Ensuring all operatives in the Electrotechnology sector are adequately trained and possess the knowledge and skills required is critical to ensuring Australia has a safe and productive skilled workforce.
Industry stakeholders have worked together over many years to develop a skills recognition pathway that meets government, industry and the electrical regulator requirements.
The Onshore/Offshore Skills Assessment Program including Offshore Technical Skills Records (OTSR) is managed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). TRA, a business unit of the Australian Department of Education and Training (DET), is the relevant assessing authority for nominated occupations under the Migration Regulations 1994.
In September 2020, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) removed Australian citizens from the Trades Recognition Service (TRS) and therefore Australian citizens who have gained qualifications overseas are no longer eligible to undertake the OTSR process.
To overcome this issue, a parallel and equivalent OTSR pathway has been developed by Energy Safe Victoria (the Victorian Electrical Regulator) mirroring the requirement of the OTSR for Australian residents who hold an electrician qualifications gained overseas seeking to have their skills recognised. The OTSR equivalent assessment is called ‘Australian Technical Competencies Statement’ (ATCS).
From the 24 December 2021 ATCS holders are also eligible to enter the Electrical gap training accredited course.
The gap training accredited courses have been the result of many years work between Energy Skills Australia (E-Oz) and the Australian Government, Industry and Electrical Regulators which date back to 2006 when the Council of Australian Governments agreed to establish a new streamlined and robust offshore skilled assessment process, which became the OTSR.
Whilst the knowledge and skills of many overseas workers is very high, there are differences in the manner in which this technical expertise needs to be applied, a difference that represents a gap. Electrical Regulators are especially concerned that the gap be addressed in regulated trade vocations such as electrical, refrigeration and air conditioning, electricity linework and cable jointing, where the work context may differ markedly in overseas countries and where such differences could endanger lives, infrastructure or systems.
Differences between Australian and overseas occupational practices often arise as a result of the use of different standards, regulations and/or industry codes/guidelines in the worker’s place of origin. For instance, in Australia and New Zealand, there are particular standards and practices that are not seen or applied in any other country, others in only a few other countries.
DET, contracted E-Oz, to produce a benchmark resource outlining the ‘Minimum Australian Context Gap (MACG)’ for the competencies from the qualifications listed below:
- Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30811)
- Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (UEE32211)
The accredited courses play an important role in the current process which has experienced considerable hurdles in recent years. The intention of the original concept was for newly arrived migrants to access the gap training program from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with scope to deliver the relevant Australian trade qualification.
E-Oz Skilled Migration Pathways Industry Statement
The industry endorsed skilled migration pathway and process for Skilled Migrants (excluding New Zealand qualified Electricians and Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanics) under OSAP and TSS is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) Pathway 1.
Specifically, this pathway involves candidates:
- Successfully undertake a OTSR skills assessment by a TRA approved RTO;
- The successful completion of the nationally accredited GAP training course (including supervised workplace experience captured by eProfiling) in Australia by an E-Oz licenced GAP training RTO;
- Then issuance of the full Certificate III qualification which allows an occupational licence to be issued by the relevant State or Territory regulator.
This process is the result of many years work between industry and TRA and was developed, endorsed and continues to be supported by the following key industry stakeholders:
- ERAC
- ETU
- NECA
- ARC
- TRA
Skilled Migrants should be extremely cautious about undertaking any pathway or process outside of the industry approved process. Unless you are a qualified New Zealand Electrical and/or Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic and/or licence holder migrating to Australia.
Any migration pathway resulting in the issuance of an Australian Qualification or occupational licence that does not involve steps 1-3 above, is most likely against regulatory requirements and training package rules. Australian qualifications in the Electrotechnology sector must be delivered in Australia, under appropriate electrical licensing and sufficient on the job exposure gathered in Australia.
NOTE: Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition agreement New Zealand electricians and Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanics migrating to Australia are subject to alternate arrangements.