CROWDED HOUSE

I have no idea how often it is run but i would guess you would have to book a few months in advance best thing to do is call or email them and ask. CET Balcatta can't do the gap training unless that has changed recently it is only Polytechnic West that can do the gap training .

Hey Colin

Hope your well mate. Just giving all the heads up that you can now do your gap training at CET. after a constant battle of trying to get Polytechnic to respond to emails, phone calls etc regarding a date for my capstone, (pass capstone = A grade licence) i had little or no choice but to ring energy safety to get my Restricted licence extended and after getting a telling off that i should have completed my gap training by now and that it cant be the college thats at fault, they extended the licence and told me that CET is now running the course to take the load off Polytechnic.

If you gonna go through this i would seriously go through the CET. CET is privately run Polytechnic is goverment funded.

Finally have a date in november for my capstone.

The nightmare will hopefully soon be over!!!:arghh:

Hi everyone my name is Dave I'm 27, I have just moved to the Gold Coast from Southampton with my partner on a spouses visa. I am a fully qualified UK electrician. I was just wondering if there is anyone who knows of any electrical TA jobs going while i complete the necessary courses to become an oz sparky.

 

I have been here 2 weeks and enjoying the life so far, but need to get in to the real world and get a job, its not cheap when you aren't earning :biggrin:

 

Thanks in advance for any help

Gas is kicking of in your area. Apply for this. If you don't mind working 3 weeks on 1 week off. http://www.ecandm.com.au

you will be regarded as a better TA than others as you are an overseas electrician you will need your EWP licence and CPR

good luck

Cheers i looked a bit up on it so kinda have the jist now

 

does anyone know if ill still get sponsored handy enough? Any things to do before i go over to try get sponsor sorted?

Hi

ive just done the 2 week course with 11 other guys. This is the electrical licensing course required to get a A grade unrestricted licence that col mac is talking about. There's a lot to do in regard to assignments after the course there is an additional comms course (another 4 days off work) a 1000 hour log book and then you have to come back and do more exams. A lot of the lads that were doing the course were sponsored or on working holiday. There's just no point doing it if your on a working holiday, by the time you ve finished it you will be going home. As for getting sponsored, that's getting harder as the government are now clamping down on 457 visas. There's adverts all over TV from the union ranting on about mining companies bringing in foreign workers when there are thousands and thousands Aussies that can do the same job! I work on the mines and in my opinion there's no skills shortage, it's purely down to the system in WA that takes around 4-6 weeks for you to get on site. Most lads on this course that are working local are earning around $20-25 and hour not doing more than 40 hours a week. That's around a $1000 a week. Your weekly rent in a half decent suburb is around $500 a week your food shop is around $200.

Sorry for being negative folks but life's tough here. This licensing crap is just making it harder.

You can get the ASNZ 3000 and 3008 printed and binded in the library for about 50 bucks. You will need them for the homework as well.

Thanks Colin. Is that the libary at the collage? How have you found the course so far?

Hi

If anyone can help out i would be most greatful. Im Starting my gap training at polytechnic on the 8th of april, and just wondered if anybody knows where i can get the printed version of the aus/nz 2000 regs or or perhaps an unwanted copy that anyone has to buy or borrow?

Many thanks

It's supposed to be hard to get in to the mines though isn't it?

Yes its hard to get into. There is a saying for the type of people that work on these mines and you need to be part of it or them to stay in the game. There called ................"Purple Circle"

You have to like sucking c*ck alot and generally be the worst electrician to walk the outback.

Its pathetic. Moneys good but you really have to bite your tongue. The working away is crap and the heat in the pilbura is evil

Hi Kyle good luck for your trip.

Theres loads of gas work out here and most people in the mining game will tell you its on the verge of booming again. I have my compEX to, but its not reconised out here and you will have to do a) 5 day HA installation course if you want to get into the construction side of it b) the HA inspection course if you want to get into inspections. Before you can do the course you will need to obtain an electrical license for the state your moving to. You cant do the course without it. Course costs will be around $3000 dollars each one. To do any kind of instrumention you will need a level 5 ticket in instrumentation. Again around $4000 dollars to do the course and timescale varies over each state. The above is all rough guessing to costs etc. You can get your skills assesed here http://www.innovation.gov.au/Skills/SkillsAssessment/TradesRecognitionAustralia/AustralianRecognisedTradeCertificate/Pages/default.aspx

Read the guidelines. They suggest what information you need to submit. Your references, certificates etc can be copies but they need certifying by a solicitor, chemist, doctor etc must be in date by 3 months. Never send originals!! asessment will cost around $450 dollars if successful you will then need to do a further course...wiring regs etc

regards

Thanks Paul. My husband has a very good reputation round here (not just saying that because I'm his wife lol) he has been offered many positions over years but has always remained loyal to his boss. Who is actually gutted that he wants to go to Oz. However I know that in Perth a lot is based on word of mouth and who you know to get your foot in the door.

