IT Skills and Experience
May 25th 2003, 8:53 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 87
IT Skills and Experience
Thank-goodness I've just found this website!
I need some help in determining whether I've got the experience/qualifcations needed to migrate to OZ or whether my partner should apply as the primary appliant.
I have 6 years experience in IT and have a degree(in Economics), a MSc in Social Research and an ESF Diploma in IT (one year full time course). What should i apply under the various categories set by the ACS..? Should I apply myself or use one of theses 'nice' agencies that charge a bomb for their services.........any help and advise most welcome..
I need some help in determining whether I've got the experience/qualifcations needed to migrate to OZ or whether my partner should apply as the primary appliant.
I have 6 years experience in IT and have a degree(in Economics), a MSc in Social Research and an ESF Diploma in IT (one year full time course). What should i apply under the various categories set by the ACS..? Should I apply myself or use one of theses 'nice' agencies that charge a bomb for their services.........any help and advise most welcome..
May 25th 2003, 9:21 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Sunshine Coast Queensland
Posts: 242
Re: IT Skills and Experience
Originally posted by zen
Thank-goodness I've just found this website!
I need some help in determining whether I've got the experience/qualifcations needed to migrate to OZ or whether my partner should apply as the primary appliant.
I have 6 years experience in IT and have a degree(in Economics), a MSc in Social Research and an ESF Diploma in IT (one year full time course). What should i apply under the various categories set by the ACS..? Should I apply myself or use one of theses 'nice' agencies that charge a bomb for their services.........any help and advise most welcome..
Thank-goodness I've just found this website!
I need some help in determining whether I've got the experience/qualifcations needed to migrate to OZ or whether my partner should apply as the primary appliant.
I have 6 years experience in IT and have a degree(in Economics), a MSc in Social Research and an ESF Diploma in IT (one year full time course). What should i apply under the various categories set by the ACS..? Should I apply myself or use one of theses 'nice' agencies that charge a bomb for their services.........any help and advise most welcome..
The additional cost of using an agent may seem expensive, but if you take into acount the time and money that may be lost if you fail in your application where an agent may have given you success. The total cost of relocating may be upto (and more than) £10k, the agents 1.5 to 2k is not a great deal in this light.
I am using gomatilda.com, I have 13 years experience in IT, and am a qualified lecturer currently working in netware admin (6 years) if I had done my own application I would have flunked it big time due to skills assessment complications.
I hope you receive more advice here, because I sound a little prejudiced on this matter, but the skills assessment is definitely a minefield.
Best of luck,
Phil.
May 26th 2003, 12:14 am
#3
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Posts: 87
Re: IT Skills and Experience
Hi Phil - how did u decide to use gomatilda.com ? where they recommended by someone ? Do you know of others that have used them? are there specialist agencies that deal with possible IT migrants?
May 26th 2003, 12:20 am
#4
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: newbury
Posts: 1,015
use the search function here to get info on them..
cheers
richard
cheers
richard
May 26th 2003, 2:04 am
#5
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Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Going Home
Posts: 1,215
Zen, have you got all the info from ACS? I applied over 4 years ago so not sure if things have changed, but I had loads of hassle with them.
Basically I had 15 years experience, mcse, cne and all the other daft certificates, city and guilds, and a degree in Business studies and because it was not a computer related degree they knocked me back so could not get the points. I did find a way around it.
If you look at the BCS site and you could satisfy the entry for Member it might be worth doing that, because thats recognised by ACS and will get you full points (or it used to) Thats what my ex partner did. ACS knocked her back but she easily got member status to BCS. Sent of details to ACS and hey presto.
Basically I had 15 years experience, mcse, cne and all the other daft certificates, city and guilds, and a degree in Business studies and because it was not a computer related degree they knocked me back so could not get the points. I did find a way around it.
If you look at the BCS site and you could satisfy the entry for Member it might be worth doing that, because thats recognised by ACS and will get you full points (or it used to) Thats what my ex partner did. ACS knocked her back but she easily got member status to BCS. Sent of details to ACS and hey presto.
Last edited by karawara88; May 26th 2003 at 2:09 am.
May 26th 2003, 2:22 am
#6
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Joined: May 2003
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 12
I didnt use a migration agent and have had no major hiccups so far. We have got so far as to be invited for medicals and get police clearances which we have recently completed and sent off.
If you dont mind filling in forms (and fill competant) I believe there is no need for a migration agent at all. There was nothing complicated in the process at all.
