WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS

INFORMATION FOR UK TRAVELLERS:

Important Points to Consider Before You Arrive in Australia!

VISAS: Working Holiday, Temporary or Permanent Residency

The majority of travellers from the UK and Ireland work on the Working Holiday Visa, which enables them to work up to 3 months with one company. It is vital that you research and apply for the necessary visas before coming to Australia, as it is rare that companies will provide sponsorship without having worked with you previously.

Visit www.liveinaustralia.com or www.immi.gov.au for further Visa information.

CAD Skills and Experience

CAD abilities in one of the following will be necessary.

Several other packages are used, eg Chief Architect however nowhere near so widely as the above packages.

Architects Assistants who are more likely to be involved in Design or presentation roles should also have a suite of PhotoShop, Rhino, Illustrator and similar software experience.

Extensive CAD documentation, (production of working drawings) experience is VERY important for those travelling on a Working Holiday Visa, as you are restricted to only working with one company for 3 months, realistically meaning that you will be working in CAD based team member roles more often than not.

Although we have been able to place travellers with under 2 years experience in the past, we generally have feedback from clients that they prefer to engage people with 3 years industry experience and above.

Putting Together a Folio

Ideally you will have together a detailed folio showing design or technical CAD / construction knowledge. This does not have to be a large folio, but should have enough detail to accurately reflect your skills and experience. Ideally you will have a paper folio rather than just electronically.

Your Resume

Your CV should give as much detail as possible in terms of projects, responsibilities and the practices that have been part of your experience.  Including a website of firms you have worked for is often a good idea, as it is helpful for potential Australian employers who may not be aware of these groups.  Your resume should also clearly state your qualifications and RIBA status.

Differences in Terminology

Most terminology is similar between Australia / New Zealand and UK / Ireland. One term that tends to differ in Australia is Architectural Draftsperson / or Documentor. This is the equivalent of an Architectural Technician in the UK

In Australia, the production of working drawings may often be referred to as Documentation. The other term that might confuse an Australian is snagging which we understand in the UK to be defects inspection. In Australia this is oddly enough referred to as defects inspection.

How Much Can I Earn?

Please contact Jacqueline Liddicoat in Sydney jal@bloomfieldtremayne.com.au or Bruce Whetters in Melbourne brw@bloomfieldtremayne.com.au and email your resume for specific advice as to what your approximate earning capacity may be.

Timing Your Travel

Generally the Australian Architectural markets quieten in mid December, and depending on activity levels, positions start reappearing between late January and mid February, so be prepared for some down time during these periods.   For information on the current market in Australia, please see our Winter 2007 Market Update article in the NEWS section of our website.

Cost of Living in Melbourne & Sydney

Depending on the city in Australia, you may experience some difference in cost of living, and certainly cost of living will differ largely to the UK or Ireland as does earning capacity.  For more information, please see the articles in our News section: Living and Working in Melbourne and Estimates of the Cost of Living in Sydney.

Why Register with Bloomfield Tremayne & Partners?

Established 20 years in Melbourne and 9 years in Sydney, Bloomfield Tremayne specialise only in Architecture, Architectural Drafting and Interior Design with affiliations in New Zealand and London with a wide range of clients throughout Asia and the Middle East. We have enjoyed a long history of finding positions for Working Holiday Makers over many years.