bwatt99 Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Hi guys im a pipefitter from uk and i need to chat to others that have come to oz from uk as pipefitter. Whats your background?pipefitter or pipefitter/welder,plumber etc etc. Anyone thats just a pipefitter but like me have been in the game a long time and can put his hands to most stuff. When you came here did most companies take your qualifications from uk and if so what did you have?i have svq same as nvq,craft cert in pipefitting from ecitb. Or did you need to get australian qualification to find or get jobs? Im finding that more and more companies are looking or wanting this qualification,more so that 10 yrs ago when i was traveling and not asked and got work easy. If you did get the australian qualification then what did you go for boilermaker,mechanical fitter or metal fabricator? If so who did you use or did this with as i am at my wits trying to find out who deals with it tra,training gov to name a few they are all saying each other and some saying not them. I did hear today its not a requirment to have the australian qualification its upto the company but becoming more popular and im finding a few jobs i have looked at or even applied for have needed it and i have been refused as i dont have. I would be greatfull to know of pipefitters out there like me what you did,as its just been a nightmare since arriving here and something needs to change asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest9824 Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Not a pipe fitter Bwatt, but just wanted to wish you well, sounds like a kwogmire you are embroiled in at the moment, hope things change for the better for you. pea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Not a pipe fitter Bwatt, but just wanted to wish you well, sounds like a kwogmire you are embroiled in at the moment, hope things change for the better for you. pea Not throwing in the towel yet,and most would have by now but lets hope things get better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjim007 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Let me know how you get on bwattt99 i am irish pipefitter making the move in the summer of this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Jim to be honest i would not bother,im starting to think maybe need to return back to uk later this year,with having pr,being a time served pipefitter from uk and over 21yrs experience offshore and onshore in the oil and gas i thought it all be sweet,its been far from that and nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjim007 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 sorry to hear its been bad news on the job front have you tried civmec in henderson are looking for pipe fitters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Tried them all mate just wonder if half of these companies really have work on or need guys,as sick of trying never had this crap back in uk and I have many years behind me in the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Recognised Australian Trade Certificate you may also find that a few more employers are asking for this now,maybe that's why I'm still getting nothing. But in saying that I'm a time served Pipefitter with certs and Pipefitter is not a trade over here,one company has called me up three times different people and asked if I have that I said no and did not want to know.just makes me laugh. they just should not advertise for pipe fitters then ok anything else I understand but they ask for them I am one with papers but it's not any good. I have been told that hr and recruitment over here just ain't got a clue,a contact I have and it's not the first said to me when I contacted him I have a very good cv, and I'm the sort of guys they look for here as not all but many are not skilled or have the skills. but they have the jobs. maybe once I have more Australian companies on my cv it will get better but it's what are they looking for or scared off,it's easy give the guy a trade test,employ him and if no good pay him off it's not that hard. Im so used to companies calling me up in uk for work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjim007 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 ya thats it wa experiance seems to be a big thing over there and also i have heard from a few mates in the game who have worked in perth ( and are now in canada ) that its who you know not what you know. you just need someone to give you a start and then you will be in the loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give me a break! Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Have you got your working at heights/confined spaces etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjim007 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 google the be part of something big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJT Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I can so totally relate to this. We came out here in July last year and we knew it would take time for hubby to find a job, We had financially planned a year to find work and make Perth our new home, so now we are over the half way mark He has literally applied for well over a hundred jobs, and has heard back from about 5, all saying that they want WA experience or that he is way over qualified. The agencies he has been to all say that WA need his experience and expertise. He actually feels that most of the jobs he has applied for, are already gone and they are literally just doing the "legal" bit of advertising the job. It really is a case of who you know here, and as when you first get here you know no one, its gets a bit difficult to get your foot in the door. Unlike in the UK where your reputation and experience are enough, I think here you literally have to join golf clubs, running clubs, the Masons, anything to get to start to talk to people and then that's the way you find work. I do wish you all the luck in the World as Perth is a beautiful place to live and raise a family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou8670 Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I really hope we're not jumping out of the fat into the fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portlaunay Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 I can so totally relate to this. We came out here in July last year and we knew it would take time for hubby to find a job, We had financially planned a year to find work and make Perth our new home, so now we are over the half way mark He has literally applied for well over a hundred jobs, and has heard back from about 5, all saying that they want WA experience or that he is way over qualified. The agencies he has been to all say that WA need his experience and expertise. He actually feels that most of the jobs he has applied for, are already gone and they are literally just doing the "legal" bit of advertising the job. It really is a case of who you know here, and as when you first get here you know no one, its gets a bit difficult to get your foot in the door. Unlike in the UK where your reputation and experience are enough, I think here you literally have to join golf clubs, running clubs, the Masons, anything to get to start to talk to people and then that's the way you find work. I do wish you all the luck in the World as Perth is a beautiful place to live and raise a family. This is so very true. Get involved in some of the clubs and it will start to happen but you really do have to network as the vast majority of jobs never go to advert, especially