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- Working & Employment
- Finding a Job Information, tips and links to help you find a job in Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Occupations Career information for skilled migrants. Our job guide has industry overviews, what you'll earn, how to find a job, licensing and registration info and industry contacts.
- Starting a Job Before you start to work in Victoria learn about your rights and responsibilities as an Australian employee.
- Get Connected, Get a Job A wide range of industry associations and professional associations are available to help you find a job and meet other professionals in Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Industries Information on Victoria's industries, including the work industry in Melbourne. Profiles on industry size, job guides and industry contacts for finding work in Victoria.
- Visas & Immigrating
- Skilled Visas An overview of the migration visas available to skilled professionals and tradespeople interested in migrating to Australia.
- Business Visas An overview of the migration visas available to business professionals and owners interested in migrating to Australia.
- State Sponsorship The Victorian Government sponsors visas for skilled and business migrants interested in living in Victoria, Australia.
- Occupation Lists See the Victorian State Sponsorship list to find out if your occupation is in demand and eligible for state sponsorship by the Victorian Government.
- How to Migrate Find out about the process of how to migrate to Victoria, Australia. Victoria's Skilled and Business Migration Program offers assistance in a number of ways.
- FAQs About Skilled Sponsorship & Visas Answers to migrant questions about skilled sponsored visas offered by the Victorian Government in Australia.
- Living in Victoria
- Melbourne & Regional Victoria Information and interactive maps of Melbourne and the different regions of Victoria, Australia.
- Cost of Living Information on the cost of living in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Useful for people looking to live and work in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Housing & Property Information on accommodation, housing and property in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Transport & Driving Information on transportation in Victoria, including public transport, driving, car hire and car purchase.
- Education & Childcare Information on education in Victoria, including kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, universities and training.
- Health & Medical Information on the healthcare system in Victoria, Australia, including information on finding a doctor and paying for healthcare.
- About Victoria General information and facts about Victoria and Australia including the government, entertainment, sports, banking, media and communications.
- Relocation Checklist Relocation checklists to use for migrants who move to Victoria. Checklists for preparing for departure and arriving in Victoria.
- Running a Business
- Why Victoria? Reasons for starting and running a business in Victoria, Australia.
- Going into Business in Victoria Information about starting up a business in Victoria.
- Banking, Tax & Legal Requirements Information about banking and taxes for businesses in Victoria.
- Business Support & Networks Information about the support available to businesses in Victoria.
- About Us
- Our Department Information about the Victorian Government's Skilled and Business Migration Program, which manages the Live in Victoria website.
- News & Events The latest news and events from the Skilled and Business Migration Program covering topics for skilled migrants, business migrants and migration agents.
- Services We Offer About the Skilled and Business Migration Program's services for prospective skilled and business migrants, Victorian employers and migration agents.
- Publications Links to downloadable publications and forms about immigrating to Melbourne or regional Victoria.
- Contact Us Contact details for the Skilled and Business Migration Program including address, phone numbers and email addresses, and a general enquiry form.
- Glossary of Acronyms & Abbreviations A list of acronyms and terms that relate to migrating to Victoria, with definitions and relevant links.
Welder (First Class) Career Information
There are approximately 86,300 structural steel and welding trade workers working in Australia with around 16,655 located in Victoria1.
To be eligible for sponsorship, welders (first class) must have a minimum of five years experience.
Earning potential
According to the Australian Government's Job Search website, average gross weekly wages for a welder (first class) are approximately AUD$9152.
Wages will vary according to your level of skill and qualification. For more information about your wage earning potential, visit the jobseeker sites listed below under Finding a job.
Skills Australia has also released a report with further information on the current labour market for welders (first class).
Licensing and registration
There are no licensing or registration requirements for welders (first class) working in Victoria.
Employers
Welders (first class) are employed in the manufacturing and engineering sectors.
Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers are employed across several industries including: Manufacturing; Construction; Mining; and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services3.
Industry contacts
Professional bodies and industry associations are a good source of information for welders (first class) in Victoria.
- The Australian Industry Group provides industry information and resources to various industries, including metal machinists.
- Manufacturing Skills Australia provides a similar resource.
Tip
We recommend that you do not apply for jobs until your visa to live and work in Australia has been issued. The visa application process can take some time, and employers are generally unlikely to choose you for a job if you are not sure when you will arrive in Australia and do not have a visa allowing you to work.
Finding a job
Specialist job seeker sites:
- Thales Australia highlight occupations available in the aerospace, space, defence, security and transportation market.
To search for Victorian recruiters who specialise in welders (first class), 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
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has nominated Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) as the assessing authority for the occupation of welder (first class).
For further information on TRA migration skills assessment requirements, please contact:
Trades Recognition Australia
GPO Box 9880, Canberra
ACT, 2601, AUS
Tel: +61 2 6121 7456
Fax: +61 2 6121 7768
Email: traenquiries@deewr.gov.au
Website: www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/Programs/SkillsAssess/TRA/Pages/default.aspx
1 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2009) Job Outlook – Occupation pages – Employment levels. Retrieved November 06 2009 from joboutlook.gov.au
2 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relationship (2009) Job Outlook - Occupation pages. Retrieved November 06 2009 from joboutlook.gov.au
3 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relationship (2009) Job Outlook - Occupation pages - Prospects for employment. Retrieved November 06 2009 from joboutlook.gov.au
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