colinmaclec

Someone posted this a few pages back and will let you know what you are in for

Everybody has to do 1 years gap training once they get provisional license here's someone else's recent update on it from the electricians thread

If anyone wants to ask me questions about getting their A class through the vettasses, i am more than happy to answer.

Hi Drewe, I'm enquiring on my OH's behalf, is the process the same state wide? we're moving to Adelaide in March, he's done his Vetassess, now just researching next steps required when there, cheers Mandi

I can't give exact process for Adelaide. I done mine in Perth. I'm sure it's similar.

Get restricted licence from from electrical board ( mine was energy safety)

Enrol at college to start change over course

Get employed

2 weeks college with practical exam and paper exam

Complete 12 assignments at home

Complete log book (roughly 6-8 months work experience, quicker if more hours worked)

Tele/coms course 4 days with practical exam and paper exam

Capstone course 4 days ( pretty much AM2 )

once all all the above is completed you can get an A class licence. I'd say with the time off work this cost me roughly $15,000

Also getting employed can be pretty hard. Some people get paid as little as $20 ph doing domestic work. If you have good experience and background it will be easier to get a better paid job $35 plus

Not correct I am afraid.

 

You also need to account for earth fault loop impedance and its effect on tripping times and co-ordination between breakers. The best method for understanding cable calculations is spreadsheets, Microsoft office being the most used (although the stuff on Linux that is free is just as good).

 

In the real world full sequence for cable sizing should be:

- max demand for DB (using AS 3000 is fine for basic sites, custom calculation is required for complex projects. The later allows the use of diversities to establish load profiles between major load groups). You need to make sure here motor inrush etc to co-ordinate with breaker setting.

- dearate cables for ambient temperature, installation method, grouping of load carrying circuits and cable type.

- apply cable length to confirm volt drop

- apply cable length to calculate adult level at end of cable. Use this value to establish tripping within AS3000 rules, and protection co-ordintates. At this point you may need to use a larger breaker than the required load, to achieve co-ordination/discrimination. This may result in larger cables being required.

- confirm cable size meets requirement of the a diabetic equation for withstand of temperature rise during fault condition, at origin of cable.

 

Sound familiar? It should, AS 3008 (cable selection) directly aligns with IEC60364 (international standard for electrical installation in buildings) which also aligns with BSEN7671 (requirements for Electrical installations).

 

unsurprisingly any major installations will be carried out in computer software like powercad/cable calc/powerpak. Be warned all have short comings!

I was not talking about the real world large projects that are done by electrical engineers, but I was referring to the small project they have to do as the final part of the electrical contractors course which is nowhere near as involved as what you are talking about.

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:

I am good thanks. That is ridiculous how long you have had to wait for a capstone date, at least your almost there. As for the restricted license mines almost ran out and I was one of the first to complete the gap training, there must be loads of people having to extend theirs so that's a joke too. CET would be a far better option for anybody coming over now as Polytechnic West is a dump and very disorganized.

The whole construction industry here is a disgrace. Industrial sparky work here is like domestic in the UK lol. TPS and plastic conduit LMAO. Houses that are like sheds. Yet we sparks have to go do a 1 year course to learn about how all cables in a 16A socket circuit go back to a joint box in a house attic as this is the best way to do it. The trade test practical is a bit of wood with a couple of sockets that you can throw the cables behind no clips etc and connect a piece of **** db. No wonder the standard is useless .In the UK we have to do metal conduit , trunking , Pyro and it has to look neat.

No probs! You are one of the lucky buggers that got to do the 2 week nobody fails cheap as chips course at CET. I am just bitter because I should have had the same but the Bastards held off sending my electrical permit till after the changes so they could fleece me for more money and help keep a TAFE in one of Perths worst areas open.

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 .

