Originally Posted by jad n rich

Could the shortage be that australians simply are not going to look at bricklaying as the career of choice for themselves or their children, given most aussies know doing that job in this climate would be a crappy way of life, and like some other careers that were the top of the skills list are very badly paid. Hairdressing was up there, award wage about $540 gross.

Originally Posted by Ashers

Possibly, but are you moving to Australia for career progression, or are you moving for other benefits the country has to offer - weather, infrastructure, tighter immigration, healthier lifestyle etc.

In general, wages are still lower in most parts of Australia, but still floods of migrants are leaving the U.K. Don't you think they're fully aware they could be earning less money, but are going more for the reasons I've just mentioned? I know we are.

As for Hairdressers, this profession generally doesn't demand a great salary anywhere.

Originally Posted by Pollyana

And I'm sure I could quote just as much positivity, if you are talking about posts by such as Renth.

Originally Posted by Pollyana

What you - and many other posters - need to realise is that posters such a Renth have lived here and experienced day to day life here for a few years, and as such we post REALISTIC posts.

Originally Posted by Pollyana

There is a difference between these and the outright negative posts of PB and MS. This is nothing to do with defending friends. Its just to do with providing a balance. Longterm residents like Renth, Cresta, Jad n Rich - they are telling it AS IT IS. No rosy specs, no black depression. Just reality.

Originally Posted by Pollyana

Theres room for all three on here - negativity, positivity and realism. Prospective migrants need to read the lot to give them a view of what life is like here. Even then, they will never truly know what life here is like until they get here, as every individuals experiences will be different

On a personal note, I wish more people had been posting realistically when i first came here, I was fairly realistic, but I do admit now that a bigger dose of "what its really like" would have been good. Wouldn't have stopped me coming, but mught have left me more prepared and thus feeling less bitter now.

Originally Posted by Ashers

And the trouble you all have here as you defend your friend is that it's all here in black and white, and irrefutable.

Originally Posted by wombat

Im not a negative poster either, i hardly ever post on here but i just wanted to reply to this thread to let people really know what its like being a brickie in Queensland.
we actually love everything about living here except the work situation and we have no plans of ever returning to England to live. We have been here over 2 years now and feel that this is home

Originally Posted by canifixit

Just to say I too am a bricklayer and as many British brickies will know the cold and wet of Britain soon wears your body down. You won't find many soon to retire 60+ year old brickies on sites.
Would say that I personally prefer working in the heat to the cold and windy rain.
It seems to me that people should stop saying "I earned £? in Britain,and in Aus I only earn £?".
P.S. Good things about being a brickie :

1. Can build a house for your family.
2. ?????

Originally Posted by canifixit

Just to say I too am a bricklayer and as many British brickies will know the cold and wet of Britain soon wears your body down. You won't find many soon to retire 60+ year old brickies on sites.
Would say that I personally prefer working in the heat to the cold and windy rain.
It seems to me that people should stop saying "I earned £? in Britain,and in Aus I only earn £?".
P.S. Good things about being a brickie :

1. Can build a house for your family.
2. ?????

Originally Posted by clougherty family

Hi,

We are in Perth and my husband is a brickie. The average daily rate is $250 and if you work per brick it's $1 per brick. It is hard in the summer as the flies are unbearable and he starts at 6.30 and only has 30mins max break all day. He takes 5 litres of water and drinks it all and by the time he gets home the last thing he wants to do is be outside by the pool when he's been out in the sun all day, so not really any family time in the week. Also, he's so knackered that he's normally in bed by 8pm or else asleep on the sofa. It's not so bad now in the winter except that in the last week he's had 2 days off because of the rain, so no money and at Christmas he had to have 4 weeks off, so no money either. It's not that bad, but it's not that good either. We've only got a small mortgage and I am working part time too at the moment, but we're still always skint! He works 6 days per week too!

Jo

Originally Posted by cresta57

When I first found the forum I remember reading posts by long time posters shall I name them?
O.K posters like Dotty, Ceri even PB. I remember them posting that the picture we were being sold was not an entirely accurate one. Sure there were some posters painting a much nicer image, human nature makes us want to believe the good things.
I submitted my TRA as a brickie the trade I served an apprenticeship in, a year down the track I arrive here in QLD armed with my list of qualifications City & Guilds, Skills test and loads of other courses from damp proof installation to driving M.E.W.P's. I head off to get a job only to be told "sorry mate you need a licence" I'd passed the TRA and though no problem I'll nip and get one. A couple of hours research on the internet down at the library, I find out the people I need to contact. A phone call to the DET at Maryboro' saw me booked in for an appointment the following day. I walked in presented my paperwork and the guy just stared at me as if I was an alien. After a few moments he says I'm insufficiently qualified for a licence as a bricklayer. Now bear in mind I'd passed the TRA I asked why? The guy states that there in my reference it clearly states that for the last X amount of years I'd been subbed out by my employer to the local authority and was in charge of a gang of blokes renovating bathrooms. It went on to describe the actual work done and in his opinion as I'd been tiling for the majority of that time and only bricking up the occasional window or doorway I had not got the required number of years recent experience.
That began a 9 month nightmare to obtain a licence as a tiler, a trade that in his opinion I was more qualified for. Not one thread had been posted regarding licencing, I just assumed I could walk onto a site with my tool bucket and get a job same as the U.K. I remember hearing it was a dollar a brick and thinking I was going to be rich. Do a search, my posts are out there and read just like some of the optimistic ones on this thread. When I arrived sure the main contractor was paid a dollar a brick out of that he bought the sand and cement paid his super, paid his public liability insurance, paid his workers comp and finally paid his blokes, at the time it was about $25 bucks an hour for that you work like a dog or your down the road. You need to think carefully about where you want to live as not all states require a licence. Good money can be made there's no denying that, you have to ask is it worth risking everything in the event of litigation? If your prepared to take the gamble then you can reap the rewards.

Originally Posted by BRICKY ADE

Had to laugh at the brickies at 60, here you would push to find any over 35/40 mind you they do look 60

Originally Posted by thatsnotquiteright

i. People do need to forget pounds and dollars and look at things in real terms.

ii. I think a lot of people (professionals) do know they will earn less. It was the first thing I checked. I personally (real terms) earn more than I did in the UK, the industry max is less than the UK but I can more easily earn enough like with like. Infact, taken into account other factors, I am better off here.

iii. But a lot of tradies need to know that they may need to cross-skill or start new businesses.Any brickies doing OK over here?