Saying that the ACS stage was painful. They are very slow and they take a lot of convincing that you have the skills you say you have. I didn't do a degree so I had to undergo the RPL process. That was very involved and very specific to me so I dont see that a migration agent would have helped much. I got through the RPL at the first attempt but I needed the extra points for having a job on the MODL list. That was where I spent most of my time with the ACS, proving my job was on that list. They finally agreed during the long winded appeal process (longer timescales than they quote on their website). They have since upgraded the description of that skill on the MODL list so that should make it easier for similar people in my position.
The DIMMA process has been plain sailing since however, a much more pleasurable experience than the ACS process.
You dont say your particular skills in IT so you will just have to best match up your skills with the Jobs on the SOL list. A degree in anything oplus relevant IT experience will be enough to get you at least 60 points for your job. Remember I did it without the degree.
Steve
If you dont mind filling in forms (and fill competant) I believe there is no need for a migration agent at all. There was nothing complicated in the process at all.
Saying that the ACS stage was painful. They are very slow and they take a lot of convincing that you have the skills you say you have. I didn't do a degree so I had to undergo the RPL process. That was very involved and very specific to me so I dont see that a migration agent would have helped much. I got through the RPL at the first attempt but I needed the extra points for having a job on the MODL list. That was where I spent most of my time with the ACS, proving my job was on that list. They finally agreed during the long winded appeal process (longer timescales than they quote on their website). They have since upgraded the description of that skill on the MODL list so that should make it easier for similar people in my position.
The DIMMA process has been plain sailing since however, a much more pleasurable experience than the ACS process.
You dont say your particular skills in IT so you will just have to best match up your skills with the Jobs on the SOL list. A degree in anything oplus relevant IT experience will be enough to get you at least 60 points for your job. Remember I did it without the degree.
Steve
May 26th 2003, 3:18 am
#7
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You dont say your particular skills in IT so you will just have to best match up your skills with the Jobs on the SOL list. A degree in anything oplus relevant IT experience will be enough to get you at least 60 points for your job. Remember I did it without the degree.
Steve [/QUOTE]
the hardest thing will be doing the RPL. I spent all last summer - when i was backpacking - doing it. In the end mine ran to over 50 pages of A4 - but I covered every section of the core syllabus.
I spent 2 nights sleeping in the office of the building i iwas working to get it done a few months before the 1 oct 02 law change.
if you had applied before 1 oct 02 you would have only needed 4 years - but now 6 is needed. although - they may take 6 years as being enough to get the basic qualification eg. deeming dates etc and you will be left with no 12 months of minimum experience. I had 5.5, so my 4 years of RPL was enough.
i can help with examples of RPL to those that email me personally.
badgers
Steve [/QUOTE]
the hardest thing will be doing the RPL. I spent all last summer - when i was backpacking - doing it. In the end mine ran to over 50 pages of A4 - but I covered every section of the core syllabus.
I spent 2 nights sleeping in the office of the building i iwas working to get it done a few months before the 1 oct 02 law change.
if you had applied before 1 oct 02 you would have only needed 4 years - but now 6 is needed. although - they may take 6 years as being enough to get the basic qualification eg. deeming dates etc and you will be left with no 12 months of minimum experience. I had 5.5, so my 4 years of RPL was enough.
i can help with examples of RPL to those that email me personally.
badgers
Last edited by badgersmount; May 26th 2003 at 6:58 am.
May 26th 2003, 3:39 am
#8
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 87
Originally posted by sgtPommie
I didnt use a migration agent and have had no major hiccups so far. We have got so far as to be invited for medicals and get police clearances which we have recently completed and sent off.
If you dont mind filling in forms (and fill competant) I believe there is no need for a migration agent at all. There was nothing complicated in the process at all.
Saying that the ACS stage was painful. They are very slow and they take a lot of convincing that you have the skills you say you have. I didn't do a degree so I had to undergo the RPL process. That was very involved and very specific to me so I dont see that a migration agent would have helped much. I got through the RPL at the first attempt but I needed the extra points for having a job on the MODL list. That was where I spent most of my time with the ACS, proving my job was on that list. They finally agreed during the long winded appeal process (longer timescales than they quote on their website). They have since upgraded the description of that skill on the MODL list so that should make it easier for similar people in my position.
The DIMMA process has been plain sailing since however, a much more pleasurable experience than the ACS process.
You dont say your particular skills in IT so you will just have to best match up your skills with the Jobs on the SOL list. A degree in anything oplus relevant IT experience will be enough to get you at least 60 points for your job. Remember I did it without the degree.
