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Building surveyor looking for work/advice


Guest TheBasnettfour

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Guest TheBasnettfour

Hi

 

We will be in Perth in November 2012 my husband is an electrician and I am Building surveyor.

 

Can anybody help with the following questions please

 

Looking at the title of BS this does not translate in job description, in Australia it is a planner or building control officer.

 

So with a BS degree and extensive knowledge of the DDA, Energy Assessor and NEBOSH with over 20 years experience, what jobs might I be looking at and what titles do they have. For eg is it a project Architect?

 

Do people from the UK need to have their degree's certified/notarized etc before you can work in OZ?

 

I really need some direction please.

 

My husband is the main applicant but I will need to work eventually

 

we have two boys 6 and 9

 

thanks, looking forward to any advice. :jiggy:

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Guest LiverpoolFC

Hi there!

 

Yeah I'm a bit in the same boat only I am a graduate going on a WHV to try to get work. A 'building surveyor' in WA appears to be a building control officer equivalent to the UK in both the private and public sectors. A building inspector or compliance officer too they seem to be called, while a surveyor appears to be a land surveyor.

 

The thing about BS out there is that you appear to have to be say a level 2, level 1 or unlimited building surveyor. Level 2 is restricted to certain storey heights and floor areas I think that you can work on etc.

 

It seems a very grey area to get definite clear cut answers from the AIBS regarding getting your experience recognised what with the different regs etc plus it appears that the UK BS degrees are more general and not as specific as ones in oz.

 

Seemingly getting it recognised to achieve a visa is not enough to get it fully recognised in oz. Now there appears to be some recognition of prior learning thing i think but it appears you can't do it from abroad which is very handy!!! They tend to point you in the direction of some of the oz uni's where you may get your degree assessed and if you need to do any extra modules then you can take them on and 'top up' your degree.

 

Given your 20+yrs experience though I'm sure you could easily manage to get around these issues. My advice is to try the AIBS but be prepared that the more questions you ask the more confusing it seems to get! If you are a member of the RICS I think there is some sort of agreement - or they are in the process of sorting it - that will allow you to get recognised easier I'm led to believe.

 

I'm going just a couple of months before you and have nothing as yet - not for any lack of applying - but I'd love to hear how you get on.

 

PS - I'm assuming you don't have work yet - I use seek.com.au and sometimes there can be jobs on the AIBS website

Edited by LiverpoolFC
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Speaking to people I know in the sector many people who were surveyors in the UK have come over and done Contracts Administrator roles over here.

 

It sounds like a weird title but seems to be one of the key positions on projects so might be an area to look at.

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Guest TheBasnettfour

Hi Guys

 

Thanks for your reply,

 

I was also looking at project Architect jobs but as a surveyor it does seem strange to be looking at Architect jobs. I have looked on seek which seems ok.

 

I had thought of emailing a few people to try to get an idea of where I may fit into the employment market what does anybody think about this?

 

I am worried that when I arrive I may be told "oh you should have done this or that with your qualifications etc"

 

I did contact the AIBS and they were great in replying saying that my degree would be fine, but if I wanted to work as a surveyor I may wnat to retain for over 6000 dollars! its just not the time I am afraid, I have two small boys to find schools for yet.... and there's another problem for another thread.

 

Well thanks and lets try to keep the thread going on this i will keep posting if I find anything out.

 

Liverpoolfc, are you a true red, born and bred? We are. :wink:

 

Speak soon

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Guest LiverpoolFC

Yeah certainly I'll keep you informed too. Not sure if you're on it but linkedin might be handy for starting to make contacts and get to know the right people and be able to ask questions - especially if you join the AIBS group or the Building Code of Australia groups etc. I really only joined for this purpose!

 

Yep got the same sort of responses about the extra money and extra studying needed which is not really feasible for myself either.

 

I'm not from Liverpool or England come to that (Northern Ireland actually) but my heart will always belong to Anfield :wink:

 

From one red to another I hope you get sorted out ok :smile2: To be honest I'm applying for absolutely anything going that I think I could possibly do although as a graduate not over there I seem to be going nowhere fast - really hope it changes out there.

 

The contracts administrator is not one I had considered but will look into it - thanks for alerting me to it JaynBev

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