IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Hello everyone,

I’m investigating the possibility of moving to Australia.

I have 3 ½ years IT support experience, a number of qualifications (MCP, MCDST, NVQ 3 in IT) but none of them at degree level. I’m working towards CCNA but have been told this won’t help me a great deal.

I’m 20 and my girlfriend is 27, she has 5 years work experience in Admin but her qualifications and future career are/will be in Marketing.

We’re hoping to rent a flat together in the UK for at least 12 months to allow us to jointly apply for emigration to Australia.

From what I’ve read on the forums, and from the limited contact I’ve had with an emigration agent, I understand I need in the regions of 6 years experience in the IT industry to be positively recognised by the Australian Computer Society, and without recognition from this organisation, it is unlikely my application will be successful.

Is this true? And if so, is there anything I can do in the next two years to increase my chances while I’m waiting for my experience to accumulate?

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Have a look here you may find something www.immi.gov.au

Can't really comment on specifics as I don't know enough, although I'd say if you've been told by an agent you've no chance then that's probably right.

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

If I were you I would start getting more qualifications in support of your IT experience (eg part time/distance learning HNC/Degree etc). By the time you've achieved the qualifications your g/f should be in her new career and she can apply on the back of your application.

Unless of course she progresses to an Office Manager which is on the Skills in Demand list then you can tag on her! lol

I'm currently in a customer service position but undertaking IT qualifications in the hope that I can tag on my b/f's application and get the IT job that I want when we get there.

Anyhoo enough of me waffling, I've probably misunderstood the whole application process so feel free to wait for a reply from someone with more knowledge...

lol :)

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Thanks for both of your replies.

Sorry, I didn’t mention that, I’ve done some research and have already been on the IMMI website.

And not at all, Keely, you probably know a lot more than I do, you seem to be doing the sensible thing.

Has anyone gone the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme route?

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Computer Support Technician is assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) rather than the ACS. It's only a 40 point occupation - points test is usually a problem unless you have a relative in a designated area to sponsor you.

There's obviously a grey area in the overlap, but ACS aren't all that keen on 'technician' rather than IT professional experience.

If you can find an Australian employer keen to hire you and sponsor then other visa options might exist. Finding such an employer is easier said than done unless your occupation is in really high demand.


Jeremy

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Hey Richard, hope your well.

Well to answers one of your 1st questions, yes, you are correct, you cant hope to even start the immigration process as an IT professional without a sucessful skilz assessment from the ASC.

What lvl of IT support are we talking about in your current/past employment, I ask because my understanding is that 1st line support wont be regarged by the ACS as being 'professional' experience, No. 26 of the ACS FAQ's reads as follows:

******How do you assess Technician or User Level experience?

These will depend on the information provided in the references, however, these periods are not normally considered at an IT Professional level and are unlikely to be recognised.*******

So my understanding is that you will have an easier time getting 2nd or 3rd line support accepted in your application......I guess it's a case of really emphasing the technical knowledge you have gained and playing to your strengths, after all, one of the nominated codes from the ACS is Technical Support Officer, so it's not all doom and glom :) us support drones can get in.

Personally, although I am a Network Manager as of 3yrs ago, I am going to gear my appliaction toward ASCO code 2231-79 with Technical Support Officer as the specialisation because my 3.5yrs xp prior to my current role was in 1st, 2nd and 3rd line roles, and although im a network admin now, the job mostly invloves end user support.

I'm holding off on the application for atleast another 12 months until I've completed my MCSE.
In regard your qulifications, I cant coment on the NVQ lvl 3 as I dont have any knowledge of NVQ's sorry, but if you can do a few more exams to upgrade your MCSDST to an MCSE you could *currently* qualify for group B assessment by the ACS BUT you may be better focussing on your NVQ's getting to a higher lvl if it's required...basically you need a minimum of an equavalent of an AQF diploma which in Britan would be, as Keely said, a HNC.

So to start off with download and read the current guide lines and FAQ's from www.acs.org.au, re-read them, and then read em again, and keep checking for changes EVERY month, get to the stage where you know EXACTLY what needs to be done for your sucessful application and go for it, but be prepaired to change your path if needs be, the rules are always being adjusted and tweaked so expect to jump through hoops, and good luck with it all fella :)

EDIT - Dont loose hope fella, I got back to the UK six years ago this month, with no qualifications or trade, got straight into ICT via a lucky break and have only got the good life I have now through my determination to obtain a sucessfull skillz assessment from the ACS, Jez I wouldnt of meet my wife if it wasnt for trying to emmigrate.

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

That's because Computer Support Technician is a different skilled occupation that's assessed by TRA, not ACS.

If you have other degree or diploma level qualifications, Vetassess in a 50 point (degree) or 40 point (diploma) may provide an alternative to ACS/TRA if you can reach the pass mark this way.



Jeremy

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

We are going via the skilled regional sponsered route and are also in IT. My partner is the main applicant and does the same kind of role as you. He only has an HNC in computing and it was assessed by Vettasses. I can't remember if he needed 3 or 5 years experience but has been in IT for about 8 or 9.

If I remember right our agent said there was other options that would give extra points but as we were being sponsered and due to other circumstances the Vetasses points were plenty and also the easiest/quickest option.

