the pikester Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Hi all, I'm a plumbing & heating engineer from Cheshire & would like peoples views on whether its worth trying to move to Perth with my trade. I'm hearing conflicting stories on the amount of work available for somebody like me & my potential earnings out there. I'm assuming my heating skills would be useless but what about the plumbing? is there much work about for plumbers does anybody know? Are there any plumbers/ gasfitters on here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skit78 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Hi pikester, I'm the same as you and we are heading off to perth on Boxing Day . Whilst there on our recki 9 weeks ago I spoke to quite a few people regarding work and they all seam to say I should be ok, just need to get my foot in the door.and once ya in you should be fine. I think I'll have my work cut out and it mite not be easy but I'm gonna give it 100% as I do not want to come back to the uk. Good luck on your journey. Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 No Mate, I've just come back been out there and had the Wa licence for Plumbing what crap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skit78 Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 Hi Jason, if poss could you let us know your story as to why it was no good . Ie no work or had work but did not like it, and was it hard to find work etc. would be a great help. Many thanks Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 Hi Jason, if poss could you let us know your story as to why it was no good . Ie no work or had work but did not like it, and was it hard to find work etc. would be a great help. Many thanks Scott. Hi Scott as I say I held the wa plumbers licence and white card, started applying for jobs and 9 out of 10 would say you need a min of 5 years wa experience! How do you get that if you can't get a job, I watched my money poring away on rentals and living! I could not of done anymore to get work out there.. What I did find is people without a licence seemed to get work? Hope this helps it was a living he'll .. I tried other jobs but had no joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the pikester Posted October 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 I've been told that many 'tradies' don't bother with their chosen trade & go working in the mines as the money is a lot better, is this just rubbish? I hear nothing but good reports about Oz & I'm not so sure whether this is mainly people putting on brave faces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 I don't think it's easy as it used to be to get jobs on the mines either (Verystormy might be able to comment). I don't know any tradies, but being part of this forum and PIO there are two sides to the job hunt, some seem to get work relatively easily, some struggle initially, and sadly some like Jason have had to return home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 I've been told that many 'tradies' don't bother with their chosen trade & go working in the mines as the money is a lot better, is this just rubbish? I hear nothing but good reports about Oz & I'm not so sure whether this is mainly people putting on brave faces. Mining is currently in a big down turn - i work in mining as a geologist / manager and most mates are now unemployed and i am having to work on a project in Africa. There is still demand for some specialist mining roles, but these are things that are mine specific skills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingles Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Hi Pikester, Its really hard but so worth it in the end. My other half is in Site Management so different to you but it took him 6 months to get a job similar to what he did back at home (even with 7 years experience), and even now he is in a more junior role. From what I have heard Electricians and Plumbers have to do loads of 'tests' to have their qualifications recognized out here before they can even start working in their trades. I have a friend that is an Electrician and he has been waiting nearly a year for his trade recognition and has been working as an electricians 'hand' in the mean time. It really isn't easy getting work here, but it is possible if you are prepared to do other things and start again. Go to as many expo's as you can for research and information, just don't believe the hype when you are there. Its as difficult, (if not more) to get work here, but if you can stick it out, its worth it I promise. You defiantly need about 6 months worth of money behind you, we didn't so we rented a room for the first 7 months after we arrived and money where ever possible until my OH found a 'real' job. We are 8 months on now and its only just started to fall into place. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraighttothePoint Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 I think, for what it is worth, getting jobs in Perth is currently a bit like the lottery. Loads of folk never get what they want, loads get a low payout on three balls (and a supp), a good number get 4 balls and so on and then a very, very lucky lucky few hit the jackpot. One thing is for sure though and that is if you are never in it then you can never win it. As is said above do the research, crunch the numbers (no pum intended) and then decide one way or another if you want to give it a go or not. Everyone is different and everything, for many, coming here is a gamble. Best not to rely on what you hear, get to the facts, then roll the dice and see where it lands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylors4 Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) I think it's a lot to do with a good bit of luck tbh. If you come, make sure you have a plan b if it doesn't work out. If it's going to cost you your life savings, don't bother. We've been here 5 months now, OH is a brickie, he walked straight into a job (not on top dollar), but pays enough for us to survive. I am really struggling to get any sort of office work though, so that's put a downer and a lot of tension on things. It means we argue as I'm now always tired I the day as I work doing nightfill in a supermarket, nothing wrong with it, but it find it bloody hard work physically, some days I don't get in till 1 am then up at 6am, so it's tiring. Some days I just want to get on a plane and go home, other days I love it here. It really is very challenging emigrating. We too though long and hard and did our research, but there is only so much you can do, and in all honesty you won't know till you get here. You just have to bite the bullet and see what happens. Its very true the trades work a lot differently here. My OH says the best advice he's had is to take your brain out and just start afresh. A lot of the licensed trades it has been mentioned have to almost re-train (or de-skill). IMHO the work here is rough compared to the UK. just be careful what you give up, we gave up an established business, are renting our beautiful house, (so we can get that back), sold our lovely BMW and caravan for a song, re-homed our lovely cats, and the obvious one, friends family and the kids brilliant school and all their varied activities, some of which they have picked up again here, but it takes a while to get them re-established. Not sure we will ever achieve here what we have given up. with regard to mining, my cousins OH. Has been in mining for 30 years in WA, he had just done a stint in Africa, and he really struggled to get a position back in WA. Said he'd never known it so bad to get a job, so don't rely on that. but it's not all doom and gloom, it's beautiful here. Lovely clean city, excellent train links, beaches are fab. Looking forward to camping hols and going to bali soon, weather is perfect here at the moment. We are treating it as an adventure and if we go back, so what, we will be about 20k down, but life goes on, not too much of an issue. I think you've got to go into it with an open mind and nothing is forever, some have come here and made a fab life, others just had a life experience. Edited October 29, 2013 by taylors4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the pikester Posted October 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Thanks you for everybody's input, it was gratefully received. I'm going over for a bit of a re-con mission after the UK heating season has finished (End of March ish) Could anybody recommend the best places to check out? I won't have a lot of time, probably about 10 days or so but would like to visit potential places to look for work/places to live & having never been there before would appreciate any guidance/tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the pikester Posted October 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) Taylors4......thank you, I may frame your post We sound in a similar position to you, I've a small heating business that is doing quite good for its size & the mortgage is past 1/2 way complete. We've got the car & kids are happy. Doesn't stop us wondering tho. Edited October 29, 2013 by the pikester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylors4 Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Taylors4......thank you, I may frame your post We sound in a similar position to you, I've a small heating business that is doing quite good for its size & the mortgage is past 1/2 way complete. We've got the car & kids are happy. Doesn't stop us wondering tho. Its a hard one for sure, but life is too short for regrets. If you don't do it you will always wonder. For us it was just in itch we have had to scratch. If we come back we can then put oz to rest and then get on with our lives, not thinking 'what if'. Don't underestimate how hard it is though doing this. You will always have your contacts at home to set up again, should things not work out, that's how we look at it anyway. For us with the business, I'm not sure we've made the right decision as if you are doing ok in a recession, you will do brilliantly when work picks up. We had just had enough of doing too much work for too little money and having to put going out pricing jobs before family time (he would often work 6 days a week, then on the 7th would be out meeting clients and pricing jobs). So many 'unseen hours' after putting a 10 hour day, doing quotes for work you never get, soul destroying really. For or is the house is a biggie, don't think we could ever sell it, we have got such an emotional attachment to it, we worked very hard on it over the years and it was perfect for our needs after it was almost rebuilt it. good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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