Anyone in the building trade?

Anyone in the building trade?

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Discussion

Gingerbread Man

Original Poster:

9,173 posts

220 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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Hi there folks.

Is anyone on here in the building trade in Australia?

David

Mattt

16,663 posts

225 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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What do you want to know?

Gingerbread Man

Original Poster:

9,173 posts

220 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
quotequote all
My bird and I have had our visa granted. I'm a plumbing and heating lad. I've heard that it can be hard to get a job as they employ their own who have expirence of Ozzy plumbing over expats which is fair enough.

I just wanted to talk to someone in the trade to get their side on it.
I've tried to find an Australian plumbers forum to no avail.

Just wanting to do a bit of research is all.

Jader1973

4,289 posts

207 months

Wednesday 27th November 2013
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Have you checked that your qualifications are recognised here?

You have to be accredited/licensed to do anything. Mate of mine from Canada is a qualified sparky but can't touch anything here unless he re-qualifies.

Mattt

16,663 posts

225 months

Wednesday 27th November 2013
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Sorry that's not my area of expertise, but as above you will most likely have to requalify.

Gingerbread Man

Original Poster:

9,173 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th November 2013
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I will have to requalify, this i'm fully aware of. But i've heard that after all the college time and money, employment is still the biggest hurdle.

Wondering if it's worth the hassle or that I may simply retrain in another skill where job prospects are better.

Edited by Gingerbread Man on Wednesday 27th November 07:48

suthol

2,339 posts

241 months

Wednesday 27th November 2013
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I'm neither a builder or sparky but I'd suggest that re-certification won't be a waste of time and money because it's a trade that will always find work and be there long after we have become a desolate sandpit.

Two of my sons are tradies in Perth and earn nearly as much as they would in the mines because the locals have to pay big to keep the tradies at home.

JMTBW

Gingerbread Man

Original Poster:

9,173 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th November 2013
quotequote all
I'm hoping to move to Coffs Harbour area on the East Coast.

Just internet reading reading about trades, Electrical and Plumbing on sites such as 'PomsInOz' and such, that Australia advertise that they need lots of trades, but upon getting there, people are finding it very hard to get a foot in the door whilst having 15+ years or so experience.

They spend time and money getting their qualifications recognised in Australia, a permit to work in the state etc, but still getting a job in the area a struggle. A job in another area seems easy enough paying good money, just not the trade people hope to get.

I see it as a similar situation to here in England. We have had an influx of Polish workers for example. Many may very well be perfectly good at their jobs, but companies would rather employee English people for example. I think it is how a lot of the world is. I'm wondering if it is similar over in Australia.


I've heard many a story along the lines of;

Would be employer: 'How many years experience have you?'

Job seeker: '20 years, brilliant at my job, willing to work.'

Would be employer: '20 years experience in England, but how much experience of the job in Australia?'

Job seeker: 'None, I can't get a job!'

Would be employer: 'Come back when you have experience in this country!'


It comes across as a catch 22. But often you only hear the bad, so I was hoping to find an Australia plumbers forum to appeal to ask the masses, or hope to find someone in Oz working in a trade who might be able to give me an insight into the real situation.

Either way, my Girlfriend and I are coming over, I just may have to think about what career to choose.