Electrician Special Class
Jul 8th 2009, 11:26 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Electrician Special Class
Hi out there.....got a huge problem getting an ARTC out of TRA, for migration the classified me as an "Electrician Special Class" (by the way, I´m from Germany).
After arrival in WA I wanted to apply for an A-Grade-license which, of course, requires an ARTC.
As you know, no ARTC...no license
So I filled in all the paperwork again but TRA refused to issue an ARTC, telling me "Electrician Special Class" exists for migration purposes only.
What kind of bullshit is that?
I tried to have my skills re-assessed against "electrical mechanic" but failed because TRA reckons, I can´t provide sufficent evidence of electrical installing work (which is bullshit again).
Having my documents "slightly different translated" wouldnt work either because TRA already knows who and what I am, no matter what I tell´em now.
Has anyone else fallen in this trap and what could I do about it ?
Sorry, don´t tell me to do another apprenticeship (TRA already suggested that), back in Germany I was a rewinder (armature winder) AND a sparkie (correct specialisation Power Electronics Technician).....so after having already 2 apprenticeships in my life and a few years experience in the electrical trade I don´t need another one to get told the 3rd time, what voltage and resistance is....
Any ideas to get me out of that misery are welcome.....
Thanks for your help
After arrival in WA I wanted to apply for an A-Grade-license which, of course, requires an ARTC.
As you know, no ARTC...no license
So I filled in all the paperwork again but TRA refused to issue an ARTC, telling me "Electrician Special Class" exists for migration purposes only.
What kind of bullshit is that?
I tried to have my skills re-assessed against "electrical mechanic" but failed because TRA reckons, I can´t provide sufficent evidence of electrical installing work (which is bullshit again).
Having my documents "slightly different translated" wouldnt work either because TRA already knows who and what I am, no matter what I tell´em now.
Has anyone else fallen in this trap and what could I do about it ?
Sorry, don´t tell me to do another apprenticeship (TRA already suggested that), back in Germany I was a rewinder (armature winder) AND a sparkie (correct specialisation Power Electronics Technician).....so after having already 2 apprenticeships in my life and a few years experience in the electrical trade I don´t need another one to get told the 3rd time, what voltage and resistance is....
Any ideas to get me out of that misery are welcome.....
Thanks for your help
Jul 11th 2009, 4:17 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 176
Re: Electrician Special Class
did you get a visa on your trade? if so what classification was the visa and which assessment did you do?
ARTC certificates are either for electrical mechanic or electrical fitter.
perhaps you can get the fitter one (as i did) and then you can go through SA the peer route.
ARTC certificates are either for electrical mechanic or electrical fitter.
perhaps you can get the fitter one (as i did) and then you can go through SA the peer route.
Jul 12th 2009, 12:40 am
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Re: Electrician Special Class
Yes, I got a visa with the classification as an "electrician special class".
If you have a look at the SOL (Skills Occupation List) you only got the option to apply for "Electrician-General" or "Electrician Special class", mechanic or fitter are not even mentioned.
And SOL is usually the list you use to orientate (unfortunately I didnt know better).
Anyway, the question is, why DIAC (and TRA) let you in the country with a trade you cant use afterwards ?
At first Australia is screaming for skilled people over the last 20 years, then they give you a trade which exists for migration purposes only (so said TRA) and once you arrive you are downgraded to an unskilled worker....no one could explain this to me.
Even TRA admitted about that strange policy, but didnt offer me any help at all, just suggested to have anotherapprenticeship....very funny.
If you have a look at the SOL (Skills Occupation List) you only got the option to apply for "Electrician-General" or "Electrician Special class", mechanic or fitter are not even mentioned.
And SOL is usually the list you use to orientate (unfortunately I didnt know better).
Anyway, the question is, why DIAC (and TRA) let you in the country with a trade you cant use afterwards ?
At first Australia is screaming for skilled people over the last 20 years, then they give you a trade which exists for migration purposes only (so said TRA) and once you arrive you are downgraded to an unskilled worker....no one could explain this to me.
Even TRA admitted about that strange policy, but didnt offer me any help at all, just suggested to have anotherapprenticeship....very funny.
Jul 14th 2009, 4:42 pm
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 263
Re: Electrician Special Class
Yes, I got a visa with the classification as an "electrician special class".
If you have a look at the SOL (Skills Occupation List) you only got the option to apply for "Electrician-General" or "Electrician Special class", mechanic or fitter are not even mentioned.
And SOL is usually the list you use to orientate (unfortunately I didnt know better).
Anyway, the question is, why DIAC (and TRA) let you in the country with a trade you cant use afterwards ?
At first Australia is screaming for skilled people over the last 20 years, then they give you a trade which exists for migration purposes only (so said TRA) and once you arrive you are downgraded to an unskilled worker....no one could explain this to me.
Even TRA admitted about that strange policy, but didnt offer me any help at all, just suggested to have anotherapprenticeship....very funny.
If you have a look at the SOL (Skills Occupation List) you only got the option to apply for "Electrician-General" or "Electrician Special class", mechanic or fitter are not even mentioned.