Steve
I didnt use a migration agent and have had no major hiccups so far. We have got so far as to be invited for medicals and get police clearances which we have recently completed and sent off.
If you dont mind filling in forms (and fill competant) I believe there is no need for a migration agent at all. There was nothing complicated in the process at all.
Saying that the ACS stage was painful. They are very slow and they take a lot of convincing that you have the skills you say you have. I didn't do a degree so I had to undergo the RPL process. That was very involved and very specific to me so I dont see that a migration agent would have helped much. I got through the RPL at the first attempt but I needed the extra points for having a job on the MODL list. That was where I spent most of my time with the ACS, proving my job was on that list. They finally agreed during the long winded appeal process (longer timescales than they quote on their website). They have since upgraded the description of that skill on the MODL list so that should make it easier for similar people in my position.
The DIMMA process has been plain sailing since however, a much more pleasurable experience than the ACS process.
You dont say your particular skills in IT so you will just have to best match up your skills with the Jobs on the SOL list. A degree in anything oplus relevant IT experience will be enough to get you at least 60 points for your job. Remember I did it without the degree.
Steve
Thanks for the advice on the ACS .. it does appear that they are a bit of a nightmare to get past. That last comment about having a degree in anything plus IT experience.. Would I get through with a degee in Economics & Social Studies plus 6 years experience in IT or should i apply under the RPL process ..?
May 26th 2003, 6:14 am
#9
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Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Sunshine Coast Queensland
Posts: 242
Re: IT Skills and Experience
Originally posted by zen
Hi Phil - how did u decide to use gomatilda.com ? where they recommended by someone ? Do you know of others that have used them? are there specialist agencies that deal with possible IT migrants?
Hi Phil - how did u decide to use gomatilda.com ? where they recommended by someone ? Do you know of others that have used them? are there specialist agencies that deal with possible IT migrants?
I was very lucky in finding this site and asking the same questions as you are. Other members recommended a few agents, after emailing a couple of agents I chose Go Matilda. If you are going as a skilled applicant with IT as your job, this is the only agent to have as the chap that does the assessment/prep work for TRA (Trade Recognition Australia) is an ex-high up person from ACS, the Australian Computer Society. He has 100% success with applicants for skills assessment, but having said that, Go Matilda is a no visa no fee company, they will not take you on if they are not at least 95% sure you will make it.
Phil.
May 26th 2003, 6:14 am
#10
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Joined: May 2003
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 12
Originally posted by zen
Steve,
Thanks for the advice on the ACS .. it does appear that they are a bit of a nightmare to get past. That last comment about having a degree in anything plus IT experience.. Would I get through with a degee in Economics & Social Studies plus 6 years experience in IT or should i apply under the RPL process ..?
Steve,
Thanks for the advice on the ACS .. it does appear that they are a bit of a nightmare to get past. That last comment about having a degree in anything plus IT experience.. Would I get through with a degee in Economics & Social Studies plus 6 years experience in IT or should i apply under the RPL process ..?
"3 SKILL LEVEL REQUIRED FOR VISA PURPOSES
3.1 Suitable
GROUP A
3.1.1 Full professional members of the Australian Computer Society. Members must be current financial members and must provide documentation to prove their claim. ACS professional membership grades are Fellow (FACS) and Member (MACS). Assessing officer need not look beyond membership to any formal qualifications held.
3.1.2 Full professional membership of the British Computer Society or New Zealand Computer Society. Members must be current financial members and must provide documentation to prove their claim.
3.1.3 Applicants with
an Australian Bachelor degree, or Graduate Diploma, or higher qualification, with a major in information technology (see examples below); or
an overseas qualification assessed as being comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree, or Graduate Diploma, or higher qualification, with a major in information technology (see examples below).
Examples of relevant field include
Applied Science (Computing)
Applied Science (Computer Science)
Applied Science (Information Systems)
Business (Data Processing) (old)
Business (Electronic Data Processing) (old)
Business (Information Systems)
Computer Science
Computer Science Engineering
Information
Information Systems
Information Technology
Management Information Systems
Software Engineering
(Note: Courses should contain at least a major in information technology, and a major objective should be to educate persons to be practitioners in information technology.)
GROUP B
3.1.4 Associate grade of the Australian Computer Society (AACS). Such applicants must be currently financial and must provide documentation to prove their claim. Assessing officers need not look beyond membership for any formal qualification held.
3.1.5 Applicants with
an Australian AQF Diploma, or Australian AQF Advanced Diploma in information technology, or an Australian Bachelor degree or higher qualification with a minor (sub-major) in information technology (see examples below).
