Are you a motor mechanic? | Here is the pathway to Australian PR
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Australia has a stable economic environment and offers sound employment opportunities to the overseas skilled workforce. One of the in-demand job opportunities in Australia is that of a motor mechanic (light vehicle mechanical). The average salary of a motor mechanic in Australia could be around $65483 (approx.). So, if you are planning to study, work & live in Australia as a motor mechanic, this article is for you that was written by one of our best migration agents in Brisbane. Here, we have curated information that could help international students to learn about the way in which they can work as a motor mechanic in Australia.
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Demand for Motor Mechanic in Australia
The main tasks of a motor mechanic involve repairing, maintaining, and testing the mechanical parts of lightweight motor vehicles. The overall increase in employment in Motor Mechanics grew strongly from 2017 (99200) to 2019 (107300). In addition to this, there are over 1790 light vehicle mechanic job opportunities in Australia, which is expected to grow by at least 1.6% in the next 5 years. The consistent changes and developments in the automotive industry have really boosted the demand for employees in this sector.
Hence, this article focuses on guiding international students to stay and work as motor mechanics in Australia. That being said, this is just a guide and does not intend to guarantee an Australia Permanent Residency (PR) unless the applicants’ skills. If you want to learn more, contact Australian Visa Lawyers for professional advice.
PR pathway to Australia as a motor mechanic
Enrol for an AQF Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
This CRICOS registered certificate course prepares students and/ or develops the existing motor mechanics performing mechanical work in the automotive light vehicle service and repair industry. The job role relates to this field of qualification is light vehicle mechanical technician. In addition, qualification in this field of study is suitable for an Australian apprenticeship pathway.
The minimum requirement, for international students, to study Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology (National Course Code: AUR30616) include:
- 5 overall in IELTS or its equivalent
- A minimum of Year 10 or equivalent level of secondary education
Course fees: Approx. $AU 20000
Course duration: Around 52 weeks
Enrol for a Certificate IV Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
This certificate course can be undertaken after completing Certificate III in motor mechanics to make the PR pathway of working as a motor mechanic in Australia easier. It is a CRICOS registered certificate course and focuses on enhancing the skills and knowledge required to perform advanced diagnostic operations in the automotive industry. After completing this Certificate IV, students can work in the automotive retail, service, and repair environment as an automotive lead, master technician, or technical adviser.
In order to enroll in this course, students must complete an automotive mechanical Certificate III qualification or be able to demonstrate equivalent.
The minimum requirement, for international students, to study Certificate IV in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology (National Course Code: AUR40216) include:
- Successful completion of automotive mechanical Certificate III
- 5 overall in IELTS or its equivalent
- A minimum of Year 10 or equivalent level of secondary education
Course fees: Approx. $AU 10000
Course duration: Average 26 weeks (a combined course may take a longer time to complete)
Note: After the successful completion of certificate IV, you may wish to apply for the Diploma of Automotive Technology. Also, some institutions offer international students to club the Certificate IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis and Diploma of Automotive Technology.
After completing the right courses, international students may apply for Trades Recognition Australia, also known as TRA, to work as a motor mechanic in Australia. TRA assesses the skills, qualifications, and employment eligibilities of overseas students to match them with Australian standards for migration purposes. If you have completed the Certificate IV Motor Mechanic course and are looking forward to applying for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), you can apply for a Job Ready Program (JRP) as well.
Apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485)
In the interim, while you search for a proper opportunity to work as a motor mechanic in Australia, you can apply for a temporary work visa- Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). This temporary graduate visa would allow international graduates to live, study and work in Australia while they search for a relevant job in their CRICOS registered course. Eligibility criteria to get a 485 visa, include:
- Completion of a CRICOS-registered course
- Have 6 overall but no less than 5 in any module in IELTS
- Your nominated occupation is required to be in MLTSSL
That being said, international students should get Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA) from Trade Recognition Australia (TRA) before they apply for the 485 visa. It takes around 18- months for the visa to get granted.
Increase PR to Australia with Job Ready Program (JRP)
The mere completion of the CRICOS registered motor mechanic course will not ensure your living and working as a motor mechanic in Australia on a permanent basis. You can increase your Australian Permanent Residency or PR with Job Ready Program or JRP. It is an employment-based skills assessment program for international students who have graduated with an Australian qualification. A JRP helps international students to gain employment experience in an Australian workplace before applying to the Department of Home Affairs for a skills migration visa.
Step 1- Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA):
As we have mentioned above, a successful PSA is mandatory for international students to apply for the 485 visa. This is also the 1st step of JRP. To be eligible to apply for PSA, you must:
- Have a qualification relevant to an occupation assessed by TRA, and awarded by a CRICOS RTO
- Hold an international student visa to study in Australia
- Have the proof of work/ vocational placement of a minimum of 360 hours relating to your qualification and nominated occupation
Step 2- Job Ready Employment (JRE):
This is the 2nd step of JRP. JRE can help you gain in-depth knowledge about the Australian workplace so that you can match their required practical work knowledge. To be eligible to apply for JRE, you must:
- Have completed PSA successfully
- Apply to the Department of Home Affairs for, a visa that has unrestricted work rights
- Have secured eligible employment in the same or related occupation assessed during your PSA
Step 3- Job Ready Workplace Assessment (JRWA):
JRWA is the 3rd step of JRP. In this step, international graduates are assessed for the skill levels required for working in their chosen field in an Australian work ambiance. To be eligible to apply for JRWA, the students must:
- Have been employed in your occupation for at least 863 hours over a minimum of six months from your JRE start date
- Produced Job Ready Journals spanning a minimum of 6 months approved by TRA
Step 4- Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA):
The 4th step of JRP is JRFA. The successful completion of JRFA marks that you have successfully completed the entire JRP program, and its successful outcome can support the Department of Home Affairs for a skilled migration visa. To be eligible to apply for JRFA, you must:
- Have successfully completed the JRWA
- Have completed the employment requirements of JRE
- Provide proof of paid employment in your occupation for at least 1725 hours over a minimum of 12 months from your JRE start date
Consult a migration agent for professional consultation
The whole process of a PR visa to work as a motor mechanic in Australia could be tedious. You may also feel overwhelmed with the steps involved to ensure your PR visa. So, to make the whole process less cumbersome you may seek assistance from a registered migration agent. Although they may not guarantee the visa grant, they can surely make the application process a lot easier.
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