How to get a welder job in Australia with visa sponsorship? Learn about the opportunities, and answers to frequent questions.
A strong industrial sector in Australia opens several job avenues for a skilled welder. Due to the fact that the country is still developing, construction, manufacturing, and mining sectors are among the most representative ones that would continually require skilled workers; welders continue to become one of the most in-demand professions.
For an overseas individual, Australia welder jobs with visa sponsorship become a great opportunity to work and get a chance to migrate. Here is a complete guide to help you navigate through the welder job opportunities in Australia, the process involved for visa sponsorship, and requirements.
Welders hold significance in every other industry of Australia; mainly, the sectors where infrastructural projects involve welders include:
- Construction: Construction of buildings, bridges, and heavy structures also involve welders.
- Manufacturing: Manufacturing entails fabrication of metal products, machinery, and equipment.
- Mining: The mining industry is immensely huge in Australia. There is great demand for welders as far as maintenance and construction of mining tools and machines is concerned.
- Automotive and Shipbuilding: Both industries generally require qualified welders in order to assemble and maintain vehicles and vessels.
As a welder, you will be working on a broad range of work that generally includes the cutting, shaping, and joining of metals and other materials. This could also be performed on high-temperature or high-pressure systems.
Types of Visa Sponsorships Available to Welders
There are several visa options which may be utilized to allow a welder to work in Australia, many with permanent residency pathways. Of these, the most common types include:
TSS Subclass 482: This enables an Australian business to sponsor a skilled worker for a period of four years. Qualified and experienced welders can apply for this, the application of which opens the path to permanent residency in Australia.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 494: A declared visa for working in regional areas; employers in the relevant area are allowed to sponsor a worker only in those cases when it is not possible to find an Australian to fill that particular position. It is designed to offer a pathway to permanent residency after a certain period of time is spent working in that region.
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS Subclass 186): This visa is meant for skilled workers, nominating them through their employer in order to stay in the country on a permanent basis. The applicant has to indicate at least three years of relevant work experience in relation to the course.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): This is an independent permanent visa; the question of employer sponsorship does not arise for this class of visa. But again, it’s strictly a skills and points-based visa. Welders can apply provided they have the right qualifications but must attain the requisite number of points as determined by age, work experience, and language proficiency among other parameters.
Qualifications and Experience Needed
You’ll generally need to have the following:
Trade Qualification Relevant: In fact, for most welders in Australia, you will need to hold a Certificate III or IV in Engineering – Fabrication Trade or equivalent overseas qualification.
Work Experience: Generally speaking, all Australian employers will want at least two years up to five years of work experience for a welder. This helps prove your competence in using effectively and safely the concerned tools and equipment.
Welding Certifications: Certifications renowned at an international level, such as AWS or EWF, will have you employed in the blink of an eye.
Then there are cases when you will have to get your qualification and work experience assessed by Trades Recognition Australia to assure that your qualification meets Australian standards.
Application Process for Welder Jobs Offering Visa Sponsorship
- Get a Sponsor for a Job Application: An application for a work visa in Australia, the general rule, is based on an offer of employment from the employer in Australia. You should begin browsing job boards such as SEEK or Indeed, or other Australian government websites where notices of welder jobs are posted with sponsorship availability.
- Apply: Once the offer letter is extended to you, your employer will begin the processes of sponsoring your visa. You have to upload your qualifications, work experiences, and other necessary documents in this step.
- Skill Assessment: You may also be required to go through TRA for skills assessment to get your qualification and work experience verified, depending on the type of visa. This is often quite necessary in those visas leading to permanent residency.
- Medical and Character Requirements: You’ll also be required to undertake a medical examination and meet the character requirements, inclusive of police checks from your country of residence.
- Processing and Approval of Visa: Once the paperwork is complete, your visa application will be processed by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The time taken for processing may vary with the type of visa applied for and the demand at the time of application.
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Salary Expectations of a Welder in Australia
The salaries for a welder in Australia differ according to industry and state or region one is working in. However, the estimated annual salary of a welder in Australia ranges from AUD 60,000 to AUD 85,000. Regional welding, or those within mining and energy, get good salaries since there are usually high demands experienced in such fields. While the salaries are good, most of them come with benefits in accommodation and traveling allowances, especially for jobs in remote areas.
Challenges and Benefits of Working as a Welder in Australia
Challenges:
- Relocation: In order to work in Australia, one needs to get relocated, which encompasses quite a number of personal and administrative challenges, such as adjustment to the new environment, searching for accommodation, and acquaintance with the Australian labour laws.
- Recognition of Skills: For some welders, recognition of their qualifications can pose a problem and may delay the process of visa issuance.
Benefits:
- In-demand and Job Security: Welders are in demand, and many jobs offered come with long-term contracts or even visa sponsorship to permanent residency.
- Work-Life Balance: Most Australian employers take work-life balance seriously and hence will make it a good destination for work.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What qualification does one need to work as a welder in Australia?
It usually requires a Certificate III or IV in Engineering, Fabrication Trade, or its equivalent with relevant working experience.
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Can I apply for permanent residency as a welder in Australia?
The options for a visa to get permanent residency status are indeed limited, but they do exist, such as the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 and Skilled Independent Visa subclass 189.
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What is an average salary of a welder in Australia?
Welders get an average annual salary of about AUD 60,000 – 85,000; this rate is even more reasonable in mining contexts.
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Is any qualification assessment necessary to be performed in Australia?
This completely depends on the type of visa applied for, but generally involves a qualification and experience check by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA).
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How to look for welder jobs in Australia which offer sponsorship?
You can also look at the job boards in Australia, like SEEK and Indeed, or other government websites for openings and filter for employers offering sponsorship.