CROWDED HOUSE

Do you have your ARTC. I dont think Energy Safe would give you even a supervised licence without this. Vetassess only assess you for visa purposes. Do you have somewhere to live on your week off? hotels are so expensive and some of the hostels are the pits! Just letting you know.

 

I would check exactly what job you are going out to. Why would they employ an unlicenced spark when there are so many licenced sparks here already that could start tomorrow. Also, if they are I wouldnt let other electricians know you are unlicenced if you are getting the same rate as them.

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?

so whats ur plan of action now?

just go the poly route, and start work in mines? have they agreed to complete the log book for you?

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.

Hello people i pray someone can help me out and am going insane looking at all the difo ops for visa's and not noing which 1 to take.

My partner paul is a fully qualified electrician here in the uk. Me and my son (2year old) are wanting to move out there. what route do we take ? please some 1 help is it a long process or can we be out there by christmas ? ??

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

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 thought you had a job already as a TA? Will this not count as supervised work?

 

 

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'm heading to Adelaide next week, for the PEER exams. I still don't know what am I going to do with SA license (I hope I'll get it though). Melbourne is not that far from SA, so it's not a big deal to relocate if I can find a job there. The vicious circle is closing by fact that I'm on Vic State Sponsored Visa. Things are still the same with mutual recognition of licenses - SA license is on the blacklist, and National licensing is not on the horizon yet. However, I've got a forklift license easy - in a day :biggrin: , I'll put that in my CV, and if I score SA electrical license I was thinking to approach Ventura to become a bus driver :eek:

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.

Be very careful mate with that, I made that mistake a while ago and now I'm stuck with fitter's certificate, which makes me a low-life here in Vic. :jiggy: And it was just about what I've been doing more for them, because I was doing both - inst and maintenance.

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

Is anyone else having problems? I can't tell because I view more posts per page so I only have 42 pages. I know sometimes if posts have been deleted earlier in the thread it may show as 163 but it's only 162. Have you tried deleting cookies and cache

Thanks for that! Much Better

we should all gang up on energy safe... crowded house u r main app arent u?

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

Great news on the job offer, I take it u have contacts there??

So what's your plans with this course stuff? I emailed the polytechnic & reply stating 170 hrs, then 12 month log book. Wtf!!!!

Does this mean attending college as a student for 170 hrs... What's the deal wit you going to mines? As a TA then can they do ur log book. Did I read somewhere the cost of the course at polytechnic is $1700.. Money spinner I'm thinking. My reply email didn't make much sence so I couldn't be bothered sending another. What is your next step then?

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.

I have to agree with what AJ said. You need a lot of tickets to get in the mines as well which costs time and money. Also a 4 and 1 roster is gonna be hard when you first arrive unless your family have friends or other family here too.

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 have now been in Perth for 5 weeks.I have an ostr from vetassess. I have now applied for around 50 jobs and sent CV's and a cover letter to around 40 companies at least.Had a few replies saying i have an impressive CV and references but they are not hiring at the moment. I actually got the first job i applied for but the Friday before i was due to start i recieved an email saying the work had been held up and they would let me know when it picks up again. I had another interview where the company was keen on me but as soon as he found out i couldn't work alone when he phoned energy safe during the interview to see what restrictions i was under he told me he would be in touch later that day and i never heard back from him. Nobody is interested in someone that has to be supervised for a year. None of the contractors i have spoken to are aware of the changes that were made in July either so that certainly dosen't make things any easier. I have tried speaking to energy safe, the union and NECA( Oz ECA) and all i get told told is that they sympathise and that they are inundated with similar calls from electricians in the same boat. I finally received my enrollment form for polytechnic west. The cost has magically risen to $2008 from the $1700 i was originally told when i put my name down( i have yet to speak to them and ask why!) I asked energy safe if i could go the ARTC route i was told no, so i then asked why i am punished for being the main visa applicant to which i was told they have no idea.......... EPIC. I also have tp provide the australian regs book and cable selection book which will no doubt cost me a fair bit too. I am now undecided on wether i should attend the course as that could mean i am not working for another 6 weeks as i have to attend college and may just wait till i find a job first to start earning money. Its a bit of a nightmare scenario to be honest and it really makes me wonder why they are still inviting electricians here. I am confident i will get something eventually but money is dwindling fast and 3 months would be a long time to go without money coming in after the initial start up costs.

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!!

Hi there,

No, it's the mechanic you should apply for. Basically, fitters are maintenance sparks, and mechanics are installation sparks. Seems counter intuitive, but that's bureaucracy for you.

Regards Derren

Thanks for that. I will change my application ASAP

Sorry me again

Im now going down the TRA route, not to happy about this Vetassess gap training. Does anyone know what type of Electrician i should nominate myself for? On the application it ask if you are an Electrical Fitter or Electrical Mechanic? Im guessing Fitter. Im an Installation Electrician so would that be the one?

Sounds a lot but remember it will be for 7 days, 12 hours a day.

Yeah not exactly what i had in mind. I ve done this crap in the UK working on Power stations, Oil refinerys and LNG storage facilitys. Cant be any worse than working on these. More importantly its a foot in the door, something i will do until i can find something else. Last thing i wanna do is go out without a job.

One other thing. Anyone going out soon i would recomend a company for doing your white card. http://www.bluedogtraining.com.au

Did mine last week with the web cam on me for the whole duration from home (UK). very easy and simple to do. costs $90 dollars but its one less thing to do when your out there. Looking at going end of the month if a job offer comes up. Luckly have a friend from the same town as me who has put my name forward. I had to have the white card to apply. The job is on the mines as a TA but pays $2300 a week. Fly in Fly out (FIFO) 4 weeks on 1 week off. I will do my best to see if there is any more TA positions available. if there is i will post on here.

