The Peak

Hi, Good luck with your new move. I've been in Perth for a year now and it's definitely the best move I've ever made. My sister is in the beginning stages of immigrating and I'm wondering if any of you have used a migration agent or done it yourself? All the best,

Hi Susan, My name's Michael. I moved to a Northern Suburb of Perth 8 weeks ago on a permanent visa with my wife and two young children. I am a plumber/gas fitter to trade back in Scotland but my qualifications meant nothing here. I too did my Vetassess before leaving the UK. I have just finished my trades recognition at the TAFE institute in Freemantle, Perth. The Pom Queen is correct, each state is a little different. It's worth noting however that one of the guys on my course had flown over from the Gold Coast to do the course in Perth as it was both cheaper and quicker (two weeks). Bear with me as there is a few things you will need to know but I'll try to stick to the point. Firstly, your husband will need to take the migrant plumbing course (two weeks full time). This costs around $2400 if you do not have a permanent residency visa. If you do have a permanent resident visa, the cost is around $700 as it is subsidised by the government. He will need to buy a copy of the regulations (AS3500) which is $370. However, there is a way to download the regulations for free at the TAFE college but he will need to find a decent print shop to print off the copies. I did it for $80, saving me nearly $300! The course is fairly easy and as long as he has proof that he has worked as a plumber for 5 years or more, I see no reason why he shouldn't pass. It's all open book. This qualification will give him a Plumbing Licence but he will not be allowed to sign jobs off ie. work for himself. For this he will need a Plumber Contractors licence which is a further 3 weeks at TAFE and another $600 (roughly) I have still to do this but I know that I will need to get some on-the-job training before I attempt it, things are quite different here. The Gas course is separate. Firstly, he will need to get his restricted licence (they call it Class G). This means that he can only work as a supervised engineer ie. needs to have his work signed off by a Class III Engineer. This course is a bit of a farce in my opinion. It costs around $360. There is some online work to do initially then 1 day at the TAFE college to sit the test. It mainly consists of regulations and safety features. Common sense to any qualified engineer in the UK. It can't be failed. (again, my humble opinion!) This restricted Gas Fitters licence (Class G) lasts for 12 months, extendable to 24 months if required. It is advised to get some experience during this time before sitting the Class III Gas Fitters course (another 3 weeks and slightly less than $1000). The Class G licence can only be validated by an employer who needs to be fully qualified, a hurdle I have yet to vault. Most Migrants apparently fail if they sit it without Australian experience. Same for the plumbing contractors licence. I'm going to wait a while before attempting both, I'll need to earn some cash first as my pockets are wearing thin. Right, that should give you something to go on for the time being. I can't say for sure how different things are over East, maybe less dramatic. But please do not worry. I have good tips and advice should you need them. I can PM you details of the College I attended and the very nice lady who works there. She has all the information you need and quite happy to talk you through it. My wife can also fill you in on how we have managed with the kids etc. Please feel free to ask any more questions and if I can help you out, I will. We are still jumping through the hoops but all in all, it's certainly worth the effort. Australia is definitely the place to be. All the best in your endeavours. Michael :eek: