plumbing with passion

Cheers Allan,

Yeah my mate has been living on the Goldy for 4 years and has always been into maintenance plumbing. To land a job here in Oz it is definitily who you know. Personal references will almost certainly land you a job - its all about buidling up your network ... something I did in London, then Perth and now here. I need to stop moving ha ha ha

Later man,

Paul

Hey Allen,

Good on you mate, its a start. Hopefully it'll lead onto something that you want. Were you doing domestic back home? I got a good mate that is a domestic plumber here on the Goldy but my forte is commercial - I haven't done domestic in many years.

My plumbing license was easy to obtain since I already had a license from WA. All I needed to do was send off $160 and a few bits of paperwork and I got issued my new Queensland license under the Mutual Recognition between States.

My job search continues - here goes resume number 27 ....

Good luck,

Paul

Hi Paul,

 

I have managed to get a job doing domestic plumbing. It is only a trial and been there a week. I registered with some agencies like hays, jobomas, job Rapido, career one and indeed. There are quite a few on these sites. I am still waiting on my provisional license. How long did it take you to get you qld plumbing license and what did it involve?

 

i also put an advert on Gumtree.

 

Cheers,

Allan

Hi Allan,

I arrived in the Gold Coast 4 weeks ago. I started actively looking for work since 5 Jan but so far nothing. I've got my Queensland plumbing license already and I've sent off quite a few resumes and phoned companies. They've all said that its really quiet in the construction industry at the moment but things are forecast to pick up over the next few months. Are you working as a maintenance plumber? I might have to go that route ....

Hey Guys,

I moved over from Perth WA to the Gold Coast a couple of weeks ago and I've started pumping out resume's to different companies. I understand that work has been pretty flat on the Goldy for a while but rumour has it that things are changing. Since I'm new to the area, my knowledge of different companies are somewhat limited. I've done the obvious google thing and other methods but nothing is better than straight from the horses mouth ... So,

I'd appreciate it if anyone here can suggest who are the big game players in the commercial plumbing sector on the Goldy? My experience has always been on big commercial sites (high rises, hotels, stadiums, apartments etc) which offer EBA rates. I'm keen to get going and meet you fellow professional plumbers! Lets rock.

Cheers

Paul.

Hi Neil,

The best visa for you to come over to WA would be an independent skilled visa. I would avoid coming over on a sponsored visa as it can be a pretty stressful experience because, apart from other things, if you find yourself out of a job then you have 28 days to find another sponsor or else you have to head back to Scotland. With regards to your qualification, I'd presume that you'd have to apply as a plumber. You'd have to complete a Vetassessment (if you're applying for a skilled visa) to prove your working qualifications. Vetassess involves a hell of a lot of paperwork and a 1 day practical skills assessment. Unfortunately your AQF and any other qualification you hold in the UK is worth nothing here in Australia. It can feel like you have to start from scratch but once you're here and you can show and prove that you know what you're all about then all the doors start opening. We all find it frustrating - but it is what it is.

I am a plumber by trade. When I lived and worked in London UK for eight years I worked for a mechanical services company and ended up doing a fair bit of pipefitting as well as plumbing. Here in Perth I've worked mainly in commercial plumbing but at the moment I'm employed as a pipefitter/sprinkler fitter. Apparently, sprinkler fitters are in short supply here in Perth and they are the highest paid tradies at the moment. I've met a few other pipefitters from the UK who all came over as plumbers and eventually got themselves in the pipefitting game

What's made you want to move to the Gold Coast from Perth? I'm not making the move till August but just wanted a heads up before I get there. How's the Work front on Perth?

 

There must be work going on for the Commonwealth games. Not sure when they'll start. Presumably pretty soon.

All my close family live on the Gold Coast. I arrived in Australia beginning of 2012 and had to commit to WA for a minimum of 2 years as a condition of my residency visa. There has been an abundance of work in Perth since I've been here. I'm currently working on high rise office blocks in Perth CBD. I've often heard that work on the Gold Coast is flat but I'm still hopeful that I'll find something. If I have to travel into Brissie then that will have to be. It would be nice to hear some feedback from people in the loop ...

Yeah I've heard that a lot of people Commute to Brisbane. Would love to find some work in the Gold Coast when I arrive next year. Thought with the commonwealth games looming in the future that they would have some big projects coming up. Anyone know if this is true??

