Originally Posted by thfc

I was a plumber for 25 years,now living just outside melbourne.I wrote over a hundred pages on plumbing covering all aspects of the plumbing work i had done,what plumbing jobs i had done how i done them,what tools and materials i had used,the more info you give the better,it took me ages to do.Just give you a tip,im city and guilds qualified,been plumbing for 25 years,but they still want me to resit my exams before i start work,ive got to take 6 exams[16 hours each] before they will let you work.to get my plumbers license and get registered,it costs about 700 dollars and takes time,getting onto courses etc.Im now steel fixing on industrial sites,money is about the same as plumbing and all you need is a belt a pair of nips,reel and bolt cutters,and im enjoying the change although its hard work.There is loads of building work around the melbourne area,just tell you the plumbing out ere is different,about ten years behind england i think.Hope this helps you.Be lucky

Originally Posted by thfc

Didnt mean to scare you,just telling you how it is in Victoria,not sure about other states.Makes me laugh,i got accepted out here as a plumber and when you get here you cant work,something they dont tell you about,stupid aint it.But if your husband can turn his hand to other trades aswell which most plumbers can,he will have no problems getting work until he does his exams,theres stacks of work out here.Im no good at writing,it took me about a month to write out all my work history,getting references etc,but if it gets you out here,its well worth it,stick with it.

Originally Posted by joanneS

Thanks Crozz, its good to hear we are not the only one out there with problems!! Can you tell me what exactly is a stat dec?
How long did it take your TRA to come through and did you do the fast track one?
So where in Oz are you heading for? All these questions, sorry you must be thinking typical woman can't shut up!!
Was about to sign off and then remembered, what is an informal and formal apprenticeship? Not quite sure which one to put down on the forms!!
Thanks

Good luck with the rest of the process
Hopefully talk soon Joanne

Originally Posted by Rooksie

Just bumpiong this one to the top!!

Don't want to frighten you J, but my hubbie got his result today - bloody failed!! I just dont get it at all - he has 12 years inthe job, got ACS qualifications and is Corgi registered yet we still failed. I think our agent ballsed up big time however and am now looking to change.

Im hoping that the lovely kind folks (grovel) that replied to this thread earlier will perhaps shed some light for us and give words of encouragement - please???

Thanks.

One thoroughly pi**ed off Rooksie

Originally Posted by joanneS

Hi Rooksie, sorry to hear your news, why on earth did they fail you? did they say in detail why you failed? I doubt we will ever get a positive result if you can't! What agent did you use?
A few people on hear have failed the first time but next time around they pass so keep trying, don't let the buggers put you off.
let me know how you get on
Jo

Originally Posted by jwinch

Please dont think I am scaremongering but just a word of caution.

Just because you pass your tra it doesn't automatically mean you are eligible for a plumbing licence.

Different States have different rules. My husband has Advanced City & Guilds and has been given a provisional licence until he undertakes additional courses.

The licenceing board have acknowledge its a major problem to them because people are being given positive tra's but unless they have specific Quals like City & Guilds. they will not even issue them with a provisional and they would have to start training at the bottom like any other school leaver.

They are even supposedly reviewing the acceptance of City & Guilds this year because they say they have had so many applicants from UK Plumbers that have gone on Short Courses in the UK to become 'Qualified' who just are not up to the Job.

We have heard a quite a few plumbers who have been refused a licence ( even with 15 years experience) and have either had to find alternative employment or return to the UK.

Please contact the relevant licensing board before you come and you can pay for them to do a skills assessment which will let you know if you will be eligible for a licence. Any reciprical agrrements they have apply to N Zealand not the UK

Originally Posted by crozz

hello jwinch thanks for the info although its probably not the kind of thing you waant to hear a bit daunting really.i have been in the trade about 14 years with city and guilds quals it seems this licence is almost impossible to obtain.how would you go about finding the address for the relevant licensing board.aaany info would be appreciated cheers crozz.

Originally Posted by joanneS

To everyone on this site that has been through the process, I'd be grateful for your help!!! (and I know there are loads of you on here)!!!
Have finally plucked up the courage to start the ball rolling and go on the roller coaster ride that you are all on! we have just posted our initial forms to the agent (Matilda). We are hoping to obtain a skilled visa for my husband as he is a plumber, plus as said on my last thread have got relations out in Oz that will hopefully sponser us if we need them. Anyway the TRA application, does any one know how much info they will actually require? how far back do they look into things? My husband has been in his current job for nearly four years working for the council as a plumber and then before that he was working as a plumber on a job for about 2.5 years, (no problems getting info for those jobs as references etc but the rest of his jobs I think some have closed down, I know one of the places he worked went into liquidation years ago. How far back would they need info for and what sort of info would they need from us? Also do they check your schooling records? I know my husband left school at 16 without doing any exams!! would that affect our chances? Any info would be greatly accepted so as we will know what to expect in the incoming months ahead!
By the way, one more little question? where do you think in Australia would be best to settle with 3 kids, 13 (I think he will be the hardest one to settle)!! loves his football too much, 10 year old boy (also plays football) and a 4 year old girl! My relations live in Canberra which we quite liked when we were out there but the only draw back was no beach!!! and it gets cold there in winter. Everyone seems to be heading to Queensland but because we haven't been there we haven't any idea what it's like. Also where do you think a plumber would have the best opportunities for work?
Hope some of you can be of some help (good or bad).
Thanks again to all of you
Love the Gibson Family

Originally Posted by joanneS

To everyone on this site that has been through the process, I'd be grateful for your help!!! (and I know there are loads of you on here)!!!
Have finally plucked up the courage to start the ball rolling and go on the roller coaster ride that you are all on! we have just posted our initial forms to the agent (Matilda). We are hoping to obtain a skilled visa for my husband as he is a plumber, plus as said on my last thread have got relations out in Oz that will hopefully sponser us if we need them. Anyway the TRA application, does any one know how much info they will actually require? how far back do they look into things? My husband has been in his current job for nearly four years working for the council as a plumber and then before that he was working as a plumber on a job for about 2.5 years, (no problems getting info for those jobs as references etc but the rest of his jobs I think some have closed down, I know one of the places he worked went into liquidation years ago. How far back would they need info for and what sort of info would they need from us? Also do they check your schooling records? I know my husband left school at 16 without doing any exams!! would that affect our chances? Any info would be greatly accepted so as we will know what to expect in the incoming months ahead!
By the way, one more little question? where do you think in Australia would be best to settle with 3 kids, 13 (I think he will be the hardest one to settle)!! loves his football too much, 10 year old boy (also plays football) and a 4 year old girl! My relations live in Canberra which we quite liked when we were out there but the only draw back was no beach!!! and it gets cold there in winter. Everyone seems to be heading to Queensland but because we haven't been there we haven't any idea what it's like. Also where do you think a plumber would have the best opportunities for work?
Hope some of you can be of some help (good or bad).
Thanks again to all of you
Love the Gibson Family

Originally Posted by sara-anthony3108

My husband is a bricklayer has run his own business for 5 years so we just got letters from clients and suppliers .. as for his other work some companies had been taken over so we just got letters from them to say that they had taken over and had no emloyment records and the rest of the time he just had to write a stat dec and get it witnessed .. took abt 2 mths to gather everything and was passed in abt 12 weeks ... we are heading south of Perth with our 5 yr old son ... if u have a look at www.thewest.com.au you can download the paper which shows you all the job adverts .. best day to download is saturday .. also has house details etc ... hope this helps