Hi there, I got here with my family at the beginning of August, Sunshine coast, Qld. As regards your qualifications from the uk, they don't stand up here. After i done my vetasses trade test, I done a offshore licencing course in london, not running anymore, but when i got here i had to do a final exam in Perth, now once you have a licence in one state you can transfer to each state for a fee, WA-QLD $68. Try the college in Perth where i done my final exam as there were some lads there doing a two week course to get their licence. www.cet.asn.au Also when your here you need a white card - Health and safety $80, safe working at heights $250, CPR and LVR $80, confined space working $360, EWP $600, data cabling $750 the more tickets you have the more chance of work, not easy to get into mines as everybody wants experience but working in cities as a normal spark is about $30 - $45 an hour plus van plus pension etc, cost of living isn't to bad if you shop around. its not easy out here but the lifestyle is worth it. most sites work 6-2.30/3ish then finish down to the beach with the kids and have a bbq, everyday!

The 2 week course in WA was changed to gap training for those with OSTR last July and ARTC in January this year. CET can't do electrical course for overseas electricians anymore only Polytechnic West and it is 1 years gap training.

I was one of the first to complete the gap training so i am well aware of what is required. It took me around 7-8 months at 50 hours per week. Yes if you work in the mines it will be quicker but you are not counting the non working weeks according to these easy to get jobs on 8 and 6 rosters your calculation would still take 30 weeks not 15!!!!!!! And besides there is problems with getting booked onto the comms course which those of us who are permanent migrants have to do as we had to do Vetassess to migrate. Holiday visas do not so can do an ARTC. And from what i hear some people now cant do the capstone until next year as it is fully booked. You make it sound like there are loads of jobs out there but that is very far from the truth. Most mines have completed the construction stage apart from a couple of projects with no new ones coming up. Plenty of sparks contracts ending or getting laid off. Not to mention the fact that the union companies have been striking in Perth due to the companies trying to bring in pay cuts and i think that paints a truer picture.

Surely people reading this thread realise that the only relevant part is the most recent threads? The system has changed constantly and the migration route has too. And even at that it still differs in states as well as in there is still a loophole to get a SA license with an ARTC but not an OSTR.

Best advice that can be given is too think long and hard before you start this journey. It is a lot of hassle and stress especially if you have a family and you will be exploited by employers when you arrive and apply for hundreds of jobs. Plenty of unemployed electricians in WA now and unless you are somebodys buddy it is very hard to get employed unless you willing to work for $30 ph which would just cover your weekly bills and no more at a push.

Can anyone please tell me exactly what an electrician without a contractors licence is entitled to work on in WA. I'm having a debate in work we are all "A" licences electricians but the company is not a contracting company nor do we have an in house contractor. So we obviously can't do electrical contracting work. We repair catering equipment. My view is we can obviously connect a new appliance into an existing isolator as this is not altering the existing "fixed" wires of the building. Others say we cannot but I can't find anything that definitively answers the debate beyond doubt.!! Help please I'm walking into a war zone in morning wanto know everyone's thoughts please.

Disconnect and reconnect as far as i am aware no installation work!

Things are very different now. You do 1 years gap training and it can be very hard to secure a job here. A lot of people are being laid off at the moment.

Hi guys!! I can see from the first post there was information about trades recognition to help with what is required for electricians to work in oz, but this website has now changed and I'm struggling to find anything on the government site that gives help about the a grade licensing does anyone have a link at all?? Thanks

Read the recent pages on this thread and you will find out everything you need to know.

Well your post does not really make sense but i am guessing your on a WHV and hoping to get sponsored by a company. I am sure they can sponsor you but unless you are currently working for someone who is going to sponsor you then i don't think you will find it easy to find a sponsor as there are plenty of guys here with PR looking for jobs.Do you mean Permanent residency with regard to regional sponsored migration if so then obviously you don't need a license as how do you think people like me apply from the uk?

Hi Guys

A question for those of you doing or have done the Gap Training. My OH was booked in for July but managed to get some work so has postponed it until Sept. When he gets the log book will it be able to be backdated to the work he has already done?

 

Thanks

 

Lou

Yes it can be backdated

Wow so they do know what the RCD test function on a multifunction tester is! Most Aussie sparks still use analouge Megger's and thats it!

Well seeing as you don't actually have to test an RCD here for trip times, a push of the test button complies and there is no requirement for periodic testing i would say there is none. There will be some requirements for certain buildings such as schools etc. What kind of commercial building is it?

I am not sure about NSW can you phone the tafe and ask them? There must be the same route for ARTC. Seems a bit strange.

