CROWDED HOUSE

Hi I recently applied for mine from the UK. It took 4 weeks for me to post the form to oz and to receive it back at my home in the UK. Hope that helps :wink:

Yeah so basically you cant apply for ARTC through the TRA until you have a visa and you must be in Australia to apply. This is because they may want you to do a trade test if the evidence you supply is not good enough or some kind of questions like a phone interview. Have a look at this thread: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=491978 This will explain what the process is. I have also emailed them myself two weeks ago. frustrated with this gap training i wanted to know if they would assess my trade so i could cut the years gap training out. I gave a wrong name and explanned that i had my vetassess OTSR but was not happy about the doing the gap training and the problem of nobody wanting to employ restricted licence electricians. Heres what i got in responce: Trades people currently holding an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) will need to complete Australian context training and a period of supervised employment prior to applying for an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC). Upon arrival in Australia tradespersons in licensed trades who hold an OTSR are required to work under the supervision of a licensed tradesperson and undertake Australian context training to gain Australian specific knowledge such as occupational health and safety regulations, wiring rules, codes of practice and other Australian standards. For OTSR holders who choose to apply for an ARTC before completing their Australian context training and supervised employment, TRA will notify the relevant Local Committee that the applicant has not met their OTSR training and supervised employment requirements, Australian specific knowledge of that trade is incomplete. Local Committees are currently awaiting direction from the ARTC Central Committee on whether or not an ARTC may be granted to an applicant who has not yet completed their OTSR. Until such advice is received, applicants currently holding an incomplete OTSR will be held pending the Central Committee decision. The Central Committee is not due to meet in the near future. If you are currently holding an OTSR you should complete the requirements of your OTSR. ARTC applicants with an OTSR will need to provide Local Committees with evidence that they have completed their OTSR requirements.

Good luck with the course. Let us know what's involved and how you get on! ?

There's not a massive difference in the wages. I ve just got a job in a mine north of perth. The difference is about $1000 dollars per 28 day shift. It's still heart breaking but what can you do. The long term plan which should have come into force this year is for one license for every state. There saying this national licence may come in next year now. So we will see what happens.

Dont think there is an easiest state. South Australia probably. But that means going down the TRA route and the Peer. You would still have to do your Vetassess to be able to apply for the visa. As i ve said on the other thread you started. You need a visa to be able to apply to the TRA unless your not the main applicant. But you will need some kind of visa. Its a nightmare pal but rules are the rules.

Hi No you cannot apply to the TRA if you dont have a Visa. If you are under 31 years of age you can apply for a working holiday visa and then apply to the TRA. You will need to supply an oz address to the TRA. The Vettasses route has to be done for migration purposes. Unless your not the main applicant (EXAMPLE: partners a nurse etc and shes the main applicant for the visa). If your applying as the main applicant you will need to go through vetassess. Regards and good luck! its a mine field! :arghh:

If your coming on a working holiday visa, you don't need Vetassess. This is for migration to Oz and there's few people that would recommend it. Vetassess is very expensive (£1500) You can go the TRA route ($300). Same thing, but you need to be in oz to apply. Send all your Certs off, references etc then you won't have to do gap training. You may not even have to do a trade test depending on the quality of evidence you submit.

No you can apply from the UK. They will then send your license back to the UK along with a letter stating where to do your gap traing. It took me about 4 weeks to receive the license. Gap training at polytechnic is costing $2000 dollars plus books. You do a 2 week course and then you fill out your log book but you have to be employed to do that. Good luck

My Mrs did everything her self. the vetassess forms the IELTS booked and practice material organised, The visa forms the medical forms state sponsership etc. All the agents do is fill the forms. you still have to sort all the paper work required for them. It is a long winded process though. Good luck

Ummm. Be careful. Search this thread back about 10-20 pages. Theres a chap who paid that and it got him no-where. They used to be able to do it but the rules changed july. I would just get you Vetassess done and look at doing your gap training when in oz. Regards

Yeah send off for you WA licence but i doubt you will be at ballcatta CET. You will now need to go to Polytechnic West. But just check on your letter back from energy safe. They will dictate where you have to do your gap training.

Yes pay through the nose just like im about to do. So let me just ask you. Before you come to oz. a friend of yours asked you if he can help get you a start where he is working! Would you say no? Now this to me is a no brainer especially reading some of the horror storys i ve read on here. I dont wanna get into silly arguments over this and i appreciate that im gonna hit the ground running and im very greatful for that. I have the bit of paper from energy safe saying im allowed to work as an electrician but that i need to complete the relevant gap training and all work must be checked. Peace out

I think you need to just read what i ve put. Once again i will just say it. I have friends in perth that are willing to put me up. I have a friend on the Job who has got me the start. All acomadation on the job is provided along with food. Energy safe are now not calling the licence a supervised licence and not restricted. May i also just remind you that we are all electricians here. Just because we have to go down this route dont mean that i deserve less money. I think youve just got it in for me on here. Is there anything else you would like to mock me on?

