Electrical trade skills for overseas workers

Employers wishing to employ electrical workers, need to be sure they get the right documentation from people applying to migrate to Australia under the Skilled Migration Program.

The Commonwealth Government, through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), assesses the trade skills of people applying to migrate to Australia under the program.

Under a new system recently introduced by the federal Department of Workplace Relations (DEWR), an Off Shore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) may be issued for applicants who have been assessed against a relevant Australian certificate III trade qualification in their home country by an authorised Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Alternatively, some applicants may be issued an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC) when they arrive in Australia.

Migrants may be unfamiliar with mandatory electrical licensing requirements and associated procedures. Some may present all or some of the documentation they received as part of the migration process to a prospective employer with the mistaken understanding that they are eligible to perform electrical work.

The most common documentation likely to be presented is:

• a letter of classification for migration purposes
• a letter advising that an OTSR or ARTC has been granted
• an Off Shore Technical Skills Record
• an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate.

Employers are advised that none of these documents are, or substitute for, a Queensland electrical work licence or permit.

If you are presented with any of these documents you should direct the prospective employee to apply to the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) for the relevant electrical work licence.

The ESO will then issue the applicant with a training permit to allow them to work under general supervision. If necessary the worker may need to take off-the-job formal training at an RTO to acquire competency in wiring rules and regulations. On achieving competency the Electrical Work Licence will be issued.

The trade classifications most commonly encountered by employers are electrical mechanic, electrical fitter and refrigeration mechanic.