warning to plumber well its my opinion!!!!!!!!

[Guest dalton]

Well that's it were are done going back after a year & a half of battling the system, its just to dam hard. Plumbers on the the critical skills list my ass.

I was UK business owner for 7 years commercial gas regulated a pipe fitter top of my gain here i'm subject to 1-1/2 years of trade school sat in with year one apprentices degrading is an understatement & for what just to get a ticket to take me to were i was 15/20 years ago.

Plumbing here is very different very very basic & if you like to dig you may just love it??

We have a 15 year not old daughter that pines for her old life can blame her there nothing much to do here, shes not settled no real friends, boy she has tried bless here. I just want to see here smile again.

I no i'm ranting but the so called dream that is portrayed to you from the UK i believe is full of frustrating flaws & red tape & battle after battle.

I have worked in sales here for the past 10 months as i cannot get a trade job unless i'm prepared to take a trainee position not having a full licence an all can even apply for a job in other states as once again not qualified. So i completed about 8 weeks full time at trade school about 3 left to get my level 3 ticket basic plumbing license. 12 months masters evening course to go NA!! The job situation is poor at the moment & so is the pay its just not worth the hard yarn.

Adelaide it a pretty place & the weather is fantastic but for us that all, in the end i believe home is were the heart is family & friends.

UK has many many many flaws but at least life is more affordable & hopefully more fulfilling again, great pubs cheap booze & a Primark for the girls LOL.

For some who have settled good on ya but most Poms i speak to have been here many years still question whether they will stay, i don't want to be that person 6 years down the line still looking back. Good luck to you all it not for the faint hearted.

[sduffy]

Wish you and your family ,the very best of luck upon your return to the uk.I think in addition to the problems you have had work wise' it is doubley difficult if you have teens that dont settle.It is a lot harder when you have to take such a step back and you have to weigh up what is best for your family.

 

Thanks for posting ,it is always useful for other people to see the difficulties they may face.

 

 

Sue

[Toni]

Good luck to you, at least you have tried and hope you have some good memories of Adelaide. I've met a couple of plumbers from the UK and they have said the same as you that it is basic and that you have to dig ditches and the pay unless you have your own business isn't the best.

[sharons dream]

Dalton that was a brilliant post my hubby is also a plumber and has suffered the same as you. We have just done our first year here and are going to give it More time. Although I say a brilliant post I'm sad that the dream hasn't worked out for you guys and I wish you all the luck in the world back in the uk x

[Guest shed end col]

Spot on mate,and how much do all these courses cost! You need a license to wipe ya backside here mate.

[waynecaz]

Boooo to the Daltons going home, it has been a hard year an half for you guys but you can now go back to tell everyone about your oz adventure that only people can dream of . You have been there got the t.shirt and now get on with your next adventure in your life!

I will miss seeing your smiley face honey, it's been lovely to have met all you Daltons and wish you lots of look . Keep I touch babes xxxxxx

[snifter]

All the best with your return to the UK.

[Guest Guest11535]

If you dont mind me asking, what U.K. plumbing quals did you go over with? I'm Advanced Craft City and Guilds, Gas Safe reg., CSCS site work, CSTS confined spaces, Ground and Air source heat pump qualified and have done a basic air-con course, also a basic solar powered installation course and not forgetting my on site first aiders. I'm getting a bit worried now reading your thread as I have my AFQ 3 IN GENERAL PLUMBING as I was advised to go general plumbing rather than specialised through skills asses. it seems all my past experiance, skills and knowledge stands for nothing.

Any advice on this would be great.

Best Regards,

gary.

 

@waynecaz, Im a claret fan and they are above Rovers in the Championship, lol.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Guest11535

[waynecaz]

Hahaha Garyupnorth, I'll tell the hubby i am sure that will make his day!!!!!

[jacksons]

Good luck the Daltons with your move back to the u.k.It must have been a very hard decision to make.Im a plumber here and I had my own business back in the u.k for 5 years in general maintenance and bathroom reno's.We've been here since November last year and it took me about 8 months to get cert 3,whilst I worked as a labourer for a building firm.Talking to other plumbers about doing cert 4 and it scares me!!!

I totaly agree that we are sold a nice package in the u.k to come to Adelaide but it has been far from it,It has been very stressfull,frustrating and expensive & felt like visiting the flight centre on occasion!!

But we feel a lot more settled now as we have bought our house here,(could never afford a house like we have here back in the u.k) and sold our house in the U.k and the kids are a lot more settled, but I still would like to enjoy my job working for a plumbing company but finding it difficult.

Be proud Daltons that,at least you had the guts to move your family all the way out here and given it a go.

All the best for 2013 to you all

The Jacksons

Edited January 21, 2013 by jacksons

[Lily Rainbow]

Just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your move back home.Its a real shame no one told you about all the plumbing stuff before you left the UK.