And SOL is usually the list you use to orientate (unfortunately I didnt know better).
Anyway, the question is, why DIAC (and TRA) let you in the country with a trade you cant use afterwards ?
At first Australia is screaming for skilled people over the last 20 years, then they give you a trade which exists for migration purposes only (so said TRA) and once you arrive you are downgraded to an unskilled worker....no one could explain this to me.
Even TRA admitted about that strange policy, but didnt offer me any help at all, just suggested to have anotherapprenticeship....very funny.
Jul 14th 2009, 7:51 pm
#5
OnlyLivingBoyInNewCross
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 653
Re: Electrician Special Class
What's stranger is that the definition of a special class sparkie is one that can do the 'special' stuff as well as all the duties and skills of a general class electrician!!! So my understanding is they are the same but for a bit more technical stuff on top for a special class classification. Oh well looks like it all changes once you have a visa???
Jul 15th 2009, 7:32 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 165
Re: Electrician Special Class
Hello All,
TRA have assessed you for immigration purposes as special class , for which there is a required job position, however not all positions require a license, and if they do it just a restricted one, this is where you apply to the licencing board for the job you are required to do and they look at your history and give a licence accordingly, if you read the definition of mechanic and fitter, they do not cover the special class, however it is possible with a certain amount of minipulation of your job description and work history you can sqeeze a fitters licence out of them. There is not enough detail in your application for you to go down the general Electrician's route, otherwise you would have done the Vetessass route.
So you can apply for either fitter or mechanic, but take note of the advice on the forum about the type and detail of information you send in.
Regards
Kevin
TRA have assessed you for immigration purposes as special class , for which there is a required job position, however not all positions require a license, and if they do it just a restricted one, this is where you apply to the licencing board for the job you are required to do and they look at your history and give a licence accordingly, if you read the definition of mechanic and fitter, they do not cover the special class, however it is possible with a certain amount of minipulation of your job description and work history you can sqeeze a fitters licence out of them. There is not enough detail in your application for you to go down the general Electrician's route, otherwise you would have done the Vetessass route.
So you can apply for either fitter or mechanic, but take note of the advice on the forum about the type and detail of information you send in.
Regards
Kevin
Jul 15th 2009, 10:47 am
#7
OnlyLivingBoyInNewCross
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 653
Re: Electrician Special Class
Hello All,
TRA have assessed you for immigration purposes as special class , for which there is a required job position, however not all positions require a license, and if they do it just a restricted one, this is where you apply to the licencing board for the job you are required to do and they look at your history and give a licence accordingly, if you read the definition of mechanic and fitter, they do not cover the special class, however it is possible with a certain amount of minipulation of your job description and work history you can sqeeze a fitters licence out of them. There is not enough detail in your application for you to go down the general Electrician's route, otherwise you would have done the Vetessass route.
So you can apply for either fitter or mechanic, but take note of the advice on the forum about the type and detail of information you send in.
Regards
Kevin
TRA have assessed you for immigration purposes as special class , for which there is a required job position, however not all positions require a license, and if they do it just a restricted one, this is where you apply to the licencing board for the job you are required to do and they look at your history and give a licence accordingly, if you read the definition of mechanic and fitter, they do not cover the special class, however it is possible with a certain amount of minipulation of your job description and work history you can sqeeze a fitters licence out of them. There is not enough detail in your application for you to go down the general Electrician's route, otherwise you would have done the Vetessass route.
So you can apply for either fitter or mechanic, but take note of the advice on the forum about the type and detail of information you send in.
Regards
Kevin
It looks like he already has his visa and is in Oz, he has a problem with the ARTC application. It has been said on here that once they have ruled on your suitability you are stuck with their judgement ie yoiu only get one bite of the cherry. On another note it is my understanding that you can apply for an A class licence in SA with either a fitter or a mechanics artc and then transfer this to a fitter mechanics licence in those states that use this alternate system of defining licences - this is one of the reasons that PEER is the way to go, I may have misunderstood this?
It does seem strange that a special class electrician is deemed to be able to carry out all the duties of a general electrician as well as the special class bits but then the same body that passed you as fit for migration purposes can then reject you when applying for the ARTC (special class applications for migration purposes are still vetted by the TRA), like they never expected you to try and work as a sparks once you had the visa???
There must be a method to the madness but I had a few headaches now trying to work out what it is!
Jul 23rd 2009, 1:02 pm
#8
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Re: Electrician Special Class
As I mentioned before, TRA refused to issue an ARTC to me because they say, the "electrician special class" doesnt exist officially.
They say, I´m an eletrician with special endorsements (my previous training and job involved a bit of electronics like PLC´s, frequency converters, gauges, senders, probes and so on.....so mostly industrial work....but also housewiring).
Seems like, electrical mechanics do more housewiring than anything else, which I learned during my apprenticeship as well, in fact, my german apprenticeship/training involved a broad spectrum of electrical work and knowledge...but still, TRA reckons I´m not experienced enough (which is bullshit).
