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BeastZa

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Good Day All,

Well this is my first post after browsing the forums for a couple of days. This site is really packed with useful information, thanks for all the sharing.

I do however have a question. My wife and I have been contemplating immigration to Australia for a while, and have finally made the huge decision that its time to get the ball rolling. After many hours on the web looking for relevant or related job opportunities I am more than just a little confused. I am currently in mining and there appears to be a huge difference in the industries in the two countries, particulary with organisation structures and roles and responsibilities, so I am struggling to find opportunities that would be a closish fit. Is there any body on the forum that is currently involved with mining, particularly on the engineering side, that could assist me with answering a few questions so that I can look in the right direction.

Thanks in advance

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Hey there BeastZa, can't help much with the mining side of things. Just wanted to welcome you and wish you good luck with the journey that lies ahead of you.

It's a scary but exciting journey to be on.

You can also look at this link, if I'm not mistaken this expo is aimed at people in the mining and industrial sectors.

http://www.workingin-events.com/events/opportunities-overseas-expo-johannesburg-22-23-february-2014/#.UwtcTIE_7qA

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Welcome to our little corner of the world!

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Hi and welcome to the forum.

Hubby is an electrician in an underground coal mine in Queensland. I could ask him any questions you have, or might be able to help myself, we've been living in a mining town for the last 5 plus years.

This pdf may help with some of the different terms and structure http://www.miningcareers.com/resource_files/Mining_Careers_Pathway_Chart.pdf

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Hi,

Thanks for the welcome HadEnoughofJuju and Mara. The expo was unfortunately this past weekend and I live a bit far from Gauteng.

AndreaL, did your husband work in the mining industry here in South Africa as well? And thanks for the link, it does clear it up a little bit.

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Hi Beast & welcome. I read a few weeks ago that there is a Linkedin group where Australian engineers network. Maybe you can look it up? I'd send you a link but I'm not on Linkedin. Good luck!

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Warm welcome to the forum BeastZa! The expo was a waste of time, doubt if you would have gotten any usefull info from them.

You could ask an agent for a once off consultation and then ask him/her the questions.

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Hi nicknel, thanks... I have read in various posts that it appeared to be a waste of time. I have had discussions with an agent but they could not answer the questions I had.

Here is RSA you require a Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) to be an engineer at a mine. The job description this side is mostly legal responsibility and maintenance of equipment (electrical and mechanical). I cannot find a similar type description in Aus at this stage. Although qualified as an electrical engineer I do not have electrical engineering experience, other than maintenance.

Thats why I guess I was looking for somebody on the forum who perhaps had a GCC on this side, or knows what its all about, and what type of work are they doing in Aus.

Thanks

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If you intend to use your engineering qualification to migrate, you will do your skills assessment through Engineers Australia.

http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au//about-us/migration-skills-assessment

There are some differences in what certification/tickets are required dependent on what state you work in, here is a link for WA re engineers http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/Working/Occupations/Pages/Miningengineer.aspx

Hubby worked at numerous mines mostly Anglo in RSA and Namibia, his brother is a Drill and Blast Engineer, currently employed as D&B Superintendent at an open cut mine in NSW, he did his assessment with Engineers Australia.

Even with South African qualifications, you would probably still spend several months getting all the mandatory tickets one needs in the mining industry here, and as I said some are state specific e.g in NSW one might be required to have a coal certificate of competence http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/safety/resources/qualifications/coal/coal

What is your experience on that side and is it coal or mineral?

WA is a good spot for those with mineral experience and QLD and NSW for coal.

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Hi Andrea,

Thanks for the information, exactly the type of things that I was looking for.

My experience is not in coal, but rather mineral sands, platinum and diamonds. Will spend some time looking through the resources you provided today.

Thanks

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O.K. We spent some time in Namibia and hubby worked for Skorpionzinc (Anglo) a lot of people then moved on to places like Aggeneys etc.

Try this site to generate a map, you can add your own search terms or focus on specific minerals, it will at least get you familiar with some of the companies etc http://www.australianminesatlas.gov.au/

The number of operating mines in Australia http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/australian-mine-map

A list of the top mining companies in Australia http://iminco.net/mining-companies-australia/

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