Moving to Sydney - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

tjgtiling · 15-04-2008

I'm planning on moving to Sydney this time next year. By then I will have been tiling for a year and a half. I've read some of the other threads and things don't seem as simple as I first thought. I now know that I won't walk into a job as a tiler and was wondering how much I could expect to earn as someones apprentice and any qualifications I would need to fulfil the roll. I don't want to go over there and work in another area as I do plan on coming home and continuing as a tiler here. Any info would be greatfully received.

Nice 1 Tim.

tysfoot · 15-04-2008

think you need minimum 5 years experience and an NVQ level 2 to even get in to work

tjgtiling · 15-04-2008

Getting in isn't a prob as I can get in with my girlfriend. So to even work as an apprentice for someone I'd need a nvq. I trained at pitt, take it this would not be a recognised equivalent?
Cheers for your help anyhoo.
tim

**enduro** · 15-04-2008

You need to speak to MICK THE TILER as he is from australia.

**grumpygrouter** · 15-04-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjgtiling

Getting in isn't a prob as I can get in with my girlfriend. So to even work as an apprentice for someone I'd need a nvq. I trained at pitt, take it this would not be a recognised equivalent?
Cheers for your help anyhoo.
tim

In a word, no.

**Sir Ramic** · 15-04-2008

As far as i can remember, your experience is not enough. I went to Melbourne and i got a job easy due to having over 25yrs experience but all the apprentices were attending the tiling school and spending a few days each wek on site with the employer.
I am sure it is different there in that you cant just do a course and then call your self a tiler. I am sure they want you to have 3 years probation after passing your tests.
Thats as i understood it and it may well vary from state to state too. The situation may have changed since 2001 as well.

**rob hutchinson** · 15-04-2008

I'm really jealous mate. I would love to go over there and work, unfortunately I'm over the permitted entry age even though I have an abundance of experience in the tiling industry.
My advise to you is to go over there and be prepared to do whatever work you can get. That will impress the Australian authorities more than saying you are a tiler with very limited experience. You will always be able to find tiling work for friends and neighbours which will enhance your reputation as a tiler. Theres stacks of tiling to be done in Australia - most of it outside work in the glorious sunshine.

Good luck with your move.......... for me though I'm told theres always New Zealand!

tjgtiling · 15-04-2008

Cheers fella for taking the time to reply. Think thats the way its going to be, sort it when I get there. Hope all goes well in New Zealand fella, my mate lives there and he loves it.

Take it easy mate Tim

**MICK the Tiler** · 16-04-2008

I'm not sure about the rules down in Sydney, it comes under the State law of New South Wales, and each state has it's own rules and regulations.

Here in Queensland all contractors must be licsensed by the B.S.A (Building Services Authority) to do work direct to the public. To get around this you an get a job with a larger tiling contractor or smaller contractor with plenty of work. You will have to work for someone in the industry for at least 2 years before you can apply for your contractors license from the B.S.A.

You will also be required to have a very good knowledge of tiling products materials and techniques. Able to fix just about anything and be fast yet neat in your work to make it down here. Employers are pretty tough on slack arse tilers and you will have to proform if you wish to keep your job for any length of time.

On a brighter note though the Federal Government has recently realeased some details on how to attract overseas workers down here, I'm not sure of the details as of yet as they are still in the grey area.

We do have a labour shortage down here at the moment and there is plenty of work to go around.

Here's a useful link If you have not seen it before.

http://britishexpats.com/

**MICK the Tiler** · 16-04-2008

As far as rates of pay goes, you would probably fall in the 1st year apprentice feild of experience and for this level you would be paid about $15/hr as a start.

I myself get paid $55/hr but for this I have to have a great deal of knowledge and respect within the industry to be able to command this rate of pay.

Consultancy work for tile shops and insurance companies will run to $100/hr but generally this type of work only makes for a small percentage of my work load.

M2 rates would be from $45/m2 to $150/m2 depending upon the materials and complexity of the work.

tjgtiling · 16-04-2008

Nice 1 mick for the advice. Don't mind lowering my wage as long as I can go there and gain more experience. I'm as neat as they come with my tiling but just not up to speed. Would I be able to work for someone like yourself without any kind of quals or licenses. Are there any recruitment places that you could suggest so I could get in contact and get the ball rolling and not have to sort everything out when I get there. Thanks again for your help matey and take it easy
Tim.

**MICK the Tiler** · 17-04-2008

I'm pretty sure that working for a licensed contractor is ok in New South Wales it is in Queensland. But as far as recruitment goes I think you need to be licensed to get on there books.

I'll do a bit of looking and get back to you.