TRA - making it easier for Tradies to work in Oz on arrival

[The.Colebecks]

Information via our agent (GoMatilda)..........

Date: Monday, April 09, 2007

The assessing body that oversees skills assessment applications for those with trade skills who are planning migrating to Australia - Trades Recognition Australia - has published an Easter bulletin.

The Bulletin (which can be accessed via the weblink below) discusses two important issues:

Offshore Assessment Services

For the last few years it has been recognised that those with trade skills have had difficulty securing immediate employment in Australia. Migrants with certain occupations have required further courses of study leading to Australian qualifications before they could commence work - which while understandable to a degree clearly delays the time before a skilled migrant can help meet skills shortages in Australia.

In February 2006 the Council of Australian Governments agreed to introduce new arrangements that would make it easier for migrants with skills that meet Australian standards to work as soon as they arrive in Australia. In its Easter bulletin TRA has announced that it is presently planning that Australian registered training organisations will be given authority from the 1st of July 2007 to carry out competency based assessments in certain occupations and in certain countries that will enable individuals to undergo a single assessment that will meet the requirements of:

- migration,
- qualification recognition, and
- occupations licensing requirements

The countries where these assessments will be carried out are:

- the UK
- India
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- the Phillippines

The trades in which these assessments will be possible are:

- General Electrician
- General Plumber
- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
- Motor Mechanic
- Carpenter and Joiner
- Electrical Powerline Tradesperson
- Cable Jointer

More details are expected in the next 2 to 3 months.

Childcare Co-Ordinators

TRA assumed responsibility for the assessment of the occupation Childcare Co-Ordinator on the 1st of July 2006.

Having reviewed information provided to applicants TRA advises that it will accept evidence of work experience of not less than 3 years in a regulated environment of substantial size with children whose ages fall anywhere within the 0 to 5 age group.

Weblink: TRA Bulletin (http://www.workplace.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/66387452-5FD6-4DBE-A86E-AC8A2554DD04/0/TRAEasterBulletin.pdf)

[stevet]

I hope they have now got this sorted, although I very much doubt it. I am an electrician who moved to Perth in July 2006. I had to get all of my documents certified and sent to TRA upon arrival, along with new references from my old UK employers. I explained to TRA that nothing in my career had changed in the past 12 months since my first application to them in the UK. I was told this did not matter. It then took me a further 5 months to do my trade tests and get my electrical license! Some of the questions in the trade test were not even relevant and I believe may have been written by Noah due to how out of date they were! If I had known this I would not have bothered. It would not be so bad if the Australian electrical standards, (whatever that is?), were higher than that in the UK. The fact is they are lower. :o

[The.Colebecks]

I hope they have now got this sorted, although I very much doubt it. I am an electrician who moved to Perth in July 2006. I had to get all of my documents certified and sent to TRA upon arrival, along with new references from my old UK employers. I explained to TRA that nothing in my career had changed in the past 12 months since my first application to them in the UK. I was told this did not matter. It then took me a further 5 months to do my trade tests and get my electrical license! Some of the questions in the trade test were not even relevant and I believe may have been written by Noah due to how out of date they were! If I had known this I would not have bothered. It would not be so bad if the Australian electrical standards, (whatever that is?), were higher than that in the UK. The fact is they are lower. :o

It really does seem like such a total waste of time having to jump through hoops before even applying for visas then having to jump through them all over again, and more, once you get over there. Ludicrous :confused:

Karen