Work and Life experience in moving into Australia after 1.5 years...

robinsyreyes · June 2022

I just want to share my experience, to give a bit of a levelled understanding and expectations for those who didn't have any friends and family member, moving into Australia. My case won't be particularly the same with most of the guys here, the things that I'm gonna talk about are based on my experience.

I’m a Mechanical Engineer in the Philippines with about 10 years of experience in field of Geothermal Drilling and Powerplant operations and Water service before I decided to apply for a migrant visa in Aus. All I know was Australia was a good country where everyone can have a good work life balance.

For Engineers like me, we need to be assessed of all our credentials for our visa. I can say that it can be hard to immediately align and find an engineering role once you get here. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but you should have the right network and specific skillset for you to be considered in any engineering role.

Engineers here works mostly in the design aspect or positioned high in decision making. You will notice here that majority of the technical people work as a tradie/ technician (trade certified) this is equivalent to our TESDA certificates. Only a small percent of the population chooses to get a degree in the Uni because they already can earn good money as a tradie. And let me tell you, some tradie jobs here can earn up to $100+ an hour. For some, it’s quite difficult to veer away from your current specialization. So, I have been here for 1.5 years and I’m on my 3rd Company now. It may sound bad but looking back to where I was a year ago, It’s a lot better.

You just simply need to adapt on your surroundings, depending on the demand and number of opportunities you see available to you. Don’t be afraid to take risks, 9 times out of 10 its gonna work out and its all worth it. I’m currently working as a field service/calibration technician/engr for conveyor belt weighing systems. I travel to all major mine sites across WA during shutdowns to do the servicing. Before that, I was an offshore drilling service technician and a fabrication plant machine operator.

Life here has been good so far; I didn’t expect how far the standard of living was compared to the Philippines. For those of you still processing your visa application, push it hard and wait for it. All will be worth it once you get here.

Cheers,

Robo

robinsyreyes · June 2022

For a start, most of the jobs around CBD could give you a base salary of 40K to 80K + super for full time. Entry level FIFO job salary could range 90k to 140k. The ceiling of salary range of FIFO jobs can be high with some people I know reaching $200K+. Tax table here has a variable computation. The bigger your salary is, the higher your tax will be. If you're earning around 120k, your tax rate will be ~25%. If you earned 60k, your tax contribution will be around ~17%.

Rental rates have been increasing rapidly this last 2 years. Sydney and Melbourne CBD could cost you an upwards of $600 easily for a 2BR apartment/house. It’s common to find a room for rent if there’s just the two of you. This would cost you around $300 per week.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

In general, Filipinos has a good reputation here as being good and hard workers. There's a lot of job opportunities for everyone. Unlike in the Philippines where we were brought up as kid being taught that getting a degree, be an engr, doctor, lawyer, nurse to be successful in life, here in Australia you can pretty much do anything you want and earn enough money while at it. Everyone gets the respect they deserve in any kind of job they want. It is only here that I see hundreds of women working as heavy equipment oprtors, trades in mine sites.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

Moving here was a life changing event for sure. So for those of you who's in the process of moving here. Hang in there, make sure you get the extra points you need even if you spend a bit more for that. Competition these days have been really high so an extra 5pts could put you ahead over thousands of people in the invitation priority list. Do your work, check every chance and opportunities for each state. Good luck. If you have questions just send me a dm. Cheers.

haringkingking · June 2022

Thanks for this, @robinsyreyes!!! Extra motivation!!

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@haringkingking said:
Thanks for this, @robinsyreyes!!! Extra motivation!!

Goodluck bro, all the wait, and sacrifices will be worth it. All of us fighting our own battles. I was also a migrant dreamer years ago whos now living the dream. Positive lang tayo. Cheers mate.

jsp · June 2022

Granted na nga visa mo, pahirapan ka pa maka exit ng Pinas kasi need daw ng OEC Overseas Employment Certificate, ka ek ekan.... hayyyy hassle talaga

haringkingking · June 2022

@jsp said:
Granted na nga visa mo, pahirapan ka pa maka exit ng Pinas kasi need daw ng OEC Overseas Employment Certificate, ka ek ekan.... hayyyy hassle talaga

Bro homestretch ka na, konti na lang makakaalis ka na

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@jsp said:
Granted na nga visa mo, pahirapan ka pa maka exit ng Pinas kasi need daw ng OEC Overseas Employment Certificate, ka ek ekan.... hayyyy hassle talaga

Onting tiis na lang bro, pag dating nyo dito maayos na lahat ng mga govt related processing. Automated and online na lahat. Maging history na yang ganyang PH processing.

ispidprik · June 2022

Thanks @robinsyreyes for sharing your experience. Hope we all make it.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@ispidprik said:
Thanks @robinsyreyes for sharing your experience. Hope we all make it.

