jon111

hi all say for example we moved to somewhere in queensland. after iv got the permits to work as a plumber what would be the starting wage?

i see alot of times they ask for experience in aus but if youve just moved over you wont have australian experience. does this create a problem for being employed?

if anyone has and experience of this id love to know your thoughts

thanks
jon

cresta57

Aussie experience is easy to fake, throw away the spirit level and just rough the pipes in at any angle. Don't clip anything just use copious amounts of silicone to hold pipes in place. Don't drill a neat hole through the wall just use a lump hammer to bash out the a couple of bricks for a 1/2 " pipe.
Once you've mastered that you'll be earning top money and be able to turn up 2 days late or not at all if the "surfs up dude"
In all honesty if you turn up on site and demonstrate your skills everyone will be impressed at the meticulous way you do things. It might take you a while to get as rough as an Aussie but eventually you'll get there.

moneypenny20

You never saw the 'workmanship' on our old house in the UK.

verystormy

You won't be able to work as a plumber until you get a license. This will require you to work as a trade assist - a bit like an apprentice - for about a year.

jon111

trade assist are these hard to come by or can you get work easy enough?

a friend of mine works the mines and he saying the whole of aus is not great at the moment because the mining industry isnt great right now.?

apparently you have to transfer your skills by doing a course over there does anyone know how much this is? and how long it takes?

Beoz

Your friend hasn't a clue.

old.sparkles

To be able to apply for a skilled visa as a plumber, you will need to get your skills assessed. As plumbing is a licensed trade, this will be a combination of qualification and experience check ($635), followed by a practical assessment if successful ($1580). (fees from Vetassess site.)

If all successful, costs from there on will depend on the state you go to. Allow around $400 to get a provisional license and probably around another $3000 for gap training but you may have to double check these figures as I'm basing them on what I paid as a sparky. How long it takes will also very by state - how often they run the necessary technical courses for example. Again if it is like the process for a spark, then you also need to complete a period of employment and keep a log book of your work. How long this takes can depend on the variety of the work you get (and also on getting work in the first place. I would probably allow a guestimate of 15 to 18 months to get a full license

old.sparkles

Maybe - but also depends on location, occupation, etc. We've seen people on here go back to the UK as they have been unable to find permanent employment after more than a year of trying - very stormy springs to mind. And others who have moved states to be able to find work.

At work, we just hired a new mechanical supervisor who had been out of work for 14 months but this is South Australia which probably has the highest mainland unemployment of all the states.

The only plumbers I know - one runs his own business but is an Australian, another works fulltime and has been with the same employer for around 5 years now (UK plumber) and the third (again UK) has been struggling for more than a year to get regular work despite having both workers license and contractors registration.

cresta57

A serious answer to your question:
Licencing can be a nightmare, it took me 7 long months to gain a licence to stick tiles on walls & floors after doing it for 20 years in the U.K. Everyone approaches it in different ways, you ask how to go about it and if you ask 5 different govt. agencies you'll get 5 different answers.
In QLD you approach VETASSESS who can verify your U.K qualifications, they will then [possibly] issue a cert 3 in plumbing, armed with that you can get a provisional licence and then go to TAFE a couple of times a month for 9 months to gain a full licence approx cost 6k.

Beoz

There's more to Australia than Adelaide and Perth .... thankfully. If you are a plumber and can't get a gig on the east coast then you have problems.

old.sparkles

Vetassess is one of the assessing bodies for overseas trades. Others are Vic Uni and Future Skills. Licensed trades are issued with an OTSR (Overseas Technical Skills Record) - you have to complete gap training (theoretical and practical) to get a cert III.

old.sparkles

If you are a licensed plumber this may be the case - trying to get from a plumber with only OTSR to a licensed plumber will be the issue (as well as where you locate to).

And the east coast is a vast area - finding work in Sydney may be easy if you are licensed - finding work in Gladstone may not be easy if you have a license (and worse if you do not have a license).

cresta57

Your drainers licence is easy there are certain standards that must be met though..............................