bpf

Hello,
Myself and my wife are looking into emigrating to Australia, possibly Perth or Brisbane, with our 2 young children. I have been an Electrician since I left school after I completed my apprentiship, and I am now 33, I would like to know other Electricians thoughts on how hard it is to find work after completing the appropriate training courses and getting the relevant licence when there. And how long it took you to find a job when you arrived in Oz.
Thanks in advance

verystormy

Given the economy in WA at the moment, I would advise QLD.

teza

Same. Hubby runs a electrical wholesaler and in 24+yrs in his career hasn't seen so many projects canned, mining downturn has returned many sparkies back from FIFO and now they are all competing for the same quotes. He calls it dog eats dog mentality atm, and who you know is essential!

bpf

Ok thanks for your replies.
Also my wife is a childminder at home, and has worked in a nursery as well,would she need to do any extra courses to work in a nursery or continue with the childminding.

evets

You would also need to look at some retraining and some exams to work as a sparky in Oz, the UK qualifications are not recognized here. Not sure of the actual costs, but search BE as remember seeing similar posts. Think of it like having to redo your apprenticeship for a year or 2 before you could branch out for yourself.

Cannot comment about your wife, but I suspect she would need some courses and/or certs locally.

skinnygeorge

There is a whole section on here about electrical licenses. Your UK qualifications are an important part of trades recognition so have all your certificates. Unless things have changed greatly( I know some elements have) for your trades recognition ref Visa application you will have all these anyway. Its handy if you have other strings to your bow Air/con, data cabling, security systems or instrumentation but there is work out there. Be prepared for a long search! just in case. Have a lot of money when you come.

Japonica

Or NT. Still FIFO going on there and my hubby keeps running into former work mates who have signed on.

Supposedly lots coming up in Vic with all the proposed infrastructure projects, but haven't heard much on that yet.

Jilliebee

Your wife could look at doing Family Day Care if she wanted to continue minding children in the home. Each State will have slightly different requirements but I know you can do the necessary Certificates while you are working. She would need a Working with Children card (or equivalent depending on State) and First Aid Certificate etc. Just google Family Day Care and the State/Territory for info x

bpf

Thanks for the info, will look into that