Kapit lang bro, just wanted to share just a bit of my experience hopefully to give a bit of motivation sa lahat ng ongoing processing ngayon.

Madami kasi din akong friend na nahihinto sa application gawa ng mabagal, mahirap at mahal yung processing.

But at the end of the day gagawin natin lahat for us to have a better quality and standards of living. Its an eye opening and life changing event. Goodluck and Godbless to all of us.

Cheers

EricTC · June 2022

This thread is really helpful esp. for me na planning to go there alone with no relatives or kakilala, esp. now that I am nominated by a regional area, so total stranger talaga.

I have 6yrs in engineering design (offshore exp. with project located in Philippines, Singapore, and currently Australia).

Would you think I can secure a job in the same field as I am now if I apply as an entry-level / graduate engineer? Or should I prepare myself for drafting / tradie jobs (as mentioned)?

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@EricTC said:
This thread is really helpful esp. for me na planning to go there alone with no relatives or kakilala, esp. now that I am nominated by a regional area, so total stranger talaga.

I have 6yrs in engineering design (offshore exp. with project located in Philippines, Singapore, and currently Australia).

Would you think I can secure a job in the same field as I am now if I apply as an entry-level / graduate engineer? Or should I prepare myself for drafting / tradie jobs (as mentioned)?

Before I came to Perth, I was in Sydney and in a regional town called Young. Majority of the engineering and design jobs are in CBDs, since most of the main offices are located there. Depending on the size of the regional town, job options could be lesser.

At first its really hard to get interviewed or get noticed by companies since we just came to Aus, having zero local experience. You try to apply on companies youre fairly sure that suits your qualifications to no avail. All of my first interviews were from new pinoy networks at the area. For a start it would be best to know a few people to get that references.

Maybe for the 1st few weeks try applying to your top priority jobs. Fix your drivers license the soonest. You may send hundreds of application and get no reply but remain positive. If theres still nothing, try applying to other technical jobs you think would still be relevant to your plans moving forward. The important thing is you dont get stagnant and money is coming in. Any kind of experience is essential during the start of your career here.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@EricTC said:
This thread is really helpful esp. for me na planning to go there alone with no relatives or kakilala, esp. now that I am nominated by a regional area, so total stranger talaga.

I have 6yrs in engineering design (offshore exp. with project located in Philippines, Singapore, and currently Australia).

Would you think I can secure a job in the same field as I am now if I apply as an entry-level / graduate engineer? Or should I prepare myself for drafting / tradie jobs (as mentioned)?

Any kind of 1st job would help you get the feel of the Australian working culture. Since youre just starting, you can pretty much apply and look for jobs that you want while already working. It doesn't really negatively affect your resume at first.

EricTC · June 2022

Thank you sir for the response. Right now parang mas maraming farming / nursery / disability support jobs ang available sa region ko. Hopefully, makahanap ng work malapit sa engineering or atleast any job na abot sa $53,900 annual salary

kimpoy · June 2022

Good day.

Worth it pa po kayang kumuha ng certificate III/IV sa Eng'g field? Parang walang saysay yung BS degree sa pinas. Ang mahal lang po kasi ng post bachelor education dito.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@EricTC said:
Thank you sir for the response. Right now parang mas maraming farming / nursery / disability support jobs ang available sa region ko. Hopefully, makahanap ng work malapit sa engineering or atleast any job na abot sa $53,900 annual salary

Usually ganyan nga karamhan ng jobs sa regional. Ibang iba din pacing and lifestyle sa regions mejo mabagal and relaxing. Mas mababa onti ang rates. On average 25 to 30 per hr initial offers. Kung sa 5 days a week around 50k to 60k a year. Usually mga pinoy humahapit din sa OT. Mejo mababa ceiling ng "office" jobs, una mo munang applyan un mga gusto mong company. Iba din ang diskarte ng job interviews dito, Hindi tulad sa pinas na pang miss universe, battle of the brains. Direct to the point, concise ang usapan. Structural engineer ka ? Baka pwde ka sa previous company ko check mo Apollo fabrication.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@kimpoy said:
Good day.

Worth it pa po kayang kumuha ng certificate III/IV sa Eng'g field? Parang walang saysay yung BS degree sa pinas. Ang mahal lang po kasi ng post bachelor education dito.