Well i ve gotta make a phone call monday to find out about starting the job blah blah. But as i said im skint after just getting married weve blown all our savings on that. I ve got enough for a flight and a bit of spending money, so im gonna have to sack the course off until i get some cash back in the bank. so probably gonna sit the course later. I ve got some friends in bayswater and there happy to put me up until i fly out to the job. Probably have to have a week off work to do the course. The family will just come out early next year. House still not sold, might have to rent it out. Whats your plan? when you thinking as going. I ve been told by employer i have to get a letter from energy safe. there not employing me as a TA but as an electrician so i will be getting spark rates but i just need this letter saying im a electrician that needs supervision.

Yeah its a nightmare......Firstly apply to Vetasess to get your skills checked. This will involve sending proof of certs and proof of work history for the last 5-7 years backed up by references photos etc as well as sitting a day theory and practical exam on motors, (star delta starters, DOL) resistors, installation lighting and power circuits etc theory questions on resistors transformers volt drops, etc only If your fella is the main applicant. That will cost you around £1500 + then you may need IELTS (english assesment) that will cost £100 + Then you need to register with the new skill select (not 100% sure about that as we did the old visa route) then you will need to pay for visa (around £2000) then you will need to do medicals £600+ and this is just to get your visa. Once you have paid to get out there your fella will need to do gap training for a year (must be in a job first) the cost for that is $2000 dollars + course material. Hope that helps for a very quick idea of whats involved cost wise and what to expect to do to get your visa approved

The next course at Polytechnic is next Febuary. I dont think i can start my log book until ive been on the 2 week course.

I sent an email to TRA and got this responce after asking if they would be so kind to assess my skills. Dont look good for us Vetassess rejects!! I thank you for your enquiry regarding the Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC). Trades people currently holding an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) will need to complete Australian context training and a period of supervised employment prior to applying for an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC). Upon arrival in Australia tradespersons in licensed trades who hold an OTSR are required to work under the supervision of a licensed tradesperson and undertake Australian context training to gain Australian specific knowledge such as occupational health and safety regulations, wiring rules, codes of practice and other Australian standards. For OTSR holders who choose to apply for an ARTC before completing their Australian context training and supervised employment, TRA will notify the relevant Local Committee that the applicant has not met their OTSR training and supervised employment requirements, Australian specific knowledge of that trade is incomplete. Local Committees are currently awaiting direction from the ARTC Central Committee on whether or not an ARTC may be granted to an applicant who has not yet completed their OTSR. Until such advice is received, applicants currently holding an incomplete OTSR will be held pending the Central Committee decision. The Central Committee is not due to meet in the near future. If you are currently holding an OTSR you should complete the requirements of your OTSR. ARTC applicants with an OTSR will need to provide Local Committees with evidence that they have completed their OTSR requirements.

Yeah i ve heard the horror stories. My background is all Install. Had the odd spell of Maintenance but im not gonna mention it to them

Thanks for that! Much Better

Yeah im The main Aplicant on our visa! I dont know how its gonna work with the visa Application! i presume that as long as you get your licence it wont matter! Are you the main Applicant

Why is this thread not working? Upto page 163 wont let me view anymore

Im told they want me start mid october. So im gonna head out in a couple of weeks. I Have a mate thats working on the same job. There setting up a new team, i dont know that much but i applied for a TA position. its paying $9200 a trip (4 weeks) Licensed sparks are getting $10800 a trip. I called polytechnic. They have 3 spaces available for november the next one is febuary?? Im gonna try and cut this out and do the TRA route. Basically send all your certs references to them (just like Vetassess) and they decide to either give you an ARTC or make you sit a trade test again. Its a run around but the assesment is only $300 dollars. Ifthey give me the ARTC i can then go to the college of electrical training and do the 2 week course. I also called Energy Safety and told them what i planned on doing. They said thats fine but i have to surrender my restricted license to them and re-apply after getting my ARTC and passing at CET. By the way the course at Polytechnic is $2000 dollars. I confirmed it when i called last week. Apparently they got the fees wrong. You will also have to by course material. I think with the job, its who you know when it comes down to it. They wouldnt have gave me a second looking if it wasnt for my mate putting a word in. Its the same here in the UK. I ve worked all over the place on powerstations, oil refinerys, LNG plants etc, and 9 times out of 10 its generally someone you know getting you a start on them. If im honest I dont think i would move the family out with no job to go to. Its a mine field. Nobody wants to employ TAs i ve heard loads storys of sparks driving buses and running surf shops just to pay some bills cause they cant get a start. I cant afford that. My moneys still tied up in our house which aint selling so probably gonna have to rent it out and on top of that we are getting married this saturday which has cost me another £12000 grand and thats a low budget wedding. Im gonna go out in a few weeks but i dont think the family will be coming until Jan/Feb next year.

Well luckily I ve been offered the job today without all that. As for working away I ve done worse shifts than that, 6 months being the longest and I won't be shipping the mrs and kids out until next January.

I feel bad for you.....I dont think im gonna risk coming out until i know i have a job. But even then, if i get this job on the mines which is 4 weeks away and 1 off!! how will i be able to do this training? Keep me posted on your job progress. Good luck and fingers crossed!!

Thanks for that. I will change my application ASAP