Drainer Career Information

Occupation snapshot

92,200 plumbers (including drainers) in Australia1

26,830 plumbers (including drainers) in Victoria (29.1%)1

Average gross weekly earnings AUD$1,0002

Average weekly hours 40.73

Download Skills Australia’s labour market report for drainers (RTF, 135kb)

A drainer fixing a downpipe 

Victoria is currently offering visa sponsorship for eligible drainers. To be eligible to apply for sponsorship, drainers must have:

  • have a minimum of five years experience
  • have an IELTS score of six or above in each band
  • meet Victoria's other minimum eligibility requirements
  • address Victoria's sponsorship assessment requirements in your application.

Detailed information about applying for Victorian Government visa sponsorship is available in the Visas and Immigration section.


Licensing and registration

To work as a drainer in Victoria, licensing is compulsory. For more information on licensing, please contact:

Plumbing Industry Commission

PO Box 536, Melbourne
VIC, 3001, AUS
Tel: 1300 815 127
Fax: +61 3 618 9061
Email: Online enquiry form
Website: www.pic.vic.gov.au

Tip

Think about applying for licensing and registration before you arrive in Australia, once you have your visa, as the process can take some time.


Industry contacts

Professional bodies and industry associations are a good source of information about drainers in Victoria.


Finding a job

Drainers may work for small firms or be self-employed. Drainers (or drainlayers) may also be employed by federal or state government departments involved in public works. Many go on to become technical representatives, building supervisors and construction managers.

Plumbers (including drainers) are employed across several industries including: Construction; Public Administration and Safety; Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services; and Other Services.3


Tip

We suggest that you only apply for jobs when your visa to live and work in Australia has been issued. The visa application process can take time, and employers are less likely to employ you if you don’t know when you will arrive in Australia and don’t have a work visa.


To search for Victorian recruiters who specialise in drainers, visit the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association's Member Index.

For more general information on Victoria’s job market, including where and how to find jobs, and workplace culture, visit our Working and Employment section.


Migrating to Victoria

Detailed information about how to migrate to Australia, including information about visa sponsorship from the Victorian Government, is available in the Visas and Immigrating section. You can also find detailed information about visa pathways including employer sponsorship on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s website.



Skill assessment information

For information on obtaining a skill or qualification assessment, and the requirements for practicing your occupation in Australia, please refer to the Australian Skills Recognition Information (ASRI) website.

The ASRI website provides:

  • a list of all occupations which require skills assessment to practise in Australia if you gained your skills or qualifications overseas
  • information on who to contact to get your skills or qualifications assessed
  • information on who to contact to obtain licensing and registration in a particular state or territory of Australia, if it is required by Australian law
  • links to the websites of the organisations that carry out skills assessment in Australia and the relevant state-level organisations that carry out licensing and registration.

 

1 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Job Outlook – Occupation pages – Employment levels. Retrieved March 14 2012 from joboutlook.gov.au

2 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Job Outlook - Occupation pages. Retrieved March 14 2012 from joboutlook.gov.au. Please note that wages will vary according to your level of skill and qualification. For more information about your wage earning potential, visit the job seeker sites listed above under Finding a Job.

3 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Job Outlook - Occupation pages - Prospects for Employment. Retrieved March 14 2012 from joboutlook.gov.au

Migration Tools