 

We were obviously concerned about the new rules of having to do 12 months log book and that it puts employers off. I just wanted to see what his income would be for 12 months before he got full license.

Hi

Im working as a TA at present on a gold mine. Im earning around $40 an hour. General take home for a 4 week swing is $9-10,000

You have to look at it over a five week swing though, because on your weeks leave you dont earn anything so divide it over 5 weeks ($2000 a week). You need a minimum of $4000 a month to survive out here the rest we bank. I wont lie to you. Its a crap exsistance, no life whatsoever except for the week your off. but if you can stick it for 4-6 years you will bank some serious money. and have the lifestyle we all want.

Good luck! it is worth doing!

Hi.. i have a positive skills assesment from tra from 2000 and have restarted my visa application again... i have WA sponsorship, and an invitation from eoi for visa application which is now in process..

 

 

What is required for me to gain my grade Aa licence for an industrial electrician. It all seems very vague and confusing...

 

 

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Regards

Brett

You will have to apply to energy safety for permission to enrol on the college of electrical training course. They may insist that you now do the dreaded gap training or they may let you do the 2 week course which costs around $2500 once passed you will then need to re apply to energy safety for an A grade licence then away you go

Yeah i think those of us arriving now have missed the boat so to speak and we are open to being exploited until we get our licenses. I have went from supervising and running projects to being told to do work to a lower standard, being taught how to do 1 way and 2 way lighting at college (yes really!) and regarded as lower than a young lad just finished his apprenticeship when applying for jobs.

Yep your sure right Colinmaclec.

Im working on a mine out in Karratha. The standards and organisation are terrible. The tradies resent the Trade Assistants because there a few hundred bucks behind what there pulling, and what an easy life they have. I got given a task of fitting ladder rack round a building lask week. Dead straight forward. The main problem was finding the M10 bolts, square washers and fixings. Told my leading hand i needed the bits. He said just do what you can for now i will get them ordered. He came back that afternoon and said start wiring and banding the cables into the tray work thats not fixed down no bends in place etc. Did what he said kept my mouth shut. Next day the gear turns up, and we are told to start ripping out the cables so we can fix the tray down....Ha ha

I must sa though i ve met some good sparks here but the supervisors and leading hands are clueless

What an absolute disgrace , TBH if I had to do all that i think I would tip it, sorry it seems cutting but these ***** over here have more chance of winning the lottery than being a spark, tyipcal Ozzie spark has as much knowledge of electrical work as an average DIY bloke in the uk. Seriously thinking of writing to energy safety about all this bull s••t you have to do.

This cant be right!!

The first thing im doing in the morning is ringing the union.

:arghh:

Yes mate. I'm being mobilised Monday night next week. If theres one thing I can tell you is that every job you go for with any big outfits means a) long wait on the staff at HR. you have to keep ringing them and putting pressure on them. B) medical for every job. Lung test drug and alcohol, blood pressure, heart and chest and fitness test along with hearing. C) there health and safety mad so expect loads of questions, inductions, etc. I got the start for this job 2 months ago. I'm not even on the job yet. Will let you know when I get on site what it's like.

r u serious?

im planning on arriving march/april 13, but like u said if theres 2 many TA sitting unemployed il b coming to activate and back home..

surely if they see this happening they will do something bout it, is all your class working?

NPKA

I ve been here a few days mate done me medical etc. Its true what the others are saying. Theres boat loads of sparkies coming in. Everything is slowing down this time of year. Rentals are a nightmare. Theres 50-60 people turning up for viewings. friend im stopping with is on his 3rd house in 2 years. He says they try putting the rent up, you say no, they ask you to move out. Greed is the true problem here. I went into the bank tuesday and there quite happy to give me mortgage within a month providing im working and that i can pay the deposit needed. I may look at doing that before getting the family out. I would seriously think about coming out on your own before flying your family out. I paid $15 for a pint the other night.

If your not working mate your hammering the savings.

