National sparks rate.
Nov 15th 2011, 9:13 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Perth WA, Barrow Island WA
Posts: 136
Re: National sparks rate.
Hi Derren,
I'll be 40 in March 2012 so we are the same. Instrumentation is a good idea, it will be 12 months of combined study (part time theory and full time practical work) and definitely worth to have that certificate. As you said I can feel every single bone in my body so it is time to slow down a little bit (in Croatia we would say "put your gearbox in the first gear").
I'll spend next 8 months up north, take some serious money and then slow down.
I'll be 40 in March 2012 so we are the same. Instrumentation is a good idea, it will be 12 months of combined study (part time theory and full time practical work) and definitely worth to have that certificate. As you said I can feel every single bone in my body so it is time to slow down a little bit (in Croatia we would say "put your gearbox in the first gear").
I'll spend next 8 months up north, take some serious money and then slow down.
Nov 15th 2011, 11:32 am
#17
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Egremont, Cumbria
Posts: 59
Re: National sparks rate.
Is E & I well paid out there? That's part of what I've been doing for the past 4 1/2 years.
Nov 15th 2011, 12:32 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Egremont, Cumbria
Posts: 59
Re: National sparks rate.
I'll be 40 next April, and looking to get to Perth with our lass and the kids once they finish for summer. Looks like I'll have to find work as a supervised spark untill I do the 12 month training due to going the vetassess route.
Nov 15th 2011, 1:09 pm
#19
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15
Re: National sparks rate.
If you're dual trade sparky or have some special knowledge which makes you different from the others or you're lucky (as I am 
) to get a job up north on a union site then nothing can stop you to get EBA rates or even more than that.
btw Southern Cross Electrical Engineering is chasing load of sparkies for a long term project (4 years) near Karratha so if anyone need some extra money...
) to get a job up north on a union site then nothing can stop you to get EBA rates or even more than that.btw Southern Cross Electrical Engineering is chasing load of sparkies for a long term project (4 years) near Karratha so if anyone need some extra money...
Nov 15th 2011, 9:07 pm
#20
Am a Sparky get me outa ?
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: doncaster s yorkshire
Posts: 45
Re: National sparks rate.
Hi lads
I am an industrial spark last job working on scunthorpe steel works where you do swa all day long 3 phase steel work etc. Wot is fifo???? and could i get a job with southern cross as.
I ve just flew into adelaide to check out work, and been told by skills recognition that i will have to do the whole TRA bit again, and that it could take up to 6 months as there is a back log. As well i am not allowed to work as an electrician even as a mate.
Is this true.
I
I am an industrial spark last job working on scunthorpe steel works where you do swa all day long 3 phase steel work etc. Wot is fifo???? and could i get a job with southern cross as.
I ve just flew into adelaide to check out work, and been told by skills recognition that i will have to do the whole TRA bit again, and that it could take up to 6 months as there is a back log. As well i am not allowed to work as an electrician even as a mate.
Is this true.
I
Nov 15th 2011, 11:52 pm
#21
Freedom!
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: At home in Sydney. Ye!!!!
Posts: 1,697
Re: National sparks rate.
Hi lads
I am an industrial spark last job working on scunthorpe steel works where you do swa all day long 3 phase steel work etc. Wot is fifo???? and could i get a job with southern cross as.
I ve just flew into adelaide to check out work, and been told by skills recognition that i will have to do the whole TRA bit again, and that it could take up to 6 months as there is a back log. As well i am not allowed to work as an electrician even as a mate.
Is this true.
I
I am an industrial spark last job working on scunthorpe steel works where you do swa all day long 3 phase steel work etc. Wot is fifo???? and could i get a job with southern cross as.
I ve just flew into adelaide to check out work, and been told by skills recognition that i will have to do the whole TRA bit again, and that it could take up to 6 months as there is a back log. As well i am not allowed to work as an electrician even as a mate.
Is this true.
I
to go mate. Btw FIFO fly in fly out.
Last edited by Jockstar; Nov 15th 2011 at 11:56 pm.
Nov 20th 2011, 8:04 pm
#22
Sparky Stu
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 612
Re: National sparks rate.
The big jobs are where the money is at. My old rate before returning to the uk was:
36 dollars an hr
20 a day towards fuel
25 a week tool
65 a week into a redundancy fund paid whenever you left the job
Time and half and double time over 38 hrs
expected to work 10 or 11 hr days, sat mornings optional.
my advice also would be get some plc training, duel trade is where the money is at. The two ozzy lads I worked with trained in the sugar mills, duel trade. One was 22 and getting 200 grand a year subbing to the job, the other 30 year old and on 250 grand a year, he arrived every day in his shiny black hummer. On the books as his work vehicle. Great lads but money for old rope for these two. Sparks did all the donkey work putting in conduit and mounting all there gear, running the cables. they would then turn up with the heart to calibrate and off they would go back to there air on!
