Originally Posted by kt.2006

Hi, hope you can help with this. Hubby worked as a tiler in the UK for a while and wants to carry on tiling or painting in Aus. However we have been told that to work as a tiler or painter here you must have completed a very long apprenticeship, which he doesn't fancy doing.

We were then told by someone who runs his own handyman business that he does mowing, painting, etc. anyway, and has had no training at all!

Can you work for another tiler (if you have no qualifications) or is it something that is not allowed at all? Also can you do small jobs if you have your own business?

Anyone know?

I need a wine.

Originally Posted by kt.2006

Hi, hope you can help with this. Hubby worked as a tiler in the UK for a while and wants to carry on tiling or painting in Aus. However we have been told that to work as a tiler or painter here you must have completed a very long apprenticeship, which he doesn't fancy doing.

We were then told by someone who runs his own handyman business that he does mowing, painting, etc. anyway, and has had no training at all!

Can you work for another tiler (if you have no qualifications) or is it something that is not allowed at all? Also can you do small jobs if you have your own business?

Anyone know?

I need a wine.

Originally Posted by nickyjohnt

Thankyou for that information, I Hope to start my own tiling business when we get to Perth in a few months time. I have a couple of jobs lined up already and hope to take it from there. Cheers

John

Originally Posted by Irish Guinness

Hope that you don't mind me asking this question,but my son who is also a Tiler in OZ is thinking of going on a working holiday to the U.K. and he was wondering, what is the work situation for Tilers in the U.K.
He has also been told that the money is not good.
As for tiling in OZ there is plenty of work,Adelaide,Melbourne, Perth, you will not have any problems getting work over here Im sure.

Originally Posted by nickyjohnt

A bit quiet at the moment, If he can get in with the right company the going rate is approx £25-£35 Sq mtr. Obviously the rate varies in different places. Good luck
John

Originally Posted by cresta57

You can work for another tiler without a licence if you can find one that will take you on. I employ a tiler that has no licence or formal qualifications in tiling, he served an apprenticeship of sorts as a floor layer/carpet fitter. He's a damn good tiler and makes good money.
You can set up your own business and work as a tiler/painter or home handyman with out any kind of licence in QLD or NSW though you must limit the cost of each job inc materials to less than $1k [could have gone up a bit now]. You won't be able to work for any builders as they require a fully licenced/ insured tradesman. You may struggle to get paid as a lot of people are wise to the fact that they don't have to pay an unlicensed bloke a cent and there's nothing they can do about it, they don't have the backing of the QBSA or the master builders association a licenced bloke does.
In short you can get a licence if you have no qualifications you just need to have completed a period of employment as a tiler and be able to carry out all of the tasks on the job criteria. A letter from an employer stating you are capable of doing the tasks will be enough for you to start the process of applying for a licence. You will also need to be assessed on site on 2 or 3 jobs by an approved inspector prior to gaining the licence.
Search out some of my posts on trade licences it took me 9 months to get mine.
Good luck ;)

Originally Posted by cranni

where are you going to, could you get a sponsor. They are crying out for tilers here in WA .

Originally Posted by kt.2006

Thanks for that information, it was really helpful. It sounds like the best way for him to start will be to find someone who is prepared to take him on for a while. Can I be cheeky and ask why it took so long to get the licence?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by cresta57

Take a look at this old post from when it was fresh in my mind. It all seems so many stubbies ago now :eek:
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...75&postcount=7

Originally Posted by halcyon 52

Hi.

A good post.

I am a tiler and from reading the post I take it you cannot do any well paid work unless you are licensed. The whole thing seems like a nightmare.
What do you do for a living until you get licensed?

Also I see another post dating back to 2004 where if you are a general builder you need all the relevant licenses to carry out the varied work. I know bathroom fitting is not a noticed trade but what do they do in Oz if someone wants a bathroom? I dont mean this with any sarcasm but do they have the nightmare of getting get every single trade in just like the old days, in my book those days are gone and outdated or at least in the u.k anyway.
You cannot get 1 tradesman in th u.k to arrive on time let alone 4 or 5 different tradespeople on 1 job!!!
Dont get me wrong I am all for legitimate rules e.t.c but all this red tape F"""" me off, all it does is cost the people trying to get on with it money and creates jobs for officials let alone the hassle to the customer. Come on electrics,gas e.t.c is fair enough but painting and tiling - give me a break.

