swissfabs

Hi all,

I am a member of the forum who hasn't logged on in a couple of years. Moved to the Gold Coast from Switzerland in Sept 2005 - I am still here and have been granted citizenship, just waiting for the ceremony.

Anyway, I was having a chat with my partner last nite who works in the container refrigeration industry and he was telling me how much trouble he was having at finding specialised refrigeration staff. Apparently good "fridgies" are really in demand here in Brisbane and Australian companies do not know where to find qualified reliable staff. First thing that came to my mind was Britishexpats and I told him how I had developed frienships with many of you online expats 2 years ago when waiting for my visa.

I remember that there were many questions asked from tradies regarding the employment market, trade recognition and where to look for jobs. Well, maybe I can help now by being on the Australian side. If any of you is already in oz or wanting to move, knows or is a refrigeration technician, send me a PM and I will be able to put you in contact. Apparently there is someone looking for you in Brisbane!

Looking forward to hear from anyone soon, and let me know if you have any questions on the Gold Coast, I am sure I can answer heaps!

fabie

sponge

Hi there

My hubby is in refrigeration/airconditioning. But we live in Perth. Have been here for a short while and love it.
My husband, if I may say so myself, is a blinding, top technician. Always gives nothing but the best and always valued highly, by which every company he has worked for, he has the references to proove it.
He will never leave a job until it is too his standard, which is of the highest.
He has done his 16th edition Electrical course in UK and wants to get an A Grade licence here, but is having difficulty doing it. Apparently he needs to work for an Electrical company as an apprentice for 2-4years and take a drop in salary. The idea behind this is, to broaden his career and to be able to do both.
So, this has probably nothing to do with what your question was, but if you know of anyone over here , or if the company you mention have branches here that can offer my hubby something like the above, please let me know as they will absolutely not regret it , ever, they would get a absolute top, dedicated engineer and he would get what he wants too.

thanks for reading this,

swissfabs

Hi Sponge,

Lucky you, Perth is wonderful!
I will definitely ask my partner about similar jobs in Perth - I know his company has operations in different states but not sure for Perth.

All the best,

fabie

The_Pom_From_Aus

sponge;

your bloke will earn more money doing Refrigeration work rather that electrical, it would be goon knowledge doing the electrical work but the lower wages for 4 years as a minimum should change his mind there is & shall be massive demand for air con & evaporative for many years to come right across australia, i know if i had the choice to pick it would be the refrig work

sponge

Thank you both for your replies.
My husband doesn't want to change for frige to electrics, he wants both because he would like to go into controls eventually aswell as do fridge and aircon.
May have misled you to believe he wants to stop frige and aircon, sorry, no he just wants it all.

smoggieswilltravel

Hi

We have friends that are moving over in January, he is in refrideration although is now at management level. They really wanted to come to Brisbane but an offer came out of the blue to go to Sydney. So they are going there. I'll let them know about this thread just in case they don't settle or things don't work out in Sydney.

Cheers

swissfabs

Hi again,

Just an update for Sponge from my man:

Your husgand will have to be contracted as an apprentice and do relevent TAFE course to become an Electrician. The issue as you probably know is that it means going onto low wages ( adult apprentice ) unless the company will do a deal with him ( most wont as adult apprentice wage is already higher than normal).

Hope it all works out for you and your husband! Unfortunately my partner does not have any contacts in the Electrical industry in WA :-(

Smoggieswilltravel: thanks for your post, Sydney is nice but not as awesome as Brisbane and South East Queensland! Let me know if I can (try) and help!

take care you all,

fabie

sponge

Thank you fabie

Yes, that is exactly what he has been told. Thanks for taking the time for me though. Best of luck to you and your future.

Nu-Shooz

Hi, i'm a fridgie/air con in Perth.
I was offered work in Brissy before we moved to OZ. God knows why i ended up in Perth
But i wasn't prepared for all the red tape here. Getting through it slowly, but what a pain in the ass. Wish i knew that before i moved here. I think the red tape is in Brissy too!!! not sure though.

debsy

Hi Fabie
Hows it going?
Have seen you on here for a while, although I don't come on much myself.

Take care
Debsx

swissfabs

Hiya - as i am not in the industry i can't really comment ;-)

Hope you are enjoying perth!

fabie

swissfabs

Hi Debsy,
Yes it has been a while!!! about 2 years?
Still loving South East Qld at the moment - I have left Gold Coast tourism and started my own business which is internet marketing and search engine optimising for tourism businesses. So working from home!

What are you up to these days?

take care,

fabie