36 dollars an hr
20 a day towards fuel
25 a week tool
65 a week into a redundancy fund paid whenever you left the job
Time and half and double time over 38 hrs
expected to work 10 or 11 hr days, sat mornings optional.
my advice also would be get some plc training, duel trade is where the money is at. The two ozzy lads I worked with trained in the sugar mills, duel trade. One was 22 and getting 200 grand a year subbing to the job, the other 30 year old and on 250 grand a year, he arrived every day in his shiny black hummer. On the books as his work vehicle. Great lads but money for old rope for these two. Sparks did all the donkey work putting in conduit and mounting all there gear, running the cables. they would then turn up with the heart to calibrate and off they would go back to there air on!
Nov 28th 2011, 7:50 pm
#23
Am a Sparky get me outa ?
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: doncaster s yorkshire
Posts: 45
Re: National sparks rate.
Thats football wages crazy. 36 bucks an hr is gud, did you get your oz ticket? what type of work? was that on the mill you talked about.
Better than here dropping rate if that new agreement comes threw.
Better than here dropping rate if that new agreement comes threw.
Nov 29th 2011, 11:56 am
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 148
Re: National sparks rate.
Hi Deyan,
Have absolutely no experience with PLC's or the like but it's something I'm keen to get into. I've just turned 41 and the joints in my my body are starting to get a little bit achy installing metal containment and pulling in heavy SWA's. Although I'm doing a lot more testing as a lot of sparks in the UK don't like doing it.
Thinking I might do a TAFE course in instrumentation or a PLC programming course. I've got half a brain or so I'm told. Do you think it's worth doing it and how complicated is it?
Regards Derren
Have absolutely no experience with PLC's or the like but it's something I'm keen to get into. I've just turned 41 and the joints in my my body are starting to get a little bit achy installing metal containment and pulling in heavy SWA's. Although I'm doing a lot more testing as a lot of sparks in the UK don't like doing it.
Thinking I might do a TAFE course in instrumentation or a PLC programming course. I've got half a brain or so I'm told. Do you think it's worth doing it and how complicated is it?
Regards Derren
If you are in Perth you should look into doing the instrumentation through CET. First of all you do the theory online and then you go to the training centre for 2 weeks to do the practical part of the course. There is a good bit a theory to get through but it would be possible to do it in a couple of months if you are willing to spend some time in the evenings doing it. The course only costs $600. I've done the theory and was booked in for the practical next week but they rang me this morning to tell me it has been cancelled because they only have 3 people signed up for this month's practical and they need a minimum of 5 people for the course to run.
The other option is to do it through Polytechnic West in Midland as a night course. They do it 2 nights a week. One night is in the college and the other night is through an online lecture.
Hope this helps,
Adrian
Nov 29th 2011, 7:36 pm
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Was a Londoner in Edinburgh... was a Jockney, now in Brisbane....I'm an ocker cockney
Posts: 431
Re: National sparks rate.
Hey Derren,
If you are in Perth you should look into doing the instrumentation through CET. First of all you do the theory online and then you go to the training centre for 2 weeks to do the practical part of the course. There is a good bit a theory to get through but it would be possible to do it in a couple of months if you are willing to spend some time in the evenings doing it. The course only costs $600. I've done the theory and was booked in for the practical next week but they rang me this morning to tell me it has been cancelled because they only have 3 people signed up for this month's practical and they need a minimum of 5 people for the course to run.
The other option is to do it through Polytechnic West in Midland as a night course. They do it 2 nights a week. One night is in the college and the other night is through an online lecture.
Hope this helps,
Adrian
If you are in Perth you should look into doing the instrumentation through CET. First of all you do the theory online and then you go to the training centre for 2 weeks to do the practical part of the course. There is a good bit a theory to get through but it would be possible to do it in a couple of months if you are willing to spend some time in the evenings doing it. The course only costs $600. I've done the theory and was booked in for the practical next week but they rang me this morning to tell me it has been cancelled because they only have 3 people signed up for this month's practical and they need a minimum of 5 people for the course to run.
The other option is to do it through Polytechnic West in Midland as a night course. They do it 2 nights a week. One night is in the college and the other night is through an online lecture.
Hope this helps,
Adrian
That's brilliant, thanks.
It's something I'm definitely considering, not just for the money but also to keep the mind active and interest up.
I'm not going to Perth but I dare say there will be something similar available in Brisbane,. If not there are some friends of mine in Perth who are overdue a visit.
Cheers again.
Regards Derren