Hi All

Just wanted to get some feedback from any of yourselves that have moved to perth recently or going to move this year. Hows the Job hunting going and if anyone has any kind of a glimpse at the new course for us un worthy sparkys that have to do the gap training through polytechnic west.

Look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

crowded house

what exactly did polytechnic say was the procedure to obtaining this dam licence.

head slightly confused by all these changes again!!!!

When we called them they did not have a clue what the program was going to be and the nice lady was equally frustrated at the program and also confirmed to us that employers need fully licensed electricians. Since then we have phoned back and She thinks its a 2 week course then you go and do your log book on site (for which you must be employed to have it checked by a licensed electrician). Once your log book is complete (anywhere up to a year) you then return to sit a final exam. once passed you can then apply to energy safe for the full unrestricted A grade license.

Basically if your looking to apply for jobs make sure you get booked on this course before getting a start. I may have a job on the mines in september but its a "fifo" 3 weeks on and 1 week off and i dont know how thats gonna work with this gap training. I need to look at doing the course before the job starts. From what i gather theres a course running october (ring and confirm polytechnic west first) then every where shuts down until febuary next year. So im sure that its gonna get booked up quick as its the only place you can now do your gap training.

Regards

Yeah me too, a friend of mine hasn't got good things to say about them either, i would definitely check out what they say with energy safety and Balcatta college too, before going ahead with anything, it only takes a minute to ring them to check there route is correct, as they are not cheap at tradies down under. Good luck.

After endless phone calls of despair at the changes one of the questions i did ask at the licensing office at energy safe was about the down under tradies group and the course they run. The chap did acknowledge the company but stressed that there gap training was no longer a route that could be taken. Polytechnic west is now the only course that will be recognised through energy safe so beware!! Energy safe issue the license after seeing succesful training through there dedicated RTO :skeptical:

The meeting that's mentioned above, just so there may be more information available. I'm in the exact same boat as you guys, we (myself, missus, 2 children) are flying out on 3rd of Sept and straight into what looks like a nightmare.

Yeah thats exactly how we feel, we r supposed to be heading out Nov time hopefully. Cant really seem to find much info on it all on the net. Just hope employers are going to educated a bit with taking people in this situation on. Will you let us know how u get on? Where about are you heading to in WA?

ah sorry my hubby wrote that i didnt read his previous post! hope for a good outcome but wont get my hopes up!

If you haven't paid your money then hold off until the outcome of the meeting.

Think I'll ring them next week to assess the situation again.

Good luck. It may get thrown out.

Ok what meeting is it Biggaf? I hope it will get thrown out but apprently they have done it to be in line with the other states in Oz as think u have to do on the job log book thing with all the other states apart from wa up to now. Seems strange that they havent officially published it anywhere. The college in Balcatts is still offering the course even though Energy Safe have said if hubby did it they wouldnt even take it into consideration now. Its polytechnic west college and12 months log book or nothing! So frustrating

Hi guys, well we have just found out over the past few days that WA have changed their pathway to gaining an A Grade Electricial Licence. My hubby will now have to do 12 months on the job expereince working on a restricted licence (all work will have to be checked) and do the college course. Up to a few weeks back he could have just sat the 2 week college course and then been given the licence. Really frustrated they have just changed this with no pre warning! We are now in a bit of a panic wondering whether ts actually going to be worth heading out to Perth now as Hubby cant really afford to take a reduced wage for effectively working as a trainee when we have a young family to support and i doubt there will be many employers looking to take someone on who doesnt have the full A Grade licence, every job vacancy on seek.com asks for one! Is there anyone else in the same boat as us?! Would appreciate other peoples thoughts on this as seriously worried!

I just received my restricted license in the post and it listed rto's to contact but it only showed 1, Polytechnic West. As i said previously they changed the system 3 weeks ago and this is the way energy safe have decided. Unless they change it again this is what we have to do. The gap training is that 2 week course to begin with which i am booked on in October then log book then 1 week at college again and trade test after a year for $1700. Up until 3 weeks ago you could just do the 2 week course. Its all a mess tbh and no one really seems to know.

This just gets worse. No information or warning from Vetassess at all. We called Energy Safe this morning as they have had problems processing my application payment. we paid over the phone and then asked to be transfered to the licensing department to find out exactly whats going off! They informed us that there is one place now that you can do the gap training and this is Polytechnic west. The course will run for a year. No more 2 week course, to get your license! this loop hole is well and truly shut. We then called Polytechnic west and spoke to the department who is carrying out the training. The nice lady on the phone answered as honestly as possible with "we dont have a clue whats happening, we dont know what the course involves all we know is that Vetassess has appointed us as the official college" she then went on to say "its a joke, there are companys in perth that are desperate for ellectricans, we dont know how long the course will be for but there will also be a seperate course for employers to boost confidence in taking on electricians with the restricted license. we have a meeting scheduled with vetassess next week, until then we dont have any answers for your questions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel like im having a nightmare and that any minute im gonna wake up and everythings gonna be ok again.

every job on seek.com.au states Electrician wanted must have A GRADE LICENSE!!

Also he forms you have to complete on energy safety website is asking for different forms of id to get 100 points .can only see that we would be able to use passport (70 points) what else are you using?

 

Thanks

Try and get a reference to from previous employer. As much as you can supply