The code carries with it some important information and criteria that an electrician will need to meet to be able to emigrate to Australia.
If you have gone to the ANZSCO site you will be forgiven for being immediately confused when clicking through to the electrician link. As an example you will find the below description for codes linked to Electrician (General)
Major Group: 3 - Technicians and Trades Workers | Sub-Major Group: 34 - Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers | Minor Group: 341 - Electricians | Unit Group: 3411 -
Yes, there is 4 groups but this is simply how the code is made up – we are mostly interested in the 3411 which is specific to Electricians.
Lets start with the description of what an electrician does, this might sound basic but its important that it is the right match.
Description of general electrician: Design, assemble, install, test, commission, diagnose, maintain and repair electrical networks, systems, circuits, equipment, components, appliances and facilities for industrial, commercial and domestic purposes, and service and repair lifts, escalators and related equipment. Note Automotive Electricians are excluded from this unit group.
If we tick this one off we move on to the skill level required.
Skill Level: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.
In Australia:
AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)
In New Zealand:
NZ Register Level 4 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)
- At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.
- Registration or licensing is required
1. Unless (and as your reading this it is pretty unlikely) you qualified in New Zealand or Australia your qualification means nothing at this stage.
2. That registration or licensing is required – in other words you can't just pitch up in Australia and start working.
These two factors are noteworthy when it comes to job hunting. Many electricians that are would be emigrants to Australia make the mistake of thinking the best route to emigration is to secure a job. As you can see the fact you are not 'qualified' in Australia nor licensed to carry out your occupation does not make you a very attractive proposition to any Australian employer.
So rule number one is simple first get your qualification assessed and get licensed before applying for any position.
The first step is to go to the ANZSCO website.
On each of these pages is a little button in blue saying TRA - click this and we go through to the trade assessment authority.
Once on the site there is a very handy pathfinder tool you can click on to that will allow you to find out what you should apply for.
The very first option that is on the list is I need a skills assessment for migration purposes. That's the one we are after.
On the next screen we need to select the option I need a skills assessment to apply to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection for a skilled visa (other than a subclass 485 or 457 visa).
If you read through this you will see that it is dependent on your occupation and what country you are from (what your passport is) as to what skills assessment you will need to complete.
As a South African electrician seeking to emigrate to Australia you are one of only 10 countries in the world that are eligible to take a skills assessment via a TRA-approved registered training organization (RTO).
TRA standing for Trades Recognition Australia and RTO a Recognized Training Organization.
So in summary we now know that in order to have your qualification and skills assessed you need to contact the South African RTO that have been authorized to carry out your skills assessment.
In order to do this we will go to another website called Trades Recognition Australia
Here we simply select electrician and it reveals to us that VETASSESS is our next stop.
On the Vetassess site we can complete a quick form which confirms your eligibility as an electrician emigrating from South Africa to Australia to complete the skills assessment.
Your assessment process (either Pathway 1 or Pathway 2) depends on whether you have or don’t have an accepted Australian qualification or current Australian occupational licence. As an electrician, assuming you have no Australian qualification, your will need to select pathway one.
It's a two stop process:
Firstly you will be required to submit information on your qualifications and experience for an evidence review.
You then need to provide evidence of your employment, skills and knowledge. Your evidence must show you have at least 4 years' experience in your occupation at the skill level required. This 4 year period may include time spent in training. Your evidence must show you have worked in your occupation in the last 3 years and must be able to be verified
If successful here you would then move on to the practical test / technical interview.
Warning – be careful at this point because this is where it starts to cost you money.
Stage one - the evidence review, comes at a price of of AUD 960 and stage two another AUD 1640.
In other words a not un-significant amount of ZAR 27000 (at time of going to press).
Let's assume you pass and the great news is you can commence with your actual application.
We are now into ensuring you pass or meet a number of other criteria:
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Do you meet the age requirements?
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Are you and your family able to meet the health and good character standards?
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Do you have enough points?
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Can you meet the English language standards?
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Can you afford all the associated costs?
There is quite a number of things that can wrong at this point.
The reality is this may well be the wrong route to go – simply because you have started at one of the most expensive parts of the process without first ensuring that:
a) you qualify; and
b) you understand the process and associated costs.
Want to know if you're eligible to emigrate to Australia as an electrician?
All applicants for permanent and provisional visas including the main applicant, spouse and any members of the family unit must be assessed against the health requirement. In addition, in certain circumstances, family members who are not applying for the visa (non-migrating family members) will be assessed against the health requirement.
The department or the migration medical services provider will then decide whether or not you meet the health requirement based on your completed health examination reports.
Everyone who wants to enter Australia must be of good character and will be assessed against the character requirements. As part of your visa application, you might be required to provide a police clearance certificate or other evidence to satisfy the character requirements.
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You will not pass the character test if:
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you have a substantial criminal record, meaning you have been sentenced to 12 months or more in prison, or multiple sentences that add up to more than 12 months in prison. A suspended sentence is considered a prison sentence.
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you have been convicted of escaping from immigration detention, or convicted for an offence that you committed:
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while you were in immigration detention,
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during an escape from immigration detention,
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after an escape, but before you were taken into immigration detention again.
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You are or have been a member of a group or organisation, or had or have an association with a person, group or organisation that the Minister for Immigration reasonably suspects of involvement in criminal conduct
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The Minister for Immigration reasonably suspects that you have been involved in people smuggling, people trafficking, genocide, a war crime, a crime against humanity, a crime involving torture or slavery, or a crime that is of serious international concern, whether or not you have been convicted of such an offence
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Your past and present criminal or general conduct shows that you are not of good character
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There is a risk that while you are in Australia you would:
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engage in criminal conduct,
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harass, molest, intimidate or stalk another person,
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vilify a segment of the Australian community,
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incite discord in the Australian community or in a part of it,
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be a danger to the Australian community or a part of it.
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You have been convicted of, or found guilty or had a charge proven for one or more sexually based offences involving a child,
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You are subject to an adverse security assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
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You are subject to an Interpol notice, from which it is reasonable to infer that you a direct or indirect risk to the Australian community, or a segment of the Australian community.
As an electrician seeking to emigrate to Australia you will need to have the minimum level of 6 in IELTS or equivalent.
Note here your immigration agent should be advising on which test will suit you best whether it be for example Pearsons or IELTS.
As an electrician seeking to emigrate to Australia you will be required to achieve a points score of at least 65.
PART 1 – Age
|
18 – 25 |
25 |
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25 – 32 |
30 |
|
32 – 39 |
25 |
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40 – 44 |
15 |
|
45 – 49 |
0 |
As you can see electrician in the right age bracket can achieve as much as 50% of the required 65 points just by being in the right age group.
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Superior English - IELTS 8 or more in all 4 components or OET ‘A pass’ |
20 |
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Proficient English - IELTS 7 or more in all 4 components or OET ‘B pass’ |
10 |
|
Threshold English: Competent English (IELTS 6 or more in all 4 components or certain passport holders) |
0 |
The English language test is very important in scoring points. As you can see it can be as much as 20 points but be warned if you are not a native speaker it can be a challenge.
PART 3 – Overseas employment experience
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36 months (3 years) in the last 10 years |
5 |
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60 months (5 years) in the last 10 years |
10 |
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96 months (8 years) in the last 10 years |
15 |
Overseas means employment not in Australia and as per the table above we are looking for at least 3 years in your occupation as an electrician to make emigration to Australia possible.
PART 4 – Australian employment experience
Points are available if an applicant has worked in Australia in their nominated occupation or closely related skilled occupation as follows:
Years |
Points |
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1 year |
5 |
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3 years |
10 |
|
5 years |
15 |
|
8 years |
20 |
Note that a maximum of 20 points can be awarded for a combination of Australian and overseas work experience
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PART 5 – Australian professional year
5 points are awarded if you have completed a professional year in Australia, in your nominated occupation as an electrician or closely related occupation.
PART 6 – Educational qualifications
Points are awarded for the completion of qualifications either through an Australian educational institution or an overseas qualification for which the Minister is satisfied is of a recognised standard:
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Doctorate (PhD) – Australian institution or recognised overseas institution |
20 |
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Bachelor degree or higher – Australian institution or recognised overseas institution |
15 |
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Diploma – Australian institution |
10 |
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Trade certificate – Australian institution |
10 |
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Qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for the applicant’s nominated occupation |
10 |
Applicants only receive points for their highest single qualification – it is not possible to claim points for more than one qualification under this part.
PART 7 – Australian study
Applicants who have met the two-year Australian study requirement can obtain 5 points.
PART 8 – Credentialed community language
NAATI-accredited translators and interpreters at the paraprofessional (level 2) or higher are eligible for 5 points. A list of languages is not specified, so by implication any language assessed by NAATI at the paraprofessional level or higher should be acceptable.
PART 9 – Study in a regional or low-population growth metropolitan area of Australia
Criteria are:
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Applicant meets the 2-year Australian study requirement;
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Studies were conducted at a campus in regional Australia or a low-population growth metropolitan area;
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Applicant lived in in regional Australia or a low-population growth metropolitan area during the study;
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None of the studies was via distance education.
The relevant regional areas are all parts of Australia, excluding: greater Brisbane area, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne metropolitan area, Perth and surrounding areas and the Australian Capital Territory.
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PART 10 – Partner skill
Applicant’s spouse or defacto partner:
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Is an applicant for the same GSM visa subclass;
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Is not an Australian permanent resident or citizen;
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Was under the age of 45 at the time of invitation to apply for the visa;
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Nominated a skilled occupation at the time of invitation to apply for the visa;
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Had a suitable skills assessment in their occupation at time of invitation to apply for the visa; and
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Had competent English at the time of invitation to apply for the visa.
PART 11 – State or Territory nomination
One way of gaining extra points as an electrician seeking to emigrate to Australia is to look at state or territory nomination. Whilst this commits you to living in a certain state for or territory for 2 years it can mean those vital extra points are earned.
If you are able to look at the 190 visa option the following factors apply in order to gain 5 additional points.
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The applicant has been invited to apply for the visa by a State or Territory government; and
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The nomination has not been withdrawn by the State or Territory government.
If you are able to look at the 489 visa option the following factors apply in order to gain 10 additional points.
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The applicant has been invited to apply for the visa by a State or Territory government; and
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The nomination has not been withdrawn by the State or Territory government.
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The applicant has been sponsored by a relative usually resident in a designated area; and
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The sponsorship has been accepted by the Minister.