in trades. The agencies are the same the world over, utterly hopeless, I wouldn't even bother. If you want to get some WA experience and you're kicking around doing nothing then why not do some voluntary work? This can also be great for networking and if you can use your skills to help the local community then good on ya! That way, when asked whether you have any WA experience you can say yes, you've been working on small, local projects. Yacht clubs are good - you can drop into most clubs without being a member, express an interest in crewing and find yourself bobbing up and down in the Indian Ocean soon enough. You'll find the bar is a great place to chat up the locals and before you know it you'll have a couple of phone numbers. Anyone expecting to come here and apply for jobs they find on Seek or have agencies begging for their business is going to be disappointed, it's just not the Aussie way and if you aren't the sort of person that can get out there and meet people then you might even find you'll have trouble fitting in when you are in work. I'd be researching companies I want to work for, finding out who my new manager might be and calling them. If I have two names I bounce one off the other - "Hi Jim, I was talking to Dave at xxxx and he suggested you might be interested in me and the skills I have." and then "Hi Dave, I was talking to Jim at xxxx" etc Even if the first half dozen calls get me no where I'd have got a little more info and jargon from each person I spoke to, all valuable stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJT Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Hi Lou8670 Definitely not, you just need to come prepared and to understand that you may not land a job within the first few weeks, but on the other hand, you may do. We had always allowed a whole year to settle the kids, find our new long term home, whether it be another rental that we like or buy a house and for Pete to find a job and for me to find friends and re-establish my life, oh and to buy a kitten and a puppy when we do find the house. I would not change anything we have done and have no regrets what so ever. Perth is now our home and we have all settled here. Even my husband would not change a thing. We have had a fantastic seven months and when he does go back to work, the kids and I are really going to miss him, but now know that our family life will be better than in the UK, because of the weather you have more chance to do simple things, like take a walk along the coast after dinner, the kids are learning to fish and have great fun doing this. If you don't take the chance I think you will always regret it and if it really does not work out at least you have given it a go and made some fabulous memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted February 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 yes so true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted February 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 no working at height or confined spaces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjim007 Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 what about linkedin is that big in perth for networking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jaime Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Alright bwatt mate! Am a pipefitter from the uk! Been over here 2 years, the first year was great! Got a start with agc in kwinana, they sponsored me on a 457, after a year tho was paid off, since then it's been a nightmare getting work and finding company's to take over 457. Found a company to take my visa on, but the money was rubbish and to be honest it's the worse job I've ever had, working in a fab shop with 30 Koreans, (nightmare). I got my trade recognised as a heavy metal fabricator through vetassess a couple of months ago and just lodged my 190ss visa. i no a good network of English pipefitters over here in Perth, lads on holiday visa, all on crap jobs and the lads with pr and vetassess have got fifo jobs and are making good money on barrow or gladstone, my advice to you is to get your trade recognised as heavy metal fabricator, it's a ball ach mate getting all the paper work but will be worth it in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted February 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Jaime pm'd you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sami Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 I am confused as to why it appears to be so hard for you to find a pipefitter job when you are in Perth when a large company from Perth is advertising local to me for pipe fitters and other trades to go over there? Its seems ridiculous, what background do you have, where did you serve your time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanpi 1312 Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Hi guys im a pipefitter from uk and i need to chat to others that have come to oz from uk as pipefitter.Whats your background?pipefitter or pipefitter/welder,plumber etc etc. Anyone thats just a pipefitter but like me have been in the game a long time and can put his hands to most stuff. When you came here did most companies take your qualifications from uk and if so what did you have?i have svq same as nvq,craft cert in pipefitting from ecitb. Or did you need to get australian qualification to find or get jobs? Im finding that more and more companies are looking or wanting this qualification,more so that 10 yrs ago when i was traveling and not asked and got work easy. If you did get the australian qualification then what did you go for boilermaker,mechanical fitter or metal fabricator? If so who did you use or did this with as i am at my wits trying to find out who deals with it tra,training gov to name a few they are all saying each other and some saying not them. I did hear today its not a requirment to have the australian qualification its upto the company but becoming more popular and im finding a few jobs i have looked at or even applied for have needed it and i have been refused as i dont have. I would be greatfull to know of pipefitters out there like me what you did,as its just been a nightmare since arriving here and something needs to change asap. I totally understand your dilemma hubby is in the same position with 25+ yrs experience. We are at the end of it now, over a year out of work and thinking of heading back home. If you have anymore information I would be grateful. Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwatt99 Posted July 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Sent you a pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesMc Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Hi, I realise your comments are from 3 years ago but I was wondering how you got on with the job situation? I arrived in Australia 2 months ago and I am myself a pipefitter trying to determine what job prospects I have. I don't know whether my uk trade certificates are valid here. Please reply and help me figure out what path to take Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Hi, I realise your comments are from 3 years ago but I was wondering how you got on with the job situation? I arrived in Australia 2 months ago and I am myself a pipefitter trying to determine what job prospects I have. I don't know whether my uk trade certificates are valid here. Please reply and help me figure out what path to take Hi and welcome to the forum What visa are you on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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