Wendy

I got three numbers and one supplement number in SA lottery on Monday (it paid $11.10 )

http://www.salotteries.com.au/Defaul...?p=1&g=mwl_mon

DavyT

Hi,

I would be grateful if you could keep me up to date on your application. I am in a similar situation: time served Maintenance Electrician in a Ford factory.
I have been worried about the Vetassess as I am not a house basher and suspect I would fail the practical exam. I have been looking at the TRA Electrician-Special Class myself; but worry if it will restrict my job prospects in Brisbane on this visa as opposed to General Electrician???

Thanks in advance,
David.

Wendy

Hi David

If you apply for a general skilled migration visa (175 or 176) then you can do whatever job you like when you get here. It doesn't even have to be electrician, you could be a cleaner and it wouldn't matter.

The important things to think about are how are you going to get a visa, then how are you going to get a licence. The way I see it is you have two options:

Apply the vetassess route, get classified as a general electrician, you then get a visa based on them skills and vetassess give you a certificate to enable you to gain a provisional licence in Australia. Once you get here you will (almost certainly) need to apply to the TRA for an ARTC certificate to be able to get a full licence.

The other way is to apply via the TRA as electrician - special class, gain your visa on them skills. Then when you arrive in Australia you will need to apply to the TRA for an ARTC certificate to enable you to gain a full licence.

The ARTC certificate classifies you as either an Electrical Mechanic or an Electrical Fitter. An Electrical Mechanic can connect and disconnect from the mains, an Electrical Fitter can not (depending on which state you go to, in QLD an Electrical Fitter can't get a full licence without extra training, as far as I understand it. In South Australia either can apply for a full licence so long as they have passed the wiring rules exam.) This is the important part, how to gain an unrestricted licence when you get here, and which visa route is going to be the easiest way to ensure you get it.

Just to add, my OH worked for a card manufacturer in the UK and hadn't done any domestic work for 7 years but passed as a General Electrician (although that was before Vetassess). He also applied for and obtained his electrical mechanic ARTC when we arrived and is now working on PLC's in a factory who supply parts to Holden. So it can be done, just make sure you have a plan

DavyT

Hi Wendy,
thanks for that. I suppose I shouldn't really worry which route I use, as long as I finish up in Oz!

By the way, thanks for recommending Alan Collett to me, he was a great help and was able to sort me out.

Cheers,
David.

Wendy

Excellent.

Glapper

I've just got my TRA application back from TRA and i've been successful in my "Electrician Special Class - 4311-13".

They only recieved it on the 14th Jan & it was approved on the 21st -- really pleased as i was getting worried it would end up taking ages.

steve`o

congratulations mate

DavyT

Excellent news mate,
congratulations!!!

Janna and Nick

Hi Glapper,

Are you able to supply copies of the information you supplied to the TRA. My OH is an Electrician of 7 years but is petrified of exams and test etc and I fear he will not do too well via Vetassess. Would you recommend the TRA way for the special class electrician? Would he be able to get an A licence when we get to Oz? Done lots of research about the Vetassess route, but don't know much about the TRA route. Anything you could give us to assist would be appreciated!

stumo

Hi Glapper - my husband is a maintenance electrician working in a car parts factory and I think this might be the best route for us (and the cheapest) - can we PM you for more info please?

Many thanks
Jane (and Stuart)

Glapper

If I can help in anyway, I'll try my best.

Just send me a message if you want some info.


Good Luck

stumo

Hiya Glapper, I am a maintenance technician (electrician only staff). My main duties are with PLC (Allen Bradley and Mitsi) and robots (mainly ABB). Most if the diagnostics is done through a HMI screen although some pc work is needed. I have never been a domestic electrician but have the qualification C&G 236 1,2&3. My question is, are these similar skills as yourself and have you had any indication of jobs in Oz. Cheers Stumo

Wendy

That's what my OH does Only it's siemens steps 7 mostly in his company, they have the robots - don't know what type though. They are crying out for PLC guys here, especially ones with a full licence - you'll have your hand snapped off!

His wage is $60k per year, but because he is maintenance it's more like $70 -$75k because of the overtime - plus he gets 2 hours Rostered Days Off (RDO's) per week which he never really takes so they pay him it on top of his wage instead (so that's an extra 98 hours at $30 and a bit per hour).

Glapper

Hey Stumo,

Sounds like we must do pretty similar types of jobs within the factory. I also work on PLC systems but its mainly Allen Bradley stuff because the company I work for has standardised to one type. I also do the general run of the day maintenance duties on a variety of different machines, probably the same as yourself. As far as qualifications go I went down the Electrical ONC, Electrical HNC, along with the 16th edition regs & City & Guilds 2391. I've done a little domestic wiring but only a couple of years so I would think its the Maintenance experience and qualifications that got me through the TRA assessment. Anyway its sounds as if it works out alot cheaper to go down this route.

As far as jobs go, I haven't really arranged anything yet because everyone I speak to asks if you have the visa in place so I think I'm going to wait until the visa comes through (fingers crossed). Mind you there does seem to be a few electrical jobs available once you get there. How easily they are to get before you get your licence is anyone's guess??? Anyone know?????

Wendy

No-one would touch my OH without a full licence, but once he got it he was working straight away. There are some people that get jobs before the licence though.