[zebedee]

Really interesting post, and good luck for the next chapter in your life. We've been here 6 months now, and I have to say, it sounds like I am VERY lucky with my IT work - the job I have here is pretty much a mirror image of what I had in the UK. I won't complain about it being boring again No wonder you've got to the point of thinking it's time to go home - it sounds like you've really given it your best shot.

 

There is loads of stuff here that is fantastic, like you said, weather, opportunities for socialising, friendly people (only overheard one negative comment about bloody poms at work so far), etc but I can see what you mean about not being where "home" is - I'm trying to imagine where we will be in another 18 months and hope that it starts to click a little in terms of feeling like our new home properly. It's all very surreal sometimes!

 

Again, best of luck for the future.

[Guest Guest9815]

Hi Dalton,

 

I fully understand, we are heading back to the UK in March and cant wait, we have been everywhere in AUS looking for the dream, for many it doesn't exist here, suppose it all depends what you had back home, and boy do I now realise what I had. Sort of knew this on past trips but we wanted to give it a go and are luckily in a good position to do so.

 

I just want to mention the time when I sat my trade skills exam back in the uk, some of the lads in the exam were clueless, they did not have any idea what they were doing, they told me so! not sure how they ever got their skill card in the uk (but I also believe thats a farse to) on the day of the exam we asked the Australian examiner how many people fail the course, he replied with 'I never fail anyone so don't worry, I want to help you live your dream'. So there you have it, so long as you pay the fee, Australia takes you in, no matter if some of these lads cant even perform. If you ask me, the whole thing is a cash rich business, you are being sold something that doesn't really exist, but they will welcome anyone that is willing to pay, and I do feel for you plumbers with vast experience, I have heard that story many times...

 

I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging here but I've had my own very successful construction company in the uk all my working life, employed over 40 people, we did everything, commercial and residential building, large scale fitouts to major hotel chains and Airports throughout the UK and Europe for some of the most well known bluechip companies, I know the business inside out, I sold my company prior to moving to AUS. I came here with a skills PR visa, not that I was going to be working on the tools but that was my first trade and easier to get the visa as a business visa had too many conditions. Anyway initially I was going to set a company up here similar to back home and employ up to 10 people on a very small scale, but due to being new to AUS thought it best to experience working for one of the big firms first to see how they work, so last year I went for an interview at one of the biggest construction firms in SA, I didnt apply for a specific role, I just sent my CV to them and next day was invited for an interview, first interview went really well, lasted well over 2 hours, I was interviewed by 2 of the top directors, one of which was German and had a similar back ground to me, they basically said they can see me working for them due to my experience, so all went well and said they would be in touch soon. 2 days later I was called in for a second interview as they had a particular project in mind for me, it was only for a contract manager role but said its a starting point and thats all that is available at the moment, I was interviewed by the project manager on the job, this interview only lasted 1 hour 15 min, he was late for the interview, there should have been 2 PM's interviewing me but only one turned up and late and then messing with his phone. I was the one asking most of the questions, I asked if he would like to see a presentation/powerpoint of some of my past projects that I had completed, all of which completed on time and made the expected profits, he didn't seem interested but never-less I made him sit through it. The guy was clearly intimidated for whatever reason, maybe because I would be working with him on this project and would make him standout for the useless guy that he clearly was, he obviously reported back and said I wasn't suitable for the role and gave the role to someone that would kiss his arse and make him look good. He wouldn't have lasted a week working for me. The point of this story is I have heard it many times, I sent my CV to many other companies and they all said they would get back to me, I never heard from them. This is not why I am returning to the UK because I didn't really want to work for anyone in the first place, it just confirms one of my many problems that I have with AUS.

 

Oh, just one other thing, and this is fact not an opinion, the building industry here sucks and is years behind, it amazes me that they do actually have building regs, the UK are certainly so more superior than most places in the world when it comes to building, problem is Australia are well aware of this and we frighten them to death...

 

This is just my opinion so any other people that read this on here and disagree then don't stress, like I say its my opinion and good luck to all that are happy here, whatever floats your boat, I'm afraid it just is not for me.

 

I do have lots of reading material from both British and Australian experiences of life in Australia and the UK, when I return to the uk I know a very good author that is going to write a book for me based on peoples real life experiences of both the British living in Australia, and also the Australians living in the UK, I am also going to set up a website forum for people with any concerns before moving to another country, I think its important that people have the real information made available to them and not just the information that is advertised and governed by both the uk and Australian Governments. I would write it myself but I am not very good at putting words together and my grammar is atrocious.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Guest9815

[zebedee]

Chris - I don't think anyone could argue with you - and I admire you for making that firm decision...it's the only way to be. That's my current concern - I like it here, and there are many things that we are enjoying...but I can't help but have that nagging feeling of not being 100% sure it's for us forever. I haven't found a place in Adelaide yet that I'd really want to settle in.....mind you, the job situation back in Cornwall \ Devon (the only place in the UK I'd go back too) is so laughable that it's likely the choice is made for us, by us, in a paradoxical kinda way.

