Are there any welders have moved / are moving to Oz who use this forum?

I now work in IT but i used to be a welder. I'm thinking of doing a refresher course in welding in case the IT side of things doesn't pan out.

I wouldn't know where to start to be honest, haven't touched a rod in over ten years but i think the skill is still there.

Any tips or recommendations?

There should be welding work here , and big buck in the mines , try contacting some job agencys ?

My husband is a sheet metal worker and also does some welding. We are just starting off with our application but are applying under him as the job is on the MODL list and so we get extra points for that.

I work in IT and after doing a bit of research on jobs, I think he will earn more than me whereas over here I earn more. Depending on where you want to live, you should be able to find work in both areas.

I served my time as a welder but do inspection now.In WA Tafe have courses but I don,t know how much they are,possibly $100 for a 15 week night course,3-4 hrs per night.Stick is only used on Woodside work mainly,TIG root and stick fill and cap using 4818,s (7018 for UK standards).Most of the general structural work is flux cored wires,they run good.Some of the CIG CDT machines with the programmes installed for mig run very well,just look at the programme on the screen for wire size and gas mixtures and choose DIP or spray transfer,usually 1 minus on the arc length control for downhand and neutral or 1 plus for positional work.Wages should be in the region of $24 -27 per hour for most work and flat rates at around $33.For TIG coded to ASME1X or B31.3 6G for super duplex and titanium it can go up to $60 for a flat rate but $50 would be the norm.I should add the Tafe courses are 1 night per week.Good Luck.

Hi,

My husband is a coded welder. We have used my qualifications to get the visa and are headed out to Perth on the 3rd of November. Could you recommend any companies/agencies to get in contact with when we arrive? Would you suggest contacting them beforehand or waiting until we reach Perth. Any advice much appreciated.
Also want to check if he has to gain any additional registration when we get there via the TRA or not. he had the qualifications assessed by the TRA in support of application but I don't know if he has to do anything further once on Aussie soil??

Many thanks...Jo

We did a recce last year (July) not to Perth tho.. but Chopperboy (welder) walked into 2 welding shops and they both said 'yeah, when do you wanna start?' So I don't think he'll have too much trouble finding a job... well not in Brissy anyway!

good luck
Sonicx

All he has to do is pass a test to the relevant code and he is in,if he has experience on orbital TIG or any nuclear experience he should be laughing.as it is test and start the same as anywhere else in the world.City and guilds quals are not recognised and he would need to go to Tafe to have them updated to AS 1796,bit of a waste of time if he does not enter foreman/inspector fields.just a way for the welding institute to raise money.Bad time to come as xmas hols approach and they don,t like to start people,they have to pay the public hols.Check out the govt jobsearch site for WA vacancies (jobsearch.gov I think).Not really worth getting in touch with anyone as it is turn up for a test after a telephone call.The body hire mobs usually want 2 or 3 references,if he is stuck then Austal and other ali shipyards in henderson are usually screaming for people,ali mig welding,low wages but around $700 in the hand beats the crap out of nothing and gets a start in a new country.Austals have a web site and so do hanseatic marine I think,try them.Good luck.

Thanks!

Christ they must be desperate only kidding sonic.
same happened to us as well, walked into a couple of shops and got offered a start straight away.
brissy must know there onto a good thing with chopper boy & jonni boy,hey maybe we should open our own shop but then again it sounds a bit like a queer double act :scared: