Automotive mechanics! A dark horse for skilled migration! A standout among work-while-you-study migration fields! Learn a trade while earning good money!
Cars or motorcycles are a major investment for most people, and a major responsibility. Owners should service their vehicles regularly to protect their investment and ensure their safety and road safety.In Australia, repairers must be licensed and must engage certified tradespeople to carry out any repairs that affect a vehicle’s safety or performance.Businesses that install or replace parts that do not affect a vehicle’s safety or performance no longer need to hold a licence to carry out this work. Under the Australian Consumer Law, all businesses have obligations to consumers. If your business carries out automotive repair work, you need to hold a motor vehicle repairer’s licence. This includes part-time and mobile work, subcontractors, and work within partnerships or companies.
To carry out repair work, you need a valid motor vehicle tradesperson’s certificate.
What do you study in automotive mechanics?
Two courses
1. Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
Course information
Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Certificate III gives students a background in a broad range of functions across the automotive retail, service and repair industry. Students will develop the skills to carry out technical mechanical work on light vehicles.
Qualification overview
This qualification reflects the role of individuals who carry out a broad range of tasks on a variety of light vehicles in the automotive retail, service and repair industry.
Target group
The Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology is aimed at international students who meet the following criteria:
• Seeking a career in the automotive retail, service and repair industry
• Seeking a career as a light vehicle mechanical repair technician or mechanic
• Seeking to enter a new industry area
• Seeking a pathway to a higher-level qualification.
Course duration
This course runs for 52 weeks, including 44 weeks of training and assessment, and 8 weeks of holidays.
Delivery mode
This course is delivered in a blended learning format, including face-to-face learning in the classroom and automotive workshop, as well as interactive online/distance learning.
Career outcomes
Graduates of this course may seek employment in a range of automotive retail and service roles, such as:
• Auto electrician
• Motor mechanic
• Motor mechanic
• Automotive service technician
• Automotive mechanical technician
• High-performance vehicle technician
2. Certificate IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis
Course information
Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis Certificate IV gives students a comprehensive set of advanced light vehicle mechanical diagnosis skills in the automotive retail, service and repair industry.
Qualification overview
This qualification reflects the role of individuals who carry out advanced diagnostic tasks on light vehicles in the automotive retail, service and repair industry.
Target group
The Certificate IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis is aimed at international students who meet the following criteria:
• Seeking a career in the automotive retail, service and repair industry
• Seeking a career as a light vehicle master technician or mechanic
• Seeking to enter a new industry area
• Seeking a pathway to a higher-level qualification.
Course duration
This course runs for 52 weeks, including 36 weeks of training and assessment, and 16 weeks of holidays
Delivery mode
This course is delivered in a blended learning format, including face-to-face learning in the classroom and automotive workshop, as well as interactive online/distance learning.
Career outcomes
Graduates of this course may seek employment in a range of automotive retail and service roles, such as:
• Auto electrician
• Motor mechanic
• Motor mechanic
• Light vehicle master technician
• Automotive service technician
• Automotive mechanical technician
• High-performance vehicle technician
If you’re not sure whether the Certificate III or Certificate IV course suits you, or want more details on either course, feel free to contact me directly for an assessment!
Why is automotive mechanics a good choice?
Automotive courses can lead to many job opportunities, ranging from mechanics who repair cars to auto electricians who carry out extensive repairs. After obtaining a practical automotive qualification, you can find work as a motor mechanic, automotive spray painter, auto parts salesperson, heavy vehicle engine technician or motorcycle mechanic. Pay is high — the average weekly wage for a motor mechanic or automotive painter is AU$986.
Whether you’re just starting out in an automotive career, want to gain further qualifications and build on your previous experience, or simply want to broaden your horizons, Australian schools offer a range of courses at various levels to meet your needs.Courses in this field include Automotive Body Repair Technology, Automotive Technology, Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology, Automotive Electrical Technology, Engineering (Mechanical), Mobile Plant Technology and Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology.
A few migration pathways for automotive mechanics
189 visa: Skilled Independent migration (open to applicants Australia-wide — requires a high points score, is difficult and slow to progress — not recommended!)
190 visa: State-nominated migration (application conditions vary by state government; automatically comes with 5 bonus migration points on application, some states have lower invitation scores, and 190 holders generally need to remain in the nominating state for at least 2 years.Recommended!)
491visa: Regional skilled migration (requirements vary by state government and are lower than for the 190; it automatically comes with 15 bonus migration points on application, invitation scores are lower and quotas are ample, and applicants are generally required to study in a regional area of the nominating state, there’s a pre-tax annual income requirement to convert to PR — highly recommended!)
There’s also employer-sponsored migration and other pathways — feel free to contact us directly for a consultation!
Of course, the first step for most skilled migration pathways in Australia is a skills assessment for the nominated occupation. To pass the skills assessment after studying automotive mechanics in Australia, you generally need to complete the following four steps:
STEP.1 Provisional Skills Assessment (PSA )
●Application timing: upon receiving the completion letter
●Study in Australia while holding a student visa
●Submit a course completion letter to prove the field applied for is on the occupation list
●Submit proof of 360+ hours of work or internship experience relevant to the nominated occupation(The 360 hours of work experience includes internship work arranged by the school and work at a repair shop — both require a work logbook detailing hours worked, work content, tools used, etc., and both must be signed by the direct supervisor. Proof of income earned while working must also be provided)
[Friendly reminder]
Once the first step is passed, this skills assessment can be used to apply for the 485 Graduate Work visa, and students must achieve an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 5.0, or an overall PTE score of 50 with no component below 36, to be eligible to submit the 1.5-year 485 Graduate Work visa
STEP.2 Job Ready Employment (JRE)
●Application timing: Within the last four months of the student visa, the Bridging Visa A for the 485 visa, 485 visa
●Successfully completed the first step
●Work must be on the occupation list or closely related to your (PSA) position
●Hold a visa that allows you to work legally — students are advised to use the 1.5-year 485 work visa to accumulate work experience
●Work experience must not be less than 12 months (at least 1,725 hours)
●Cost: AU$500 application fee
[Friendly reminder]
●This step cannot be submitted if the application date is more than four months from the student visa, or on a 407 Training visa, and if another visa is used to submit the JRE, TRA will assess whether that visa allows you to meet the working-hours requirement.
●The 1,725 hours of paid work must be after registering with TRA, and only counts once TRA has certified the employer and the job role
●
1. If the work is part-time, it may take more than 1 year to reach 1,725 hours
2. If 1,725 hours have already been completed but less than 1 year has passed, you must keep working until the full year is reached
STEP.3 Job Ready Workplace Assessment(JRWA)
●Application timing: after six months of work, having completed 863 hours of paid work
●Submit salary proof in the correct format
●A work diary covering more than six months, with employer signature attached
●A TRA representative will attend the workplace in person, asking about the projects you’re responsible for in the role, what language you use to communicate at work, relevant Australian workplace regulations, how you solve problems, and how you get along with colleagues — checking whether you are genuinely doing the corresponding role at that workplace
●Cost: AU$2,000 application fee
[Friendly reminder]
A TRA officer will send a letter notifying you of the assessment date, and if you are unable to attend on the assessment date, you must submit relevant medical proof — if TRA does not accept the medical proof, you will have to pay a fee to the TRA officer to cover the work involved.
STEP.4 Job Ready Final Assessment (JRFA)
●Application timing: once you have accumulated 1 year or 1,725 hours
●Salary proof in the correct format, meeting the 1-year or 1,725-hour requirement
●A work diary of at least 12 months, with employer signature attached
●Can be used to submit the skills assessment for a subsequent 190 or 189 visa application
●Cost: AU$150 application fee
If you want, in Australia, to
work while learning a trade,
then during your studies and after graduation
you’ll have excellent job opportunities —
automotive mechanics really is a dark horse!
Feel free to contact me for more details.
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