[Anne B]

Talking to some English friends at the weekend who've been here about 20 years, and I was asked if I had settled OK to Aussie life. My answer was 'yes and no'. To my surprise they both said they felt the same too - didn't feel they really wanted to go back but felt that 'something' was missing here. I think a lot of us feel the same way. My husband has heard tales of British plumbers struggling here, who feel that they weren't told the truth about things before they arrived. It's a good money earner for the Australian government though I suppose.

[Guest graandjac]

Hey Dalton , why are you not starting on your own....????? there are lots of plumbers out here ....most of them crap ....do the right job give good customer service and youll pick up work.

 

A mate set up on his own last year and never looked back heaps of work and doing pretty ...no very well looking at taking on a second employee soon........good luck with what ever you choose.

[Guest BrummieCris]

Hello - I am new to this site, and love it already.

I came to Adelaide with my parents as a young teenager, back in 1975 - i thought for the next 20yrs it was the worse thing anyone could have done to me, bringing me to a far away country away from all my friends. But by the time i went back to Birmingham it was over 20yrs later, and realised it was the best thing anyone could have done for me.

I had married and had a family bought property and had a successful business, none of which any of my friends back ( home ) had been able to do not all of these things - they may have one or the other, but not all.

I now live on a 860 Acre property in country SA with a lake and ducks, rabbits and sheep. ( mozzies and milipedes ) too. I divorced, and sold my business, and am now looking for employment - kids are grown up and gone, my home is now my castle, and i think it is the most beautiful place on earth, such a good view from any of the windows i look out of throughout the day.

the sun sets in the evening are just magnificent. I think after reading some of the dissapointments in the forums i feel like saying, yes you are right it does have something missing here in australia, but that is something that is in your heart from your younger days of memories, and it will never go away, but life here in australia is nothing but glorious, really, and i feel that you just may need to give it a bit more time. Try not to live in the past, and not to wear your heart on you sleeve, but grab hold of the future, cus that is where Australia takes you. I am still a british citizen, and havent got my Aussie papers, and have held of doing that for the fear of letting go of my heritage, but realistically, i have now been here twice as many years as i was ever in England, funny how you hold onto it.

[Guest lbarke2]

Sorry things havent worked out for you guys, totally get where your coming from though. We knew the hubby would have to retrain, which is fine but we have been here nearly 10 months now and he can not get a trade assistant plumbing/gas job anywhere its a nightmare, he has completed all his course work but needs experience!!! No one will take him on and just say to him they want someone with more experience.......give me strength. He struggled a bit at first with work but thankfully a pal has helped us out and he's very happy where he is now. It would have been nice for him to become a gas/plumber seems as thats what was on the skills list and they tell you there are loads of jobs.

Wish you all the best back in the uk and again sorry its not worked out for you.

[Lily Rainbow]

Hello - I am new to this site, and love it already.

I came to Adelaide with my parents as a young teenager, back in 1975 - i thought for the next 20yrs it was the worse thing anyone could have done to me, bringing me to a far away country away from all my friends. But by the time i went back to Birmingham it was over 20yrs later, and realised it was the best thing anyone could have done for me.

I had married and had a family bought property and had a successful business, none of which any of my friends back ( home ) had been able to do not all of these things - they may have one or the other, but not all.

I now live on a 860 Acre property in country SA with a lake and ducks, rabbits and sheep. ( mozzies and milipedes ) too. I divorced, and sold my business, and am now looking for employment - kids are grown up and gone, my home is now my castle, and i think it is the most beautiful place on earth, such a good view from any of the windows i look out of throughout the day.

the sun sets in the evening are just magnificent. I think after reading some of the dissapointments in the forums i feel like saying, yes you are right it does have something missing here in australia, but that is something that is in your heart from your younger days of memories, and it will never go away, but life here in australia is nothing but glorious, really, and i feel that you just may need to give it a bit more time. Try not to live in the past, and not to wear your heart on you sleeve, but grab hold of the future, cus that is where Australia takes you. I am still a british citizen, and havent got my Aussie papers, and have held of doing that for the fear of letting go of my heritage, but realistically, i have now been here twice as many years as i was ever in England, funny how you hold onto it.

Hi BC,whilst I appreciate you obviously have a "glorious"life,beautiful views from every window and so on,you're lucky it worked out for you.For some folk,it does'nt matter how much they try,they just can't get ahead,let alone a job!I see your point,but some people are'nt able to give it more time.