One thing that pi""""""" me off with the u.k and europe is the red tape, however I have read many posts about Australia working practices and they seem even worse!!! What a nightmare.

To sum up it seems a lot harder to earn a living in Australia and when you do the pay is less even allowing for the lower living costs.

Please note this is not an anti Australian rant but an anti beuracracy rant in general - James. :( :confused: :mad: :zzz:

Angry,confused, in-different

Originally Posted by halcyon 52

Hi.

A good post.

I am a tiler and from reading the post I take it you cannot do any well paid work unless you are licensed. The whole thing seems like a nightmare.
What do you do for a living until you get licensed?

Also I see another post dating back to 2004 where if you are a general builder you need all the relevant licenses to carry out the varied work. I know bathroom fitting is not a noticed trade but what do they do in Oz if someone wants a bathroom? I dont mean this with any sarcasm but do they have the nightmare of getting get every single trade in just like the old days, in my book those days are gone and outdated or at least in the u.k anyway.
You cannot get 1 tradesman in th u.k to arrive on time let alone 4 or 5 different tradespeople on 1 job!!!
Dont get me wrong I am all for legitimate rules e.t.c but all this red tape F"""" me off, all it does is cost the people trying to get on with it money and creates jobs for officials let alone the hassle to the customer. Come on electrics,gas e.t.c is fair enough but painting and tiling - give me a break.

One thing that pi""""""" me off with the u.k and europe is the red tape, however I have read many posts about Australia working practices and they seem even worse!!! What a nightmare.

To sum up it seems a lot harder to earn a living in Australia and when you do the pay is less even allowing for the lower living costs.

Please note this is not an anti Australian rant but an anti beuracracy rant in general - James. :( :confused: :mad: :zzz:

Angry,confused, in-different

Originally Posted by cresta57

For anyone interested here's the list of competencies required for tiling:

Originally Posted by kt.2006

Hi, hope you can help with this. Hubby worked as a tiler in

the UK for a while and wants to carry on tiling or painting in Aus. However we have been told that to work as a tiler or painter here you must have completed a very long apprenticeship, which he doesn't fancy doing.

We were then told by someone who runs his own handyman business that he does mowing, painting, etc. anyway, and has had no training at all!

Can you work for another tiler (if you have no qualifications) or is it something that is not allowed at all? Also can you do small jobs if you have your own business?

Anyone know?

I need a wine.

Originally Posted by kt.2006

No wonder there is a shortage of tradespeople. What is the point of the TRA assessment if you have to go through another long process in order to get work when you arrive. My friend told me that her brother has worked in Perth as a postman for years (even though in England he was a qualified electrician). I could never see why he would do that until now!

Do you know of any companies that take tilers on (or do you just have to take any work you can find until the time comes to be assessed?

Thanks for all the info by the way. I have learnt more from you than all the official websites put together!

Originally Posted by cresta57

You could look in the Courier Mail if your in and around Brisbane there's a comprehensive job guide in the business supplement. Also try the local CentreLink office and register with CHR or one of the other job search places.
Best way to get a start though is to visit sites and ask the tilers, I've always found that it's far easier to walk into a place and ask for a job outright than apply for loads in the paper. If your there on-site and they need someone you'll get a tryout far easier than sitting and writing a letter. I've never shown my qualifications to anyone other than the TRA and the DET.
You'll need a blue card here in QLD to get onto any site, costs around a hundred bucks and lasts until they decide to bring out a different coloured card :rolleyes: bloody red tape you just have to get used to it ;)

Originally Posted by steve`o

is the blue card is the cpr / first aider card?

Originally Posted by cresta57

No the blue card is like the CITB basic health and safety test it's a half day course at a local TAFE or a training agency like Cadet training. Really easy and basic commonsense. The CPR first aider is the one that sparkies have to complete as well as their blue card. Again it's an easy course.

http://www.masterbuilders.asn.au/tng_course_1.cfm