Getting a reply for your question will be harder than trying to draw blood from a stone mate. I'm a licensed plumber in Perth and am looking to move to the Gold Coast in December/January. I have asked the same questions regarding commercial plumbing work. Jobs must be that scarce that those in the know don't want to say anything!

Try to find the big companies that offer EBA rates (union) and keep trying.

Does anyone know if a ewp license from oz is transferable in the uk just out of interest.

No, its not transferable. I had my EWP ticket in London (through IPAF) but have been told its not recognized here in Aussie. I've since done my high risk EWP boom ticket through WorkSafe (its nationally recognized)

Can somebody PLEASE explain to me how to legally work in Western Australia as a Plumber.

 

We have gained our Permanent Residency Visa (Through my wife's qualifications) and are planning to come over later this year. I am a qualified Plumber here in the UK and just want to find work as a plumber for an existing company in Western Australia. I have tried to contact officials in WA and am just getting confused by the e-mails I am getting back from them, and they're ,lack of answering the questions I have been asking them.

 

Please Help

Hi Jimplumb

Don't stress mate. Just get yourself over here and enroll yourself on the compulsory 2 week migrant plumbing course at TAFE or MPA and apply for your tradespersons license asap. There is a fair amount of work in Perth at the moment. There are 4 or so new towers going up in the CBD, the new Elizabeth Quays development on the foreshore, the burswood stadium and loads of others. The rectruitment companies are calling out for plumbers at the moment. Have faith, arrive with a determined will do/can do attitude and you'll be alright.

Plumber Paul

Hi Paul

We've only been on the Gold Coast for a year now and my husband actually has not been working as a plumber in that time as he only had a provisional license and he found most jobs on the Gold Coast were maintenance plumbing which you need a full license for. So instead he just took any job so he could get some money coming in whilst he did his year (2 nights a week) at Tafe. He has just finished that so we are in the process of applying for his full license but it now looks as though he needs to have 12 months QLD experience too - the council said to apply anyways and they will look at his UK experience but not guaranteed.

With regards to commercial work (which is what my hubby did in the UK) I check the jobs daily and there is nothing really on the Gold Coast. They all come up in Brisbane which loads of people do the daily commute. Unfortunately our visa does not allow us to work in Brisbane for another year.

BUT..... there should be lots of jobs hopefully coming up soon as the Commonwealth Games are here in 2018 so that should bring a lot of work. Also there is a new casino, major renovations of a shopping centre and lots more in the future. The problem is just waiting for them to start!! So I reckon things will pick up soon. I hope!

And yes, I'm afraid you will need to enrol with Tafe if you want the full license - it seems like such a mission to start with but you just gotta accept it and get on with it I'm afraid, the year does go quickly!

Good Luck!

Cheers for getting back to me, its much appreciated.

It sucks how we have to jump through hoops all the time. I'll just have to face up to the facts when I arrive in Gold Coast in a few months time. Good work opportunities happen with people you know in the industry so I'm networking here in Perth about possible leads on the Gold Coast. Nothing concrete so far but there are companies that I'll be hitting up. There is a real good chance that I'll have to travel into Brissie everyday...

Did your partner cover gas at TAFE? I was never gas qualified in the UK nor am I here.

I hope everything comes together for you guys.

Good luck

Paul

Hi,

I'm interested to hear back too. I posted a message a few months ago asking if anyone could let me know what the health of the commercial plumbing industry is like on the Gold Coast but unfortunately no one replied which speaks for itself I suppose.

I'm coming over from Perth later this year. I have a full WA plumbing tradespersons license which allows me to find work with a contractor licensed plumber. I recently email the Queensland plumbing licensing board to inquire about transferring my WA plumbing license to a QLD plumbing license and they attached a list of forms that I need to fill in etc, and they stated that I'd only be issued with a provisional plumbing license. There is also a note that says state governments are trying to make interstate licenses easily transferable. WTF? I had to do a compulsory 2 week migrant plumbing course in Perth and on completion I obtained a certificate level III in plumbing and with that I got given my plumbing license...

Does this mean that I'll have to go back to TAFE in QLD and jump through the hoops again just to get a plumbing license?

There is an abundance of work in Perth at the moment but our move over to the Gold Coast is purely family driven. I'm a little anxious of the lack of work for plumbers at the mo.

I look forward to hearing from someone who could perhaps shed some more light and who has recently been in the same position.