[Lily Rainbow]

Chris OHare,that was a great post to read!Yeah I bet the other guy at your interview was s******* a brick,as aussies say!Maybe he should of thought he could learn something from you which would benefit himself in the future!!!His loss though hey?Good luck with your new website/forum when you return to the UK.Should make really interesting reading,and I look forward to joining!

[minty]

Hi BC,whilst I appreciate you obviously have a "glorious"life,beautiful views from every window and so on,you're lucky it worked out for you.For some folk,it does'nt matter how much they try,they just can't get ahead,let alone a job!I see your point,but some people are'nt able to give it more time.

 

Their is a flip side to that aswell. Some plan there "dream" on a whim, they have never been to Oz before and have a view based on TV program's, and post cards. Whilst going through the many months and usually years of getting there visa they do not research basics such as cost of living, housing, jobs, money, differences and would rather believe someone else's views instead of finding it out for themselves. When they arrive they are taken back by basic things such as it looks so different, the shops are not the same, they call things different, and it's not what I thought it would be from my postcards. And when all that is said and done after as little as 6 weeks go back to what they were so desperate to leave behind in the first place with as much thought as they used when they decided to come here. In the end you get bored of this type and think you wasted a place someone else could have taken and "what are you selling before you go back"

 

And then there are people like the original poster who do there research give it a good go and for some reason or another it just does not work out and they have to go back and I feel genuinely sorry for these people like we all do.

Edited January 31, 2013 by minty

[minty]

Well that's it were are done going back after a year & a half of battling the system, its just to dam hard. Plumbers on the the critical skills list my ass.

I was UK business owner for 7 years commercial gas regulated a pipe fitter top of my gain here i'm subject to 1-1/2 years of trade school sat in with year one apprentices degrading is an understatement & for what just to get a ticket to take me to were i was 15/20 years ago.

Plumbing here is very different very very basic & if you like to dig you may just love it??

We have a 15 year not old daughter that pines for her old life can blame her there nothing much to do here, shes not settled no real friends, boy she has tried bless here. I just want to see here smile again.

I no i'm ranting but the so called dream that is portrayed to you from the UK i believe is full of frustrating flaws & red tape & battle after battle.

I have worked in sales here for the past 10 months as i cannot get a trade job unless i'm prepared to take a trainee position not having a full licence an all can even apply for a job in other states as once again not qualified. So i completed about 8 weeks full time at trade school about 3 left to get my level 3 ticket basic plumbing license. 12 months masters evening course to go NA!! The job situation is poor at the moment & so is the pay its just not worth the hard yarn.

Adelaide it a pretty place & the weather is fantastic but for us that all, in the end i believe home is were the heart is family & friends.

UK has many many many flaws but at least life is more affordable & hopefully more fulfilling again, great pubs cheap booze & a Primark for the girls LOL.

For some who have settled good on ya but most Poms i speak to have been here many years still question whether they will stay, i don't want to be that person 6 years down the line still looking back. Good luck to you all it not for the faint hearted.

 

Have you managed to get plumbing work and have you managed to complete your licence? The RTOs now have pathways to completing the gap training that is required which was a bit of a mess a while ago. It still takes a while but the route to licensing is more defined.

[minty]

If you dont mind me asking, what U.K. plumbing quals did you go over with? I'm Advanced Craft City and Guilds, Gas Safe reg., CSCS site work, CSTS confined spaces, Ground and Air source heat pump qualified and have done a basic air-con course, also a basic solar powered installation course and not forgetting my on site first aiders. I'm getting a bit worried now reading your thread as I have my AFQ 3 IN GENERAL PLUMBING as I was advised to go general plumbing rather than specialised through skills asses. it seems all my past experiance, skills and knowledge stands for nothing.

Any advice on this would be great.

Best Regards,

gary.

 

@waynecaz, Im a claret fan and they are above Rovers in the Championship, lol.

 

Hi Gary, it takes about 6-12 months for a plumber to do all of the courses and the log book. The problem for plumbers is that a UK cert 3 does not map across to an Aussie cert 3 so the Gap training is much more. It's the hardest slog of all the trades to get licensed but it can be done. There are a few plumbers on here (I'm a sparky) who should be able to give you a full run down on exactly what is required as some of them have completed it recently and are now licensed. When you get your visa and you know when you are coming over contact the RTOs in advance to book the courses in so when you arrive you are not waiting for a place.

 

Good luck.

[Guest Guest11535]

Thank you for the advice "the bacons", have had some advice via PM's from some other plumbers over in SA and the prospect is looking quite good. I think that working to get the white licence is a must and I will be booked on the first available courses, to get up to australian regs, once i have my visa. It will be a nice change going back into a classroom for a few months as a change is as good as a rest and I think that it will be quite interesting.

[minty]

That's good news. I think the hardest part is finding out what you need to do when you get here once you know that you can prepare and there are no surprises on arrival. I have seen so many arrive not knowing what is required which is such a shame as the info is out there.