In my experience bro mas matatag yung cert3/4 technical certificates dito. Yung engrng degree kasi dito either fresh local graduate ka, or senior.managerial roles ang available pag dating sa work. Case to case pa rin naman pero Yung trade certs ndi nauubusan ng work, Lalo na dito sa WA. Hindi masyadong pinapansin international engrng degree natin. Tagal ng issue ng Engrs Australia yan, lumalabas pang visa lang un degree ntn. Meron tayong kapwa pinoy dito na lahat nag professional, chartered engr d pa rin makapasok sa Linya nya. Tanggap na nating kahit malakas exp natin, halos back to zero tayo dito.

ispidprik · June 2022

@robinsyreyes said:

@kimpoy said:
Good day.

Worth it pa po kayang kumuha ng certificate III/IV sa Eng'g field? Parang walang saysay yung BS degree sa pinas. Ang mahal lang po kasi ng post bachelor education dito.

In my experience bro mas matatag yung cert3/4 technical certificates dito. Yung engrng degree kasi dito either fresh local graduate ka, or senior.managerial roles ang available pag dating sa work. Case to case pa rin naman pero Yung trade certs ndi nauubusan ng work, Lalo na dito sa WA. Hindi masyadong pinapansin international engrng degree natin. Tagal ng issue ng Engrs Australia yan, lumalabas pang visa lang un degree ntn. Meron tayong kapwa pinoy dito na lahat nag professional, chartered engr d pa rin makapasok sa Linya nya. Tanggap na nating kahit malakas exp natin, halos back to zero tayo dito.

Yan dn ang sabi ng ibang kaibigan ko na anjan na. Ndi nman daw impossible pero back to zero ka talaga start ka sa baba. Ngstart sila sa technician/operator level then kuha ng mga certifications slowly building skills and network along the way. Mabigat kasi dn un networks and recommendation/referrals.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@kimpoy said:
Good day.

Worth it pa po kayang kumuha ng certificate III/IV sa Eng'g field? Parang walang saysay yung BS degree sa pinas. Ang mahal lang po kasi ng post bachelor education dito.

Isa pang diskarte ng ibang pinoy engineers dito is yung pagkuwa ng RPL (recognition of prior learning) para makakuwa ng Cert II or Cert III ng certain trades na may experience ka or currently pasok sa ginagawa mong work. Yung mga mejo bata bata pa pwede din mag apprentice sa gusto nilang company/ industry. Dito sa WA meron ding tinatawag na Overseas Qualification Unit, education assessing body sya dito, libre lang naman kaya kumuwa na din ako.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@ispidprik said:

@robinsyreyes said:

@kimpoy said:
Good day.

Worth it pa po kayang kumuha ng certificate III/IV sa Eng'g field? Parang walang saysay yung BS degree sa pinas. Ang mahal lang po kasi ng post bachelor education dito.

In my experience bro mas matatag yung cert3/4 technical certificates dito. Yung engrng degree kasi dito either fresh local graduate ka, or senior.managerial roles ang available pag dating sa work. Case to case pa rin naman pero Yung trade certs ndi nauubusan ng work, Lalo na dito sa WA. Hindi masyadong pinapansin international engrng degree natin. Tagal ng issue ng Engrs Australia yan, lumalabas pang visa lang un degree ntn. Meron tayong kapwa pinoy dito na lahat nag professional, chartered engr d pa rin makapasok sa Linya nya. Tanggap na nating kahit malakas exp natin, halos back to zero tayo dito.

Yan dn ang sabi ng ibang kaibigan ko na anjan na. Ndi nman daw impossible pero back to zero ka talaga start ka sa baba. Ngstart sila sa technician/operator level then kuha ng mga certifications slowly building skills and network along the way. Mabigat kasi dn un networks and recommendation/referrals.

Oo bro lakas magdala ng referrals dito, pag na interview ka halos tanggap ka na. Maganda kasi work ethic ng pinoy alam nilang masipag and magaling. Mababago talaga yung mindset mo pag dating mo dito, titles won't matter. Depende sa diskarte mo, maghahanap ka ng career path na maganda work life balance tapos mataas yung salary ceiling. Kaya luminya ako dito sa mining kahit zero exp, mataas demand pati ceiling. As long as technical un ginagawa ko masaya ko, goods din yung rotation.