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Just read a response form George on another thread that the general rule of thumb when getitng skills assesed by ACS is 4 years experience when you don't have a sponser. Hope this helps.

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Hi Richard,

It's not clear from your post how much your migration agent has told you about the various options such as working holiday visas or student visas, however the bottom line for general skilled migration is that one of you needs to have your skills assessed in an occupation on the skilled occupation list -see form 1121i at www.immi.gov.au - and it will help your cause if you've got relatives here who could sponsor you. Most likely, from your description of your background, you'd need six years of work experience before you could qualify (same outcome irrespective of whether it's ACS or TRA who ends up assessing you - might be sooner with TRA if your NVQ3 is in the technician end of IT). You might need to give an agent a small amount of money to clarify all this.

Cheers,

George Lombard

www.austimmigration.com.au

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Here's another option from an IT Support Analyst who was adjudged 110 points
for OZ and was suggested by an agent that successful SIR was still a long
shot. If only I'd been a plumber, hairdresser, mechanic etc.....

Try New Zealand, they have many IT skills shortages and its therefore easier
to get in with IT skills than Oz. If you stay in NZ for 3 years you can
apply for a NZ
passport which will give you full work and residency rights to Oz. Its a
back door in and you can still study for MCSE's CCNA's etc in NZ whist
getting
practical IT experience and at the end of it all, PR in OZ once you've got
your NZ passport. BTW you don't need to give up your British one either.

Just a thought.

J


"George Lombard" <member8124@british_expats.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected] m...
    >> Hello everyone,
    >> I�?Tm investigating the possibility of moving to Australia.
    >> I have 3 ½ years IT support experience, a number of qualifications
    >> (MCP, MCDST, NVQ 3 in IT) but none of them at degree level. I�?Tm
    >> working towards CCNA but have been told this won�?Tt help me a
    >> great deal.
    >> I�?Tm 20 and my girlfriend is 27, she has 5 years work experience in
    >> Admin but her qualifications and future career are/will be in
    >> Marketing.
    >> We�?Tre hoping to rent a flat together in the UK for at least 12
    >> months to allow us to jointly apply for emigration to Australia.
    >> From what I�?Tve read on the forums, and from the limited contact
    >> I�?Tve had with an emigration agent, I understand I need in the
    >> regions of 6 years experience in the IT industry to be positively
    >> recognised by the Australian Computer Society, and without recognition
    >> from this organisation, it is unlikely my application will be
    >> successful.
    >> Is this true? And if so, is there anything I can do in the next two
    >> years to increase my chances while I�?Tm waiting for my experience to
    >> accumulate?
    > Hi Richard,
    > It's not clear from your post how much your migration agent has told
    > you about the various options such as working holiday visas or student
    > visas, however the bottom line for general skilled migration is that
    > one of you needs to have your skills assessed in an occupation on the
    > skilled occupation list -see form 1121i at www.immi.gov.au - and it
    > will help your cause if you've got relatives here who could sponsor
    > you. Most likely, from your description of your background, you'd
    > need six years of work experience before you could qualify (same
    > outcome irrespective of whether it's ACS or TRA who ends up assessing
    > you - might be sooner with TRA if your NVQ3 is in the technician end
    > of IT). You might need to give an agent a small amount of money to
    > clarify all this.
    > Cheers,
    > George Lombard
    > www.austimmigration.com.au
    > --
    > www.austimmigration.com.au
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

1. It's now 5 years for New Zealand citizenship, not three
http://www.citizenship.govt.nz

2. New Zealanders no longer get PR in Australia automatically. Unless they get Australian PR through normal rules, they stay as temporary residents.
http://www.nz-oz.gov.au

3. I am not sure that NZ immigration is easier for IT people without formal qualifications. But the rules are at http://www.immigration.govt.nz

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

If you can afford to take one or two years and do an HNC or HND, i think that's the way to go. Obviously if you can get your CCNA as well that's a huge bonus.

I'm an IT support specialist with no formal Computing qualifications but luckily my wife is a nurse and i can squeeze in on her back.

Good luck pal.

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Same Situation as us mate !
I got an HNC and had 8 years experience in 1st,2nd and 3rd line support, Only realistic option for me was TRA for Computing Support Technician.
Like you Australia Bound - Im Jumping on the wifes application as she is a Primary School Teacher ;)

Looked at the possibility of doing an ACS for Computing Professional (NEC) but thought hey whats the point (A) Probably not get it (B) wife has a 60 pointer with the required experience. Spouse skills are only 5 points so it doesn't matter which skills assessment you go for.

Cheers Mick

Re: IT Support Technician without a clue
 

Hi,
Heres a crazy idea, but worth some consideration, as you are both under 30
You could both do a working holiday visa now! While out there target agency's that will be willing to sponsor you on a business visa. (preferable through an agency as this will allow you to change company if need be) This does not seem to be too difficult to do.

Once on this Temporary Residence Visa work torwards the qualifications on the MODL SOL in IT, then apply for the Perm Visa. At the very worst you gain good Australian experience and find out if you like it there. At the best you eventually end up with a Permanent Visa in a few years. Also you will be clearly be able to demonstrate your defacto status after the year and will be applying as a couple.

This idea might be madness, but you know the goal posts are always changing. Be prepared and Plan it out. I myself am applying by the skin of my teeth on ACS(RPL) Aussie Sponsored.

Good Luck