You have to have a provisional license to do the gap training so just apply

ARTC for getting provisional certificate worthless in NSW?

 

I went with my fresh ARTC from TRA to Fair trading in Sydney thinking that if I fill in the form a wait a couple of weeks I would get a restricted license. However, to my shock, an officer told me that I need Off-shore technical skills record for that purpose. ARTC is supposed to serve for Tafe to be enrolled to 1 year gap training.

 

Did I screw something up again? I thought that if I was assessed for migration purpose by TRA, I should have applied for ARTC if I wanted to carry on in my effort to get eventually my license.

 

Or is the office giving me misleading info I should lodge my application regardless of what he says?

Your question makes no sense? ARTC or OSTR you do 1 years gap training with a provisional license

colinmaclec, just a small question Col, I'm on the 9th assignment now and only just started filling in the log book. The log book can be back dated to September when I arrived thank god,so should be done in the next few weeks, but do you get one last assignment once you complete the first 9? Its hard frikkin work with the kids running round!! ​Also, did you have to wait long for the capstone exam?

Yes you get a maximum demand and cable selection project. It took me 2 months to get a date for the capstone and then i found out i have to wait 2 months to get the comms course done and they also give you homework for the comms course to be done before you attend that too.And no doubtIi will still end up waiting to get my license after all that. Yeah it sucks big time doing this **** when you have kids.

I've just received email from WA Energy licensing answering my query about transferring license from SA and they haven't mentioned anything about the necessity to hold the license for at least 1 year. They've just sent me a link to pdf application form. Who gave you guys the info that they don't recognize "fresh" SA license?

I have been told this by lecturers at tafe and have heard of people being rejected. By all means try it but remember they are not going to state it when you ask for a form especially as people transfer licenses between states all the time not just overseas sparkies. Best thing to do is call energy safety and ask them.

Yup. Extract every penny they can from us. The college we go to is in Balga and its a shxthole. We are probably keeping the place open tbh. If i knew it was going to be like this i probably wouldn't have bothered. I earned good money in the UK and now here i earn a wage that covers the bills, spend loads of my free time doing homework and use my holidays up going to TAFE.

How are you getting on wit the gap training?

​im booked for 2 week course end of June, what's in store after that?

I have sat and passed the capstone now but i have to wait to do the 4 day comms course next month as its the earliest i could get on it. I think they have only run 1 previously and wait for the numbers so i have been waiting 2 months for that. You will have homework to do and a project all to be passed at 100% then the 4 days comms test( another $200!!!) then the capstone.

Have you managed to find work yet?

The skills list is out of date i would say. I am not portraying doom and gloom only telling it like it is. Remember that I am meeting other electricians here in Australia who are having the same problems and thoughts as i post here. The reality is that you will apply for jobs like crazy and eventually get one most likely making switchboards in a workshop or on transportable's ( buildings that get sent to the mines) due to not having a license. You will get paid around $30 for these jobs which if you do a basic week will give you a take home pay of around $940. I have heard of people earning even less than this. The gap training is a huge expense as you will have to spend 4 weeks at TAFE in total as well as paying the fees. Your previous experience will count for nothing here and you go back to the bottom again. Even with a license most companys pay around $35. The union jobs are well paid but hard to get in to. I will have my license soon so that is where i am hoping to go.

Ok thats all clear to me, but what I am getting at is is it worth my while getting a TRA while I am here. From what I am reading on the Australian Gov website if I apply for the new 189 Visa from England they only require that I have a TRA cert which I can obtain while here on m WHV? I know things aren't great in Oz at he moment but having the option of PR is great and my partner can obtain a good job in Oz adwell so its not like we we struggle on the one wage. No kids aswell so it seems a good time to get set up.

Lol you don't like to listen do you? 189 visa is not new its the same as the old one we all hold! I shall explain s l o w l y . Vetassess is part of the TRA who test you for migration purposes and for previous work experience which you also need for points for your PR application. A TRA cert as you call it is an ARTC which is for recognition of overseas skills for those who reside in Australia. It will allow you to do gap training which takes a year to get your A license. I have met people who have A grade licenses that still had to do Vetassess exam! You will also need to pass an English test as well.