• an overseas qualification assessed as being comparable to an Australian AQF Diploma, or an Australian AQF Advanced Diploma in information technology, or an Australian Bachelor degree or higher qualification with a minor (sub-major) in information technology (see examples below).
Computing
Computer Science
Information Technology
Business (Information Technology)
Applied Science (Computer Science)
Computing (Microcomputing)
Computing (Network Systems)
3.1.6 Experience Criteria for Group B
• applicants in this Group are required to have at least four (4) years of relevant IT experience prior to the date of their application for PASA.
3.2 Potentially Suitable
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)
3.2.1 An applicant who has limited or no qualifications but who has extensive and varied experience plus supporting professional development education may refer certified documentation to the ACS for evaluation by the Society.
3.2.2 The ACS will decide which level of qualification is appropriate and based on this advice, an assessing officer can decide the appropriate Group. A fee of A$400* is charged for this service.
3.3 Unsuitable
GROUP C
3.3.1 Applicants assessed as not meeting any of the above criteria are assessed as unsuitable for migration purposes.
"
MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT UNLESS YOUR ECONOMIC DEGREE INCLUDED SOME IT YOU MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE RPL PROCESS. CHECK THEIR WEBSITE FOR FURTHER DETAILS...
steve
May 26th 2003, 6:18 am
#11
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,613
Gomatilda - Alan Collett
George Lombard
Steve O'Neill
These immigration agents consistently post good advice to the forum and their services seem to come highly recommended by users.
Cheers - Don
George Lombard
Steve O'Neill
These immigration agents consistently post good advice to the forum and their services seem to come highly recommended by users.
Cheers - Don
May 26th 2003, 7:02 am
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by zen
Steve,
Thanks for the advice on the ACS .. it does appear that they are a bit of a nightmare to get past. That last comment about having a degree in anything plus IT experience.. Would I get through with a degee in Economics & Social Studies plus 6 years experience in IT or should i apply under the RPL process ..?
Steve,
Thanks for the advice on the ACS .. it does appear that they are a bit of a nightmare to get past. That last comment about having a degree in anything plus IT experience.. Would I get through with a degee in Economics & Social Studies plus 6 years experience in IT or should i apply under the RPL process ..?
it may well be that the IT diploma is equivalent to a minor of a degree; the (Cat b route)
that and membership of ACS/BCS is indeed the other option.
( i considered joing the British Computer Society as an associate member IIRC to get me in the back door - but this was a hassle as well - I still had to jump through hoops etc)
other than that its RPL for you my boy - maybe in 12 months time.
badgers
May 26th 2003, 7:11 am
#13
Just Joined
Joined: May 2003
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 12
Pleasancefamily... ummm..
seem to remember reading another thread that reckoned you were someone else in disguish... they seem to think they had you rumbled...
your comments seem to be there to defend the use of agents so u probably are one...
I have nothing against the use of agents, some people take great comfort in the use of an agent... I just feel it is not necessary if you dont want one... you can do it yourself (it is not rocket science)... just feel comfortable with whichever way u decide to go...
seem to remember reading another thread that reckoned you were someone else in disguish... they seem to think they had you rumbled...
your comments seem to be there to defend the use of agents so u probably are one...
I have nothing against the use of agents, some people take great comfort in the use of an agent... I just feel it is not necessary if you dont want one... you can do it yourself (it is not rocket science)... just feel comfortable with whichever way u decide to go...
May 26th 2003, 7:35 am
#14
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 87
Originally posted by badgersmount
it may well be that the IT diploma is equivalent to a minor of a degree; the (Cat b route)
that and membership of ACS/BCS is indeed the other option.
( i considered joing the British Computer Society as an associate member IIRC to get me in the back door - but this was a hassle as well - I still had to jump through hoops etc)
other than that its RPL for you my boy - maybe in 12 months time.
badgers
it may well be that the IT diploma is equivalent to a minor of a degree; the (Cat b route)
that and membership of ACS/BCS is indeed the other option.
( i considered joing the British Computer Society as an associate member IIRC to get me in the back door - but this was a hassle as well - I still had to jump through hoops etc)
other than that its RPL for you my boy - maybe in 12 months time.
badgers
)
May 26th 2003, 7:35 am
#15
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Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Down the road, that's where I'll always be
Posts: 467
Originally posted by sgtPommie
your comments seem to be there to defend the use of agents so u probably are one...
your comments seem to be there to defend the use of agents so u probably are one...
