I'm a sparky but not a instalations type more into PLC's, robots, cnc machines and other forms of automation.

I'm looking to find out what sort of license if any I would need to continue in this type of work in the brisbane area and also is there much call for my skills in brisbane and the surrounding area's.
I've never needed any license to do my job here in england so am unsure of the rules for oz.
any and all help very welcome

Don't know about the job availability for sparks in Brisbane but try this link to enquire about the licensing.

www.detir.qld.gov.au

Neil.

Hi

My OH Gaz was looking online for sparks jobs in Brisbane the other day and I had a look as well a few weeks ago. There were loads of jobs which said must have PLC experience so I think you'll be fine (he does mostly inspection & testing so no good for him). You will need a licence though as all electricians do. Check the website given by Neil above but for jobs try www.careers.com.au and www.jobsearch.com.au.

Rachel

Would be interested if you find anything.

I'm a CNC Machine Tool Service Engineer and have been told by a contact in Melbourne that as long as you are past the isolator you don't need a licence and by a contact working for Mazak agent that you do need a licence.

If I do need a licence I think I will struggle as they look like they are aimed at installation, which I have never done, not automation, fault finding which I have always done.

Have tried to find out which PLC's are most used but no luck.
Hopefully Fanuc and Siemans.
Anyone know?

I am qualified, HNC Robotics and Automation, ONC Electrical and Electronics, just not sure if they test for what I can do.

Kevin

Hi

I think you might be out of luck with the PLC types, all I've found is Bradley, Mitsi and Foxbro. Siemens is out there but not very common.
I qualified as an engineer to get the points but I think I may still need to get a licence when I get out there.
If you served a recognised apprenticeship I think it should be just passing an exam. (At least I hope so)
Still not decided what I'm going to do when I get there yet.
Applied for lots while still in the UK but no-one seems to be interested until you're actually there. (Either that or my CV needs a serious make over)

Cheers

J

I'm in a similar position, I did my apprenticeship and eight years as a tech in the airlines as Avionics. After 9/11 I ended up spending my last 2 1/2 years in the UK in the power industry as an Electrical/Control & Instrument Tech.

What trade have you been given by the TRA for your visa application? That will have a lot of bearing on what you get over here. First thing you will need is an Australian Recognised Tradesman Certificate (ARTC) from the TRA. http://www.workplace.gov.au/tra

It's a bit of a Catch 22 they won't assess you for an ARTC till you're actually resident here by which time it's to late to do any last minute bits in the UK to help. Assuming you get an ARTC (or visa classification) as an electrician then you need to contact the state electrical licensing authority who will decide what is required before issuing a licence. Usually it will require at least a wiring regs course and exam as a minimum.

The only problem as others have mentioned for a full Electricians licence you need to have installation experience not just fault finding. My suggestion would be to get in touch with the state TRA and Licensing Authority for where you are going, make a contact and give them a ring, I spoke to Queensland people before I came over and they were very helpful.

My situation is that they have said my Apprenticeship wasn't electrical enough and so would need 7 years working as an electrician to qualify, only my last 2 1/2 years in the power industry would count. The only other option is to do an apprenticeship over here which I couldn't afford to do (Apprentice wages about $250 pw). There are various forms of licence available to different grades so until you speak to them and find out what direction they suggest then I wouldn't like to say whether or not you would be eligible for a licence. Again not sure of the exact legal requirements but a lot of jobs I've seen advertised for PLC/Automation in Melbourne are asking for a fully licensed eleccy.

With regards to anyone who has a BTEC/EDEXCEL qualification the University of Southern Queensland, http://www.usq.edu.au , signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EDEXCEL in 2003 and so should be a good place to transfer to an equivalent Aussie Qualification or get recognition of UK Qualifications if required.

I did the 4 year apprenticship with land rover cars and then have worked for them bmw and siemens all as a service or maintenance electrician, working on cnc's plc's robots's, cranes and all sorts of automation. I did some installations stuff in the apprenticship but since then very little and have no desire to go back to it now.
I would not say i'm an engineer tho as they usally have done the university thing and I have not. just city and guilds and onc electrical electronics and loads and loads of other training through work.
I'm not going down the skilled migration route as my girlfriend is a full aussie so can get in quicker and cheaper with a spouse visa, so i don't need to get any points, just a job.
sounds like i'm in the same boat as you kevin with the lack of installation experiance but I don't have the HNC.
I hope i don't need to do an exam as i don't like em but if it gets me work then i'll do it no worries.

Hi there guys,
I arrived in sept 04 and have just done my exam last saturday.
But im an installation electrician so prob not much help , but if you need to get a licence you will prob have to do the same course i had to.
Its all about knowing your way around the rule book "as/nzs 3000:2000" and the exam consists of finding the correct rule for certain situations, and also working out maximum demands and also a practical which i had to correctly inspect and test some guys house.
It took 6 months from arriving to finally getting my electrical mechanics licence.
In queensland its the hardest place to get your licence but you can work ANYWHERE in australia with it, but other states(where you may have got your licence)are not allowed to work in qld and will have to get there qld licence.
I opted for an open book course instead of TAFE and it was so much easier.
I have heard that the TAFE courses dont provide you with as much information and people are failing when it comes to the exam.
Hope any of this is of help even tho` its not for your side of the job.
Darren

Darren

I am hoping you can offer some advice, I was a approved installation spark in the uk from 16 to 29 and have 236 part 1/2 part c and HNC qualifications but been out of the game for last 5 years and employed as HVAC control sales engineer. After reserching on the web it may be easier to find employment as a spark, well that if I can get the License.

