Ianrpm

Hi all,

I am in the process of having my skills assessed.

I am hoping to apply for stni as a carpenter which is on the skills shortage list in SA.

Don't know if i will be assessed as a carpenter as my U.K qualifications are in carpentry and joinery.

Is the assessment based more on qualifications or in experience.

What is the difference between a carpenter and joiner in Oz.

Would appreciate advice as I am a bit confused.

Thanks
Iain

pudnut

Hi Iain!
I am of the impression that a joiner has specialist joining skills in which they use for the making of items such as cabinets, wardrobes, shells and doors to make up a kitchen etc. basically a cabinet maker so to speak, and they usually work in a workshop enviroment working from drawings and actually making the furniture. Where as carpentry skills are more general and they deal with fixing the items in to place, ie fitting out the kitchen, or they can put up a roof or partitioning or laying a floor, fixing stair cases etc. Most carpenters have qualifications as "carpenter and joiner" but tend to either branch off into the joinery section, or the carpentry section. Some peoples work will involve both. So you have to ask yourself,what does my work involve?
The assessors will look at both your qualification and your experiance equally. If you want to go as a carpenter, I suggest that you concentrate and highlight more on your carpentry skills.
I don't think you'll have a problem being assess as a carpenter, unless you have spent your whole working life in a workshop as a joiner making furniture etc.
Hope this helps,

Go for it!!

Pudnut...

Carrianne

hiya,

Hubby is a carpenter/Joiner over here we call them joiner (basically he builds houses) carpenter to us makes cabinets etc. But in Oz as we found out you call yourself a Carpenter. So do what hubby did say Carpenter and Joiner as he is qulaified as both and they know what you mean.

Hope this helps

Good luck

Carrianne

Stan J

I think I'm right in saying the correct definition is

Carpenter - structural timberwork (like roofing and floor joists) generally this is rough finished timber work
Joiner - Doors and windows, staircases etc
Cabinet Maker - as the name dictates. (generally this is the finer side of working in wood)

At a push I'd describe a Formworker as a Carpenter though Formworker is far more apt. (A formworker makes shuttering to form concrete)

Of course the demarkation line is often blurred and the words are misused in common english. There's also a UK regional bias in the use of the title with joiner favoured in the north and carpenter in the south.

Interestingly on the Skilled Occupation List there are three categories

Cabinet Maker
Carpenter
Carpenter & Joiner

If it is important which category you apply against I would seek formal definition because from the last posts there is so much confusion.

.... on a different tack those lorries that spin around ain't cement mixers .... their concrete mixers (it's a completely different machine that mixes the concrete powder! :-)

Ianrpm

Thanks guys,
I feel a lot clearer now.

Think I will apply as a Carpenter as that is on the list, and can justify it with my experience as well as my qualifications.

By the way if you are self employed there is a lot more work involved in getting your skills assessed, as you need a lot of references etc.

But what you put into it, is what you get out of it.


Cheers, Iain