Cheers,

Paul

Steve

 

I was asked to complete a questionnaire by my migration agent asking if iv had experience in areas such as fitting water sprinklers, trench support, oxy cutting, etc. Im a domestic plumber maintaining 200 properties. The need to provide trench support doesn't fit the job description in my current job. The agent believes i need to gain further experience in these fields to successfully pass the trade assessment.

 

 

What did you make of the trade assessment? What does the documentary side of the TRA assessment consist of? I cant imagine many plumbers have experiance in providing trench support unless your running mains water and gas supplies to properties. I have so much riding on this VISA as its my dream to live in Australia. Sorry to bombard you with questions but your advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Matt

Hey mate,

Ive been here over 2 years now and have never had a problem getting plumbing work. Its true that the Aussies are stuck in their ways regarding the Australian Standards etc and as mentioned before - 'treat them like an moron until they prove otherwise" but from my experience the do give you a fair go. Bloody hell, one company director even said to me in an interview that my UK experience did very little to help my career! I proved the idiot wrong. With regards to the TRA assessment just say that you can do everything - thats what I did even though there were a a couple of things that I had none/very little experience in and to this day hasn't affected me getting work. Just use your common sense.

Good luck with it all

In the spirit of keeping things balanced and to stop me moaning on a different thread, here is your opportunity to list some of the things that you love about Australia.

 

I'll kick things off..

 

Weather - great to have sun in the summer and spring as its meant to be!

Higher wages (helps with some higher costs)

Laid back, friendly people (I'm from London so I am comparing to my daily commute on the Tube and working in the city!)

Drivers sticking to speed limits!

Reasonable house prices (again, comparing from London where the value of my 2 bed flat can get me a 5 bed new build in Melbourne!

Coffees and coffee culture.

Never ending list of places to visit - things to see and do.

Wide range of sports available for children (competitive instead of everyone wins like in the UK).

Parks everywhere with children play areas.

School placement policy - guaranteed places if living within a certain distance of a school (my little one was rejected by his three closest schools in the UK)

 

Would love to hear others. Remember - this is a positive forum - if you hate something, there is another forum that you can use.

 

Andre

Everything.

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to find out from anyone in the loop about what the current work situation is like in the Gold Coast for commercial plumbers. I currently live in Perth (been here for over 2 years) but am looking at moving over to the Gold Coast to be closer to my parents and my brothers family. I understand that in 2016 Gold Coast will be hosting the Commonwealth Games, so with that I'd presume more construction projects. I understand that I'll have to change my current plumbing license to a Queensland one.

I'd really appreciate any kind of feedback from anyone in the industry.

Cheers all

Paul

Hi again,

 

Just wanted to ask about how the weather in Australia made people feel in comparison to the UK. I've seen lots of posts where people talk about the weather enabling a better outdoor lifestyle but I was wondering a bit more about how it impacts on emotions. My husband gets very fed up with the dull grey days that we have so often in Britain and I have noticed that on bright days (not necessarily warm but at least not cloudy) I get a lot more done and feel much more positive. I was wondering if anyone found they 'felt good' much more often in Australia due to the sunny days ... or maybe whether the effect wears off quite quick?

 

Hope I've posted this in the correct place.:unsure:

 

Evie

I've said it before and I'll say it again. During the 8 years that I lived in London I suffered from SAD (seasonal affective disorder). During the 2 years that I've been living in Perth Australia, I've suffered from HAPPY. Too damn right that the warm sunny weather lifts you up emotionally - I love it. Sunny warm weather does allow you to do so much more of everything, but admittedly, sometimes it can get a tad too hot but that's ok - a few cold beers eliminates that problem.

May I have your advice on below suburbs (pros and cons)

 

Cannington

Bayswater

Basseandean

Joondaup

 

thanks so much!

Hi,

We've just recently bought our first house in Morley (in the council of Bayswater). We rented in Morley when we first arrived in Perth 2 years ago and found it to be nice and central to everything in Perth. We are about 8km from the CBD, 13km from Scarborough beach and we have the massive shopping precinct around Russel Road, the Galleria shopping mall and Coventry Markets - only 500m down the road. Bayswater waves (Perth's biggest swimming pool complex) is only a couple of minutes drive down the road. The infrastructure around here in pretty damn good too with Morley Drive, Tonkin Highway and Reid Highway close by giving good links to anywhere you want go. We are a family of four (girls are 5 and 2) and we have found it to be really family friendly and haven't come across any crime.

Good luck with your search.