They didnt even offer my a trade test, never mentioned a gap training or anything else....they offered no help at all, just arrogant statements.
By the way, as far as I found out, I can´t go the VETASSES way because Germany is not a Commonwealth country....
But thanks for your help anyway.....if anyone got some news or maybe a loophole.....just let me know.....in the meantime I keep working as an unskilled worker (at the end it doesnt really matter where my income comes from)...I just don´t like being downgraded by some pencil-pushers and fat-cats....so it slowly becomes more a matter for my peace of mind.
At one stage I probably will give up the fight
Jul 23rd 2009, 5:11 pm
#9
OnlyLivingBoyInNewCross
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 653
Re: Electrician Special Class
That´s exactly right...I already have a visa (State/Territory Nominated Independent = 137) and I´am in OZ for more than 1.5 years now.
As I mentioned before, TRA refused to issue an ARTC to me because they say, the "electrician special class" doesnt exist officially.
They say, I´m an eletrician with special endorsements (my previous training and job involved a bit of electronics like PLC´s, frequency converters, gauges, senders, probes and so on.....so mostly industrial work....but also housewiring).
Seems like, electrical mechanics do more housewiring than anything else, which I learned during my apprenticeship as well, in fact, my german apprenticeship/training involved a broad spectrum of electrical work and knowledge...but still, TRA reckons I´m not experienced enough (which is bullshit).
They didnt even offer my a trade test, never mentioned a gap training or anything else....they offered no help at all, just arrogant statements.
By the way, as far as I found out, I can´t go the VETASSES way because Germany is not a Commonwealth country....
But thanks for your help anyway.....if anyone got some news or maybe a loophole.....just let me know.....in the meantime I keep working as an unskilled worker (at the end it doesnt really matter where my income comes from)...I just don´t like being downgraded by some pencil-pushers and fat-cats....so it slowly becomes more a matter for my peace of mind.
At one stage I probably will give up the fight
As I mentioned before, TRA refused to issue an ARTC to me because they say, the "electrician special class" doesnt exist officially.
They say, I´m an eletrician with special endorsements (my previous training and job involved a bit of electronics like PLC´s, frequency converters, gauges, senders, probes and so on.....so mostly industrial work....but also housewiring).
Seems like, electrical mechanics do more housewiring than anything else, which I learned during my apprenticeship as well, in fact, my german apprenticeship/training involved a broad spectrum of electrical work and knowledge...but still, TRA reckons I´m not experienced enough (which is bullshit).
They didnt even offer my a trade test, never mentioned a gap training or anything else....they offered no help at all, just arrogant statements.
By the way, as far as I found out, I can´t go the VETASSES way because Germany is not a Commonwealth country....
But thanks for your help anyway.....if anyone got some news or maybe a loophole.....just let me know.....in the meantime I keep working as an unskilled worker (at the end it doesnt really matter where my income comes from)...I just don´t like being downgraded by some pencil-pushers and fat-cats....so it slowly becomes more a matter for my peace of mind.
At one stage I probably will give up the fight
Try speaking with Roger Laws of Romar Assement Consultants he worked for the TRA for years and is an expert in all things TRA, if anybody knows a way to do your skills and experience justice it's him. He is a consultant so will probably charge for more than an initial chat but he seems reasonable to me and will let you know frankly where you stand.
Good luck
Jul 23rd 2009, 9:05 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 176
Re: Electrician Special Class
Try speaking with Roger Laws of Romar Assement Consultants he worked for the TRA for years and is an expert in all things TRA, if anybody knows a way to do your skills and experience justice it's him. He is a consultant so will probably charge for more than an initial chat but he seems reasonable to me and will let you know frankly where you stand.
Good luck
Good luck
they dont exist. you either apply as mechanic or fitter.
i was assessed as electrician special class, then applied for artc as fitter and got full license through SA / peer route.
Jul 24th 2009, 5:42 am
#11
Worongary
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: GC hinterland
Posts: 10,288
Re: Electrician Special Class
can you re -apply to the tra for an artc as a fitter which would more suit the job details that you have given?? as lee says with an artc as a fitter you ca gain a full licnce via peer
definatly worth running in past the tra
Jul 24th 2009, 12:27 pm
#12
Swollen Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: 53.2691 -2.92946
Posts: 1,338
Re: Electrician Special Class
Iv,e got my TRA special class cert and I too will be going to the ARTC in the next few weeks for an 'fitter' and then all I'll have left to do for my full ticket is the PEER course and exam
Providing all goes smoothly with the ARTC 
Dougie
Aug 20th 2009, 11:46 am
#13
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Re: Electrician Special Class
I know, TRA doesnt care about that, but I did more complicated work than ridiculous housewiring.....and housewiring was part of my apprenticeship, so in my final exam for becoming a tradesman I was assessed in that subject too (in Germany).....
Anyway, I´m about to give up because neither TRA nor Energysafety or any other authority offered me any help, just ignorance and lazyness.....poor Australia.....
