Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Ok cool, thanks for that. :thumbup:

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

I have now been in Perth for 5 weeks.I have an ostr from vetassess. I have now applied for around 50 jobs and sent CV's and a cover letter to around 40 companies at least.Had a few replies saying i have an impressive CV and references but they are not hiring at the moment. I actually got the first job i applied for but the Friday before i was due to start i recieved an email saying the work had been held up and they would let me know when it picks up again. I had another interview where the company was keen on me but as soon as he found out i couldn't work alone when he phoned energy safe during the interview to see what restrictions i was under he told me he would be in touch later that day and i never heard back from him. Nobody is interested in someone that has to be supervised for a year. None of the contractors i have spoken to are aware of the changes that were made in July either so that certainly dosen't make things any easier. I have tried speaking to energy safe, the union and NECA( Oz ECA) and all i get told told is that they sympathise and that they are inundated with similar calls from electricians in the same boat. I finally received my enrollment form for polytechnic west. The cost has magically risen to $2008 from the $1700 i was originally told when i put my name down( i have yet to speak to them and ask why!) I asked energy safe if i could go the ARTC route i was told no, so i then asked why i am punished for being the main visa applicant to which i was told they have no idea.......... EPIC. I also have tp provide the australian regs book and cable selection book which will no doubt cost me a fair bit too. I am now undecided on wether i should attend the course as that could mean i am not working for another 6 weeks as i have to attend college and may just wait till i find a job first to start earning money. Its a bit of a nightmare scenario to be honest and it really makes me wonder why they are still inviting electricians here. I am confident i will get something eventually but money is dwindling fast and 3 months would be a long time to go without money coming in after the initial start up costs.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Hi there,
I'm in a similar position to you with the vetassess, contacting union etc as i've just arrived a week ago. The only thing difference is that a family friend has taken me on as a ta, until i find something else. These guys say that if you keep all your receipts for the courses, books, restricted license, anything work related, you can claim it all back off your tax bill in July. Hope this helps.
I read somewhere in one of the papers that Southern Cross Electrical were wanting electrical TA's, last week, or it could have been on Seek.
Goodluck.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Can any of you lads who are clued up explain to me what i need to do, i am coming over on a whv, i have done a 4year apprenticship 2 of which indentured plus 2 year experience.

My belief is i need to apply for artc, then apply for licence, then somehow manage to get 155hrs as an assistant?

Thanks for any help

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Thanks for the reply bigaf. I have managed to get some casual work at the moment, i had a look at the that company's website and it seems to be ta's for the mines with previous fifo experience. I don't really want to go to the mines for 4 weeks at a time as we don't know anyone here and i have 2 very young kids.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Once you get here you can apply to the TRA, from what i hear it will take around 3 months then you do a 2 week course to get your license. Crazy that you can do that but guys like me who have residency and spent a fortune getting that and moving our families have to do a years gap training.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Thanks a lot mate! I seem to have gt my head round it, yeah theres something not quite right with the system there. If someone who qualified for a years working holiday visa was thinking of emigrating it would actually be aeasier for them to go on whv and get licence then come back and apply for citizenship! Mad!

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

When you think about it like that it really is a crock of shit - so basically the current system makes it easier for younger, less experienced sparks to gain a license and a long term (1 year +) visa

Truly an ill thought out system.....:thumbdown:

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Has something changed then? I thought you could apply for ARTC after you land and go to PEER in Adelaide like I did and get a full ANY electrical work licence in a week after completing the correspondence course.

Ok so you have to be in Australia now to apply for the ARTC but have they somehow stopped vettassess applicants applying for ARTC's?

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

I was told that if TRA find out you have OTSR from Vetassess, they will not issue OTSR. Not sure about OTSR's from Vic Uni, since Vic Uni have all but stopped issuing OTSR's for licensed trades as states not happy with tech interview, and no practical. Does ARTC have practical Rinkerdink?

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

The way i read the ARTC application form you can still apply when in the uk. There is a question which says, which proposed state to you intend to travel to? (for overseas applicants only). Has anyone had any experience with getting a ARTC from the uk recently? Worried that ill apply and pay the fee for them then to say i need to be in australia!!

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Hi Josh - if you read the guidelines that go with the application, you cannot apply unless you have the right to wok in australia (WHV is okay for this) and are resident in Australia so I would be cautious about applying too much in advance. Think what people in the past have done is apply just before they go but hopefully someone can add to this that has applied from UK before going

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

I applied from UK when you still could (just, phew). There was a big waiting time for the ARTC at the time and I think it was the back log that drove the change to Australian based applications. I did put my arrival date for my recce on the form (this was in the future at the time) and it got processed ok in about 3 months, I got the result through in the cab from heathrow airport on the way home.