Is it right Upon arrival I must get this ARTC certificate from the TRA (The approval from the TRA to get the skills assesment for the visa application is not good enough) and then this will enabled me to work as a Sparks mate $20 an hour if I am lucky. Then must sit written and practical exam to gain full License.

Will it be possable to find employment on this restricted License till the full License is gained?

What are the work possabliities and money like for a fully Licensed spark in Brisbane/Sunshine coast as that is where we will be hopefully be in september.

Sorry for all the questions any advice/answers will be most grateful since reaserching on here sparks seem to be having a bad time of it with gaining a License and the thought of the House sale equity gone even before I can get the License to enable me to work is giving me nighmares.

I was in the same boat, always wondering if i could get work when i arrived.
Yes you need the artc cert and then a temporary licence, then you can do the course and the exam.
But you can get work easily as a trades assistant. The 1st guy i phoned up out of the paper(there were about 40 - 50 jobs for sparks)offered me a job, ijust explained my cercumstances about just arriving etc, and he wasnt bothered about a licence or temp licence , just as long as i could do the job.
He put me on $18 anhour and then up to $19 an hour when i started running jobs with people under me(yes, they are not as bright as english sparks). And now ive got my licence i can expect $25 an hour with van,phone,and uniform.
Dont worry about not finding work, there is a shit load of it about, and im always getting asked to do cash jobs, so much in fact im turning it down,
My ultimate aim is now to get my contractors licence and set up on my own.
There seems to be a real shortage of electricians.
D

Hi im also maint elec for water authority used to do loads of installs but hardly do any now due to staff cutbacks now we are not aloud (company policy) to do installation work it must be contracted out as we are required to repair the crappy equipment (some of it older than me) that keeps breaking down!!
I have no doubt about my abbility to do install work and have passed exams on wiring regs but due to lack of use cant remember everything in regs and would need to refer to regs occaissonaly, obviously the aussy regs will be similar but a bit different so i persume that that sort of detail would be acceptable also due to lack of use do they assess on time taken on practical assesment as im rusty in that respect too!!
Also once you have been granted your visa can you go to aus for a holiday get passport stamped (i persume that this validates your visa and permanent residency starts from that day?) apply for your licence, do regs exams etc. so that i dont need to commit financially until everything is in order and it is just a case of finding a job, as i am coming over with wife and two kids and need an imediate income so i dont waste our savings
any help or info is much appreciated.
cheers

Once you have your visa you will have a date which is a year from the date you took your medical by which time the visa has to be validated. This can be just a holiday, all you have to do is enter Australia using the visa and it is then valid. Residency will not be classed as having started until you do actually move here permanently.

To get an ARTC( Australian Registered Trades Certificate - see TRA website) they won't accept your application and assess you for this until you have become a resident. As far as I am aware the Licensing Authorities are the same so basically you may be able to get some hints/tips from the TRA and State Licensing Authority but until you actually move here you won't be able to get licensed. They will definitely require that you do a course and pass an exam in local wiring regs before issuing a licence.

As someone else mentioned above there is plenty of work available as a trades assistant.

Don't think that getting yout ARTC in Brisbane is easy!!

We got out here in the first week of January and had 10 days in Brissy. I took all the paperwork in on Monday 17th Jan, and was told the next electricians meeting was Tuesday 18th, the next day. For some reason they couldn't get all the paperwork to the meeting on time so I would need to wait for the next meeting - 22nd February, 5 weeks later!

After the 5 weeks holiday we got back to Brisbane and I phoned up the TRA on the Wednesday 23rd Feb, to be told that "sorry, mate, the meeting was cancelled", I asked when it would be re-scheduled for, and was answered "the 23rd March" another 5 weeks!!

No reasons were offered for the cancellation, I asked the guy what the possibility was that the next meeting would be cancelled? He couldn't/wouldn't answer.

I'll phone them on Wednesday and find out if they've had the meeting.

As it happens, I got a job through www.skilled.com, now working as a "spark" building 33KV switchgear, $25 an hour and they aren't bothered about the licence as it isn't live work, just panel wiring, I'm classed as a wireman at the mo.

Darren

How much experience had you had as an electrician in the UK not including apprentice years?. I was wondering how my working history would fair with the TRA when I arrive there in November. After completing my apprentership in 1991 I worked as an industrial/Commercial electrician, became approved in 1995, changed company in 1997 and became an electrical supervisor in 1998 changed companies again in 2004 and now work supervising Fire alarm,Intruder and CCTV installs. When I get to oz I'm hoping to get my electical mechnics licence also, do you think the last 18 months will down grade me to a fitter? I will be 35 when we arrive.

I know you may not have an answer specific to my case, just thought I would get the opinion of someone who is out there and has delt with the questions asked going through the process.

TRA has passed my application as a supervisor of electricians but I've heard this makes no difference any decision they make.

One last question and thats me done mate. Do you know if their is much work available around the Sunshine Coast.

Thanks


Ash

Ive had 10 years experience out of my time and became approved around the same time as you and done all the c&g testing courses etc, but it makes no difference. Im now an Electrical Mechanic which is basically i can do anything. You wont be classed as a Fitter, They only make switchboards and stuff like that, and not allowed to do any electrical work.
Once you arrive and go to the tra in the cbd he will ask you what you want to be ie a fitter or mechanic and in a few weeks you will recieve your artc and then you will have to do the same course i did. I did an open book course which i found to be easier than what id heard about tafe. If you want the guys number who did it then give me a PM. Hes really good and you can go to his house whenever and study or to ask questions.You just phone him when you think you are ready(norm around 3 months.)
As for work in the sunshine coast , i cant really answer that as i only get local papers.. sorry