Thanks Colin. I emailed the TRA and they said the same thing. At the time i thought that they was just saying that to cover there backside, but obviously they must be doing. Ah well. Keep us posted on your progress. I ve just booked my flight for Saturday got medical on Wednesday before i start work.

Not yet pal. Getting a date for the Medical this week. So any time really. I can't see them letting me have 2 weeks off straight away. Will have to see what they say when I get out there!

No idea yet still to find that out but seeing as the logbook is kinda filled out like a time sheet i am guessing its from when you register

Colinmaclec

Thanks for the update pal. Keep us posted as yo progress. Did you manage to find out if the lads that had the ARTC cert from TRA got it done after the Vetassess?

Many thanks

I emailed the TRA trying to get my ARTC before I get to Oz.

 

Got this reply back, thought I'd share it, in case it helps anyone.

 

Dear Mr. Dickinson-Smith,

 

Thank you for your enquiry to Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).

 

If you are seeking to gain recognition for your trade in Australia, you have the option of applying for an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC).

 

The process of applying for an ARTC can be found on our website here.

 

We strongly advise that your carefully read the application form, the ARTC Applicant Guidelinesand theARTC Criteria and Guidelines relevant to your country of training. These documents will answer all of your questions regarding the application process and the documentation you need to provide to TRA.

 

Please note that under the Tradespersons’ Rights Regulations Act (1946) the ARTC only recognises 49 electrical and metal trades. Please carefully read what trades are assessed to ensure that your trade sought meets our requirements.

 

Please note that an ARTC is not the only way trade skills are recognised in Australia. Skills can also be assessed by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). An RTO will assess your skills against the training package requirements and, if successful, will issue you with a qualification under the Australia Qualification Framework (AQF). Where gaps are identified, an RTO may be able to assist you with further training.

 

Please be advised that we do not send ARTCs to non-Australian addresses. As stated in the ARTC Applicant Guidelines, applicants must provide evidence that they are currently residing in Australia.

 

I trust this assists.

 

Kind regards,

 

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.

I am on the first 2 week course starting next Monday since the July Changes for WA

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

Thank you for the replies, we are flexible where we live so South Australia could be an option.

Ive already emailed the TRA to enquire whether they will send me the cert in the UK.

Ive also just booked my English language exam.

can I as a question though?

If other states are not recognising South Australia's a licence, then how does that fair for Australian born electricians from south Australia who move states?

Do they have to complete this log book training also?

How does the pay differ between an unlicensed spark and a licenced?

At present we are in no rush, it is an expression of interest, if it took 5 years I would be ok with that.

maybe in the mean time they may change the rules to make it easier if the current system isn't working.

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.

Hi to all fellow sparks !

I have just got the ball rolling with submitting an EOI , booking a VETASSES assesment.

can I ask you all a question?

Whats the easiest state to get your A licence? I've looked at this before and it used to be WA, no gap training logbook rubbish.

Now they seem to have changed the rules in WA requiring you to do this.

We are flexible where we live and would rather go somewhere it was more straight forward to obtain the unrestricted licence.

I along with probably 80% of you find it hard the comprehend that as an electrical contractor here in the UK who's been self employed and done everything from heavy commercial, industrial and house bashing, that I would need to have a log book signed off by another electrician who hopefully wouldn't give you tips on earthing back boxes!!

rules are rules though, so I would rather pick a state where licensing was the easiest, any tips on which state?

Ive read NSW is a nightmare so all advice would be welcome thanks.

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.

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

hey can you offer any advice im currently doing my vettassess then applying for my visa what would be my next step im with a company called down under tradies and there telling me to get my A grade i have to do the australian version of an nvq which they of to do the paper side here in the uk but it cost £3000 is this rite

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

Ok we have the OTSR, so I'm assuming the next thing to do is fill in this WA form for a supervised licence (http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/EnergySafety/PDF/Forms/R097%200812.pdf), apply to the college at Balcatta to do the Electrical Trade Licence course (http://www.cet.asn.au/Libraries/Course_Brochures/Electrical_Trade_Licence.sflb.ashx) and get a job

as a supervised electrician?

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.

Dont be ridiculous grow up

 

I mentioned somewhere to stay because you said friends would put you up till you got to the job, nothing about putting you up in between swings, having experience of having to find somewhere to live I was only advising you of the position in Perth.

 

It doesnt matter what they call it now, you will still need an ARTC for any kind of licence.

 

Yes you are an electrician, a UK electrician, I said nothing about you not deserving the going rate but am sure the other electricians who have had to pay through the nose to be licenced wouldnt be too impressed.

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