come to Australia through the Commonwealth Government’s General Skilled Migration Program for selected countries and trade occupations. The five countries currently under the program are: United Kingdom India South Africa Sri Lanka Philippines. The current trade occupations are: electrician plumber refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic carpenter joiner bricklayer. Under the Migration Program, applicants may apply to VETASSESS for assessment of their skills and knowledge before coming to Australia. For information about how to have an assessment done contact VETASSESS. Any applicant under the Migration Program who is issued with an Off-Shore Technical Skills Record from VETASSESS, is eligible to be granted: a provisional tradesperson certificate for electricians and air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and roof plumbers or a provisional tradesperson certificate for plumbers, drainers and gasfitters. Any applicant issued with a qualification through VETASSESS is eligible to be granted a contractor licence or supervisor’s certificate for carpentry, bricklaying and/or joinery.

Just thought I'd post a reply and some links from the NSW office of fair trading. I asked them about the VETASSESS route and the provisional license........... Dear Mr Stott I refer to your enquiry regarding an electrician licence. The following link explains that you can apply for a provisional tradesperson certificate for electrician. http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/Tradespeople/Home_building_licensing/Applying_for_a_licence_or_certificate/Overseas_trained_applicants.html The application form and fee is attached. http://blis.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/licence_file/0011/277085/ap4371.pdf http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/About_us/What_the_Office_of_Fair_Trading_does/Fees/Home_building_fees.html The proof of identity (POI) required with each application is as follows: 1. One Document from POI List 1, and 2. Two documents from POI List 2. These three documents must include: At least one document that shows your photograph and date of birth At least one document that shows your current address One passport quality photograph. I trust the above information assists you. Yours sincerely Susan Thein Assistant Customer Service Officer NSW Fair Trading

Hello Sparkies Can I get a straight answer to a simple question? I have a VETASSESS certificate, gained while here in the UK, and now have a visa. The NSW office of fair trading says this entitles me to a provisional tradespersons license. I have secured employment with a large electrical firm before I arrive next month. I believe there is a training course or gap training to help me get a full license. What is the name of the course and where do I do it? Cheers Mark

Sweet!! Been offered a job as an HV maintenance electrician before I even arrive. The power of the email!! 5 weeks to go!!

Hello It's been a while since I posted on this thread but not much happened for a long time and then BANG! We have a visa, flights booked and all that jazz. We wanted a Permanent Residency visa for the family and are planning to move to NSW. My cousin has a house in Glenmore Park which we are going to rent from her. I went through the VETASSESS route and I have to say it was a lot easier than I expected. I did it at Blackburn college in October 2009. Laid back instructor, not expecting you to have a degree in electrical engineering, just the common sense of doing the job that a normal electrician would have. Everybody got put into a booth where they had to install a consumer unit that fed a socket and a light with a two-way switch if I remember correctly. Before we started he said that he didn't have a tape measure or a spirit level so not to worry too much about presentation. The college must have been used the day before for the same assessment because the markings and screwholes were still in the wall!! This made things a bit easier! He came over to me first with the motor starter. He said from my background on the rigs I would be better getting it out of the way first as it is my main area rather than the domestic stuff. All the components (contactor, stop/start, etc.) were all connected into chocolate block on the bottom of the board and I had to connect up from there. Once connected I asked if he was going to test it. He said why bother, we both know it's going to work, and was away to the next cubicle allowing me to continue with the installation. Over the rest of the day he called us all into a different booth to show him an isolation procedure/check dead/prove test instrument etc. The advice he gave me, sensing my nerves, was if you know the answer to a question I will get it out of you. If you don't, I won't. When the installation was complete, I tested it and recorded the results on the test sheet. When he came along and looked I asked if he was going to verify the results, he said there was no need. Jokingly I suggested that I could have flogged the results, he replied that only a real sparky could flog the results and still get them right and that was proof enough for him. Multiple choice questions. I did a bit of swatting up. Imagine that an electrical teaching book has 10 chapters, you won't need past chapter 4 for the depth of the questions. Basic ohms law stuff, resistors in parallel, what is the current, all multiple choice though. He told me I had passed on the day and I had the certificate within a month. That was all at the end of 2009. Following on, we submitted our visa paperwork in April 2010 and got notification of our case worker in March 2011 saying that we would be dealt with in June. Couldn't manage to get our medicals booked until July due to work/school so that was the last thing we were waiting for. Did the medicals Monday, got the visa granted on the Friday. Booked flights and we will be in Sydney airport on 31st October!!! Next step, find a more local job so I'm not flying out to this drillship every other month. Anybody know any contacts for getting onto the rigs over there? I know it's all in Perth but with a 14/14 rota it wouldn't bother me to fly back and forth. Take it easy everyone.

Hello folks, Just thought I'd drop a line to announce my disappointment at not passing my TRA assessment for Electrician Special Class. I decided to try this route first as it was cheaper and the job description seemed to fit my current job better. My application was rejected on the grounds that I have no evidence of experience in industrial electronics or pneumatic and hydraulic control systems. Onwards we go anyway, it's VETASSESS next and to be honest I have had some of the wind knocked out of my sails but I am determined to get it completed. One question.......do you have to fill in all the details of the tasks you have carried out on the SR2.6 form? Can I write a brief description and refer to an entry from my log book as evidence which would then explain in more detail? Tata for now (I'm on shift in 6 hours so better get some sleep, not likely with the waves bobbing us up and down though!!) Mark -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------No agent used, TRA assessment sent away 10/02/09, TRA unsuccessful (bummer!) 22/02/09, starting on the VETASSESS process 10/03/09