I have read that they are asking for an australian utility bill and a copy of the passport entry stamp to prove a presence in Australia although not sure about this?

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

This is what the guidelines say:

To be granted an ARTC you will need to:
a) be an Australian Permanent Resident or Citizen, hold a New Zealand Passport or hold a visa that allows you to temporarily reside and work in your trade in Australia; and
b) understand the other eligibility requirements for the ARTC as set out in section 2.4 of these Guidelines before starting an application.

There is also a section on the application form that asks, which state will you intend to travel to, (for overseas applicants only).

I think my best bet is to give them a call and double check. Thanks for the help!

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

This is the section I was on about.

2.4 ELIGIBILITY FOR AN AUSTRALIAN RECOGNISED TRADE CERTIFICATE
To be granted an ARTC, you must be able to demonstrate that you:
a) are an Australian Permanent Resident or Citizen, hold a New Zealand Passport or hold a visa that allows you to temporarily reside and work in your trade in Australia
b) reside in Australia
c) have sufficient English language skills to perform the work of the trade safely in Australia
d) have sufficient training and experience to meet the requirements of the Criteria and Guidelines and the Act
e) undertake all steps in the assessment process including, where applicable, a technical interview, trade test or other action requested by an LC
f) are currently capable of performing the work of your trade in Australia.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Ahhh i see, i think im just going to wait, have the application form ready, then post it the day i arrive!

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Hi guys , info is great !
I completed my etl course a week ago and the course was brilliant. Just got a quick question regarding time scale on recieving my license . I received an email on the Monday after completing my course asking for payment of $355 to process my license . Does this mean I have been grante it but I have to wait for it to be sent to me before I can look for a job using the license ? Cheers

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Finally Licensed as an electrician Yo hooo.

Guys things are changing with the system after christmas I have been told apparently TRA is teaming up with Vetassess and everyone will be doing the up to year onsite training with the course on completion of a logbook. CETs are trying to fight it at moment as they are disagreeing but hey, they can shout but wont be heard, like us.

Anyway licensed within 4 1/2 months after submitting ARTC cert after I had applied Vetassess way first I scrapped that went ARTC as I had applied many months ago. Vetassess I wouldnt recommend to anyone, but things are changing for electricians here that want licensing and it aint looking to bright.

You can go ARTC way if you have a vetassess they cant stop you what you use to gain license. I did.
ARTC will not and alot of us have said this throughout they wont give you certificate until you live here simple. They check after I arrived within one month after proving I live here got ARTC certificate.

Goodluck :thumbsup:

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Well done and congratulations mate.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Well done. I wish i had done the same now but i would have had to wait for my container to arrive to apply for an ARTC and was put off by being told we were not allowed if we had vetassess. Now i am stuck with this retarded online logbook.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Hi,
Myself and my wife have recently been contemplating a permanent move to Australia. I've been horrified to read how difficult this move seems to be. Is New Zealand any easier?
I am a fully qualified electrician, having served my four year apprenticeship here in Ireland. I have one year's work experience in addition to this.
What are my best visa and licence options? How long can I expect this to take and how much can I expect this to cost? Our preferred locations, in order, are Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth.
I naively thought Australia was crying out for sparks and all I'd have to do was apply for a visa, maybe do a course for a couple of weeks, pass an exam, and work away. I'm shocked by what I've read. Please tell me it isn't so bad!!
My wife qualified as a Primary School Teacher in Ireland last year and is currently working as a teacher for her DIP/probation year. Is there any advantage to my prospects in naming her as the main applicant? I have heard that Primary Teachers are not on the shortage list but that Early Childhood Education is and she might qualify to teach that.
Any advice would be really appreciated. Feel absolutely lost now!

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

I'm just about the sit the Vetassess general electrician practical assessment so with any luck I should get the OTSR. Can anyone recommend the least painful process for getting an A grade license once a UK electrician gets a visa sorted out? I'm slightly confused but it sounds like there are options and not using Vetassess once you have arrive in Australia might make things easier.

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

Not surprised you're confused mate, I went to SA after doing a distance learning log book and got a work anywhere in the country on any electrical work licence after 1 week, in the process of switching this to nsw licence now, who knows if it will work but so far all this has worked for me.

No doubt somebody will be along shortly to tell you this is impossible and cannot work... I did the Adelaide course in April 2012 but then again perhaps it's changed again in the last 6 months or so.

Who knows but good luck to yoiu

Re: DO NOT USE VETASSESS FOR A LICENSE!!!
 

All new applicants coming to Australia have NO option but to 1st apply via Vetassess, then when your here you can apply to the TRA for a certificate recognizing your current skills this is NOT a license to work.