Paul

hi,

 

we have sold our house and are living with MIL, we was joking with scott last night about him going to perth first to find work, not sure how long for before me and the kiddies come out, or if it would even work !

 

did many of you do this ? did it work out okay ?

 

thanks.

I came to Perth by myself in order to find work first and a rental. It all went smoothly - landed a job on my 3rd day and secured a rental within a month and then the wife and our 2 young kids flew over. Personally I would've found it way too stressful to have them all with me, especially since we only came over with 10000 stirling.

Good luck

I will

any more ammunition guys?

Its worked for our young family of four. And loving it!

Come on boys and girls, need I say more? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22685260

I'm afraid to say it has me.

 

I get the impression its absolutely heaving with poms (mainly northerners), kind of like a Costa Del Pom (I'll leave you draw your own images from that description).

 

 

Is this reputation fair?

Not fair!

I don't get it - why is it that Poms find the need to all accumulate in one area and live in a 'little Britain' here in Perth? I just don't understand why you'd move all the way to the other side of the world to want to live with all of your own again and moan that the sausages 'just aren't the same, or you miss Tesco's etc.' All poms seem to navigate straight to Joondalup and those areas or Baldivis, port Kennedy, secret harbour etc. I've been living in Morley and don't come across any poms. I absolutely love it here.

Looking to buy a unit in Maylands, don't know about the security level, any idea? Some say it is a bad neighborhood, what do you think?

We've been house hunting recently and looked at Maylands. We like Maylands and its location but it was above our budget. I have a couple of friends living between peninsular rd and 8th avenue - nice area and they haven't mentioned nothing about crime or anti social behaviour. We actually put down an offer on a house in Morley today and it got accepted! Well, we have been living in Morley for the last year and a half so we're glad to stay in the neighbourhood ...

Same as I hear in Australia then

Oh my word! Flathead and Perthbum are what people would associate as being a typical whinging Pom! Whats the difference between a 747 jumbo jet and a Pom? The 747's engines stop whining once they land.

I think that many find Australia so bland and boring that the weather is all they really have to cling to.....helps them cope with the mundanity of everyday life

I think I may have suggested in the recent past that you should buy your airfare ticket back to the UK with a window seat and sooner rather than later so you don't have to experience the warm sun and quality lifestyle that 23 million other people enjoy and what hundreds of thousands that other people would love to enjoy.

Hello again, I was just wondering how you guys got used to the heat (if you had to get used to it at all!) after living in miserable old Britain?

​I'm so pale I'm almost transparent.

I lived in London for 8 years and the weather was miserable for about 45 weeks of the year and totally miserable for about 25 weeks of the year. Jeez, those long drawn out icy cold, damp dark winters that last for 6 bloody months did my nut in. Summer last a whole 2 weeks!

I've been living in Perth (Australia's sunniest capital) for over a year now and I still pinch myself everyday on how lucky I am to live in such an awesome part of the world where the weather has such an uplifting effect on me. I've said this before and I'll say it again ... in London I suffered from S.A.D (seasonal effective disorder) but here in Perth I suffer from H.A.P.P.Y.

The sun is strong - you will need suncream. In mid summer, the midday heat can be fierce, but all you have to do is sit under a beach umbrella, or a beach tent, or under a gazebo, or under the awning in your garden and light up the barbie and chuck on some delicious fresh prawns! The summer is as long as the English winter! Woo Hoo! The most hardcore part of Perth's winter lasts as long as the English summer! This place rocks Ghostgirl! Its beautiful.

I should have put a warning notice at the beginning of my post for 'Flathead' and 'Homewardbound' that the information I've just given is likely to produce a steaming effect from their ears.

I'm sure you'll appreciate the warm sunny climate

can anyone help me find out more about a certain African musician called Ble Marcel Dibaga ,they played one of his tracks on rtr fm today the Global Show , called Sa n gbane, i liked it ,kids loved it ......searched the net , youtube but cant find anything about him apart from a couple of old tracks that i like too.......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6sOu5Ml_K0 ive not gone mad i just have like a wide range of music from Punk to Ave Maria..........:wacko:

There are plenty of great African musicians and many of them come from Mali. Do yourself a favour and listen to Ali Farka Toure, probably one of Africa's most respected musicians. My favourite album of his is 'Niafunke'. Other Malian musicians include: Afel Boucom, Vieux Farka, Bobacar, Djelamady Tounkare and more.