What’s the current situation like for car mechanics in Aus?
Aug 13th 2018, 5:15 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 124
What’s the current situation like for car mechanics in Aus?
Posting on behalf of a friend so apologies for any late replies.
Hi,
I’m a fully qualified car mechanic currently working at a dealership in the UK who is looking for a change of scenery and a different experience. I’m therefore thinking of applying for a WHV and spending a year in Aus. I’m in my early 20’s and meet all of the requirements for the WHV.
My biggest worry is the job situation when I get there. Would it be easy for me to find mechanical and car servicing work in Aus? If so, where would be the best place for me to go? I’m pretty flexible location-wise, but don’t want to be too far out in the sticks as I probably won’t have a car.
I’m also open to doing other types of work if that’s what’s required. However, as vehicle servicing and mechanics is all I’ve ever really done, I think this line of work would be the easiest for me to get into.
I’ve also mainly worked on European cars. Would this be a problem down under?
When would be the best time to make the move?
Any advice would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Henry
Hi,
I’m a fully qualified car mechanic currently working at a dealership in the UK who is looking for a change of scenery and a different experience. I’m therefore thinking of applying for a WHV and spending a year in Aus. I’m in my early 20’s and meet all of the requirements for the WHV.
My biggest worry is the job situation when I get there. Would it be easy for me to find mechanical and car servicing work in Aus? If so, where would be the best place for me to go? I’m pretty flexible location-wise, but don’t want to be too far out in the sticks as I probably won’t have a car.
I’m also open to doing other types of work if that’s what’s required. However, as vehicle servicing and mechanics is all I’ve ever really done, I think this line of work would be the easiest for me to get into.
I’ve also mainly worked on European cars. Would this be a problem down under?
When would be the best time to make the move?
Any advice would be appreciated,
Thanks,
Henry
Aug 15th 2018, 10:50 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: What’s the current situation like for car mechanics in Aus?
I've never heard of a UK person migrating to work as a Motor Mechanic..... It may have happened, but I'm not aware of it. As for the state of the industry, same as the UK I would imagine in the process of great change. To work in Melbourne ir would help he's cause if he was Arabic or Meditteranean, I would imagine the same would almost certainly apply to Sydney as well. Not sure about the other cities though. Perth and Adelaide could be the go.
Sorry about the negative response. Not sure whether thats better than none or not.
Hopefully I've prompted someone else to respond in a more postive light.
Might help you understand better if I said about a lot of Middle Australias mindset. I work with a bloke who got rid of his 6 year old Hyundai I30 simply because the timing belt broke and caused engine damage. A lot ofPeople dont bother getting that kind of thing fixed here.. they just get a new car. In otherwords the throw away society has reached as far as vehicles here for a lot and maybe most people.
Sorry about the negative response. Not sure whether thats better than none or not.
Hopefully I've prompted someone else to respond in a more postive light.
Might help you understand better if I said about a lot of Middle Australias mindset. I work with a bloke who got rid of his 6 year old Hyundai I30 simply because the timing belt broke and caused engine damage. A lot ofPeople dont bother getting that kind of thing fixed here.. they just get a new car. In otherwords the throw away society has reached as far as vehicles here for a lot and maybe most people.
Last edited by ozzieeagle; Aug 15th 2018 at 10:57 pm.
Aug 17th 2018, 5:11 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Scotland
Posts: 3,337
Re: What’s the current situation like for car mechanics in Aus?
You will get work, but it might not be as a mechanic. Because you are limited to working for one employer for six months, many employers are reluctant to employ back packers / WHV holders. Instead many get work in things like bars and restaurants.
Oct 27th 2018, 7:21 am
#4
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle , NSW
Posts: 6,756
Re: What’s the current situation like for car mechanics in Aus?
My mechanic friend walked straight into a job (this was four years ago)
I also saw a recently arrived migrant get a job with no issue. This is NSW. I think you’d be fine.
I also saw a recently arrived migrant get a job with no issue. This is NSW. I think you’d be fine.
Oct 30th 2018, 10:57 am
#5
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,140
Re: What’s the current situation like for car mechanics in Aus?
If your friend wants to work as a mechanic in Australia, he needs to check licencing/registration requirements. As mentioned, on a WHV he'd be limited to a maximum of 6 months with any one employer so wouldn't be eligible to apply for full time/permanent positions.
He can gauge the market for jobs in his field, by location, here https://www.seek.com.au/
He can gauge the market for jobs in his field, by location, here https://www.seek.com.au/
Oct 31st 2018, 1:42 am
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: What’s the current situation like for car mechanics in Aus?
I've never heard of a UK person migrating to work as a Motor Mechanic..... It may have happened, but I'm not aware of it. As for the state of the industry, same as the UK I would imagine in the process of great change. To work in Melbourne ir would help he's cause if he was Arabic or Meditteranean, I would imagine the same would almost certainly apply to Sydney as well. Not sure about the other cities though. Perth and Adelaide could be the go.
Sorry about the negative response. Not sure whether thats better than none or not.
Hopefully I've prompted someone else to respond in a more postive light.
Might help you understand better if I said about a lot of Middle Australias mindset. I work with a bloke who got rid of his 6 year old Hyundai I30 simply because the timing belt broke and caused engine damage. A lot ofPeople dont bother getting that kind of thing fixed here.. they just get a new car. In otherwords the throw away society has reached as far as vehicles here for a lot and maybe most people.
Sorry about the negative response. Not sure whether thats better than none or not.
Hopefully I've prompted someone else to respond in a more postive light.
Might help you understand better if I said about a lot of Middle Australias mindset. I work with a bloke who got rid of his 6 year old Hyundai I30 simply because the timing belt broke and caused engine damage. A lot ofPeople dont bother getting that kind of thing fixed here.. they just get a new car. In otherwords the throw away society has reached as far as vehicles here for a lot and maybe most people.
Smaller Asian 4 cylinder cars are very cheap now. We run 2nd hand cars as we have a larger growing family that needs a midsize SUV where the sticker price is climbing. Incidentally, some of the newer smaller SUVs seem to be too low to the ground for my liking - an older mid-size SUV we run is perfect and has more clearance.
