sam2222

Hi all, Looking for opinions/experience on what the current outlook is like in Oz with regards to geologist. A bit of back ground, I currently live in the U.K and have a BSc in Applied and Environment Geology and am currently doing an MSc in Mining and Exploration Geology. I have some limited experience in engineering geology and gold exploration in Europe and previous experience working as a plant operator in the mining sector in WA a few years ago, I also served 6 years in the British Army (Royal Engineers). I am considering a move back to Oz when I finish the MSc however, I would be doing so on a grad visa, most geology jobs advertised I have seen online in Oz seem to say permeant residents only. Just wondering if any one had any experience of this, I have heard of people all be it a few years ago, that were able to turn up as recent geology graduates and get exploration/field work fairly easily, is this still the case or has it all gone quite ? Given I am not tied down and have no huge preference on which country I live in and my decision would be based more on the career path i want to go down, is it worth moving to oz to pursue a career in mining as geologist or stay in the U.K and take advantage of the currently booming engineering geology sector. Thanks for any replies Sam.

Hi, I am wondering if anyone could clear a few things up for me. I have just moved to WA, only been in Oz a month or so, I am on a 417 visa and I work in mining. I do shift work so generally most of my hours are double time or time and a half etc. When my employer pays the superannuation I only get 9% of the hours I work on a flat rate, which is not many, should my employer be contributing for all the hours I work or is this correct. Also I seem to be get taxed 33% does this sound about right? Thanks for the help.

No Iv not paid anything. Just normal recruitment agencies and handing out resumes to the local companies.

Orite I see, I sjould be a bit clearer, it's actually the refinery not the mine its self, thats probably why its only 50 tonnes. I did talk to the agency and all they would tell me is that it is a 50 hitachi dumper, will find out what it's all about when i go on monday anyway. Thanks for the help.

To be honest it's very hard to get work, it's taken me a while to find anything at all, and nothing at all seems to transfer without paying a lot of money to someone, that's part of the reason i'm finding it hard.

Hi, I have just moved to Bunbury WA, back in the U.K I am a plant operator, I havebeen looking for work and naturally have gone to the agencies. I have been offered a chance to go into one of the local mine sites to do askill assessment on a 50 ton dump truck, however I have never driven dumptrucks before, and my back ground is in excavators, dozers and graders etc. upto about 40 tons, I also have no Australian tickets. The Job agency have saidthat they have given my resume to the mining company and they understand that Ihave not operated this machine before and that I have no tickets, but they havesaid that my skills and knowledge from operating other machines of this sizeand the skills i already have will be are easily transferable. Anyway I guess what I am asking is does anyone know what these skill assessmentsinvolve and what they will be asking of me especially as I have never driventhe machine I am supposedly getting assessed on. Thanks for for your help people, Sam

Hi, I have just come out to Australia and am living in Perth, back home I have been a mobile plant operator for six years and have experiance on most machines and some experiance in mining. I am currently looking for work in WA and wondered if anyone knows the situation with getting employment in the mines as a mobile operator. I have talked to various different companies and seem to get mixed responses back, do you need the machine tickets? or does it just come down to which company you work for, and if so where is the best place to get an assement of operating skills to get the machine tickets, I have been told by two companies to go through TAFE and some have said RMS mining training. Has anyone done this king of thing and how much money am I looking at? Thanks for your help.