kimpoy · June 2022

Paano po ba luminya sa Mining industry? yaan po ba yung FIFO? May mga nadidinig ako na may kalakihan ang compensation sa mining industry. Medyo malayo yung work experience ko po, drafting sa building services (Electrical)

robinsyreyes · June 2022

Theres always a shortage in Manpower dito, you might be looking the job trends sa seek to give you an idea kung anong branch ng electrical engineering yung gusto mong pasukin. Coming from almost Geothermal background na non existent dito sa Aus, I just had a goal to work in any technical field na may mataas na salary ceiling. You need to step out from your comfort zone, take risks for a better chance of landing your dream job. Be confident na you'll learn and be good at what youre doing, establish a good rapport, good network. Yan ang nagdala sa kin naun, it was not easy changing companies after 6-8 months learning new stuffs again but it was definitely rewarding. Maganda ganda na yung position ko naun, being here for just 18 mos.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@kimpoy said:
Paano po ba luminya sa Mining industry? yaan po ba yung FIFO? May mga nadidinig ako na may kalakihan ang compensation sa mining industry. Medyo malayo yung work experience ko po, drafting sa building services (Electrical)

Magbago kasi talaga yung perspective mo in life dito, its hard to explain. Isa sa mga in demand tradie jobs dito are "sparkies" or electricians. You can start by looking at any entry level sparkie, apprenticeships, trades assistant jobs. Most companies would need trade certificates, but some are willing to train you and help you get the tickets you need for the job.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@kimpoy said:
Paano po ba luminya sa Mining industry? yaan po ba yung FIFO? May mga nadidinig ako na may kalakihan ang compensation sa mining industry. Medyo malayo yung work experience ko po, drafting sa building services (Electrical)

Sa laki ng Australia and being a large land mass, theres a lot of jobs in remote areas. The term FIFO and DIDO flyin flyout, drivein driveout is the work setup for these kind of jobs. Typical work schedule are 8-6, 7-7, 14-7 28-28 days on and off. Salaries can be paid per hr, or a per annum fix. My schedule is dependent shut schedule, I usually travel to 4to6 different sites per month.

kimpoy · June 2022

Ayos po pala yan. Pag aralan ko po yung diskarte, kakastart ko pa lang po dito sa work ko. Visa489 hawak namin tapos need namin ng 1year fulltime equivalent working hours para makapag apply for permanent resident.

robinsyreyes · June 2022

@kimpoy said:
Ayos po pala yan. Pag aralan ko po yung diskarte, kakastart ko pa lang po dito sa work ko. Visa489 hawak namin tapos need namin ng 1year fulltime equivalent working hours para makapag apply for permanent resident.

Maganda na yan bro andito ka na pala, madali ng maka diskarte nyan. Counted naman na yung stay mo habang naka 489 ka para pag PR nyo, mabilis na dn magapply ng citizenship

chemron9400 · September 2022

thanks for this thread na makatulong sa desisyon ko. I got invited to apply kasi sa SA nominated chemist offshore 491. Nahihirapan tlga ako magdecide kung mag stay na lng sa Dubai or e push ko ang Australia. Sobrang nahihirapan ako magdecide.

agentKams · September 2022

@chemron9400 said:
thanks for this thread na makatulong sa desisyon ko. I got invited to apply kasi sa SA nominated chemist offshore 491. Nahihirapan tlga ako magdecide kung mag stay na lng sa Dubai or e push ko ang Australia. Sobrang nahihirapan ako magdecide.

it will all boils down what you really want for your future. Kung financial security baka nga mas maganda ang Dubai for you. But if you want work-life balance and the possibility of being a citizen of another country, might as well try Australia. You can always get out and go back to Dubai if you don't feel like it anyway.

maguero · September 2022

@chemron9400 said:
thanks for this thread na makatulong sa desisyon ko. I got invited to apply kasi sa SA nominated chemist offshore 491. Nahihirapan tlga ako magdecide kung mag stay na lng sa Dubai or e push ko ang Australia. Sobrang nahihirapan ako magdecide.

I guess you should ask yourself din why you even reached this point. Bakit ka nag-effort para makasubmit ng EOI and what has changed since then to make you think twice about taking the next step.

Iba-iba ang situation and reasons ng mga immigrants. It could be financial stability, it could be work-life balance, it could be to keep the family intact dahil yung ibang OFWs di nila kasama ang families nila kung nasaan sila nagttrabaho, it could be to give their kids stability kasi kung naka-work visa kayo and pwedeng mawalan ng trabaho at pabalikin sa Pinas anytime syempre magugulo din routine ng mga bata, it could be because you don't want to live in Pinas anymore.

Pag-isipan mo ng maigi what your reasons and goals are and decide from there.

Since nakapagtrabaho ka na abroad alam mo na how it is to move to another country and start anew. Consider din if you want to go through all that again.

chemron9400 · September 2022

Thank you so much po sa inyo. Im still single so its no problem for me to move anywhere. Medyo nahihirapan lang ako mag decide talaga especially na 491 visa ung offer. Marami po ako natutunan. Thank you 😊