G'day from the great white north

[realmseeker]

G'day y'all,

I from Toronto, Canada, by way of Montreal. I have been working as a cabinet maker for 2-3 years now, with a 1 year certificate from Humber college. I use to be a cook and restaurant worker for 6 years, but hated the hours and the work. I traveled a hair, rediscovered my love of wood and tinkering, and have never looked back. Irony is that I mostly build kitchens these days :P

I am searching around for information about traveling and working in Aus. I just got my plane ticket to head over on Dec. 4th, so I plan to not see any snow this year!!

I plan to get a working holiday visa in the next week or two. I primarily want info on what the industry is like in Sydney, or any other major place to work. I have selected Sydney as a start point because it seems to be the most major city. Correct me here as well as anywhere else please!!! I hope to do about 3-6 months in Sydney, then travel around to both see sites, and work in other places.

I was looking for help on CNCZONE.com forums in the Aussie section, but sadly great for CNC info, not so much for friends and fun (built and run a small hobby CNC in my garage, LOVE IT!). So this places seems more people friendly.

I hope you don't mind I'll just bullet point. I don't expect every question to be answered. Just any info I can get helps in the long run.

- I am not an official apprentice, though with my experience, I obvisouly am. In Canada we do not require a 'seal' to work, but I see that the system is followed in Aus. Can I expect to find work even though I don't keep a log?

- Is your summer season a good time to look for work? Or is it more of a slower time?

- Legally I cannot work for one person for more then 6 months. Realistically I wouldn't want to stay put more then that anyways as I am traveling to. Would it be realistic to find a job even if it is for a term of no more then 6 months? At the same time I want to see and explore wood working in Aus anyways. I want to see and do many varied tasks. I want to know what woods you call normal, and see the ones I call exotic!

- Pay rate I should expect? Making money is not a concern short term, as I have savings, and this is travel, but I dont want to get ripped off. Also, hey maybe I'll want to stay!

- Okay now for a few non-wood questions:

- No drivers license, is it easy to get one?
- How is public transit in the major cities. I love transit, walking, and biking. These reasonable to do in Sydney/any major city?
- You have 3-6 months of exploring Aus. places to see?


Okay wall of text crits you 1 million hp. Sorry! As I said don't answer them all, just a bit of help please. As you can see, I don't know much(makes me wise to know that right?).

Cheers and beers all!
and I'll be bugging y'all in person soon enough! Look for the Canuck with the beard!

Jordan

[munruben]

Hi Jordan, and welcome to the forum. Sydney is a pretty good place to start I guess, its a big city and very progressive. Don't know what it's like to find work over here at the moment, I am retired but judging by the cost of hiring someone to do some work, everyone seems to be on good money.

Summer time is usually our go ahead months and things happening in the building trade.

Drivers License, if you have a current Canadian license then you can get an international license that is acceptable over here but I think is limited to 6 months driving on that.
To obtain an Australian one you have to undergo a test to get a learners license and you can only drive if you have a qualified, licensed driver with you.. There are differing rules in each state on the exact requirements but I believe in New South Wales, where you will be going, are pretty tough and it takes time to qualify to take a driving test to obtain a full license. Someone will be able to fill you in on the exact requirements.

Normal wood? well I guess that depends on what is normal We have a lot of different timbers over here, pine of course is one of the cheaper timbers although not that cheap nowadays. Some of the guys in the forum frown down on pine and prefer the more expensive timbers. We have Camphor Laurel which is quite abundant in supply and is quite a nice timber but is considered here as a pest/weed and is somewhat poisonous so have to be careful and wear mask when working with it.

I'm sure some of the other guys will give you an endless list of timbers available over here so I will leave that to them.

Hope you enjoy your stay while you are here I am sure you will.

[wheelinround]

Welcome Jordon

Nice trip if you can do it.

Sydney is a place to start depending on what you want to do as work of course. Then over Christmas most building co's and factories close for up to 6 weeks holiday. Not good if you need $$$ That said of course holiday time/season brings other opportunities, sand sun and surf and babes.

[groeneaj]

Hey mate,
Welcome to the forum.
Sydney is prety easy to get around - plently of trains/buses. Get yourself a timetable and off you go.

If you can check out Melbourne (my home city), it's very nice there too.

Either way i'm sure you'll love Australia.

Good luck

Andy

PS - maybe you can bring over a few suitcases of Lee Valley tools with you

[artme]

G'day Jordan and welcome tothe shed!!

The others have said it all, except for having a look around Brisbane, which, at that time of the year will be as hot as Toronto is cold.

[crowie]

G'Day Jordan and welcome,
Please sort out your driving licence before you arrive in Sydney as to get a New South Wales driving licence you start with a test to attain your learners permit followed by 120 hours of training with a qualified driver which has to be recorded in a handbook, then a provisional licence test to attain a "P1" licence for 12 months, then another test to attain a "P2" licence for 24 months and then another test to attain a full car drivers licence.
Have a look at the fees to get this licence and you'll understand what I mean; get it sorted before you leave Canada. Licensing fees
Also Sydney is a big city and you really need a car to get from one end to the other or worse across town; unless you live right in the centre.
As far a work is concerned, I'd encourage to start looking now and try to set something up through one of the agencies or labour hire companies.
Anyways, you will enjoy your stay here in a beautiful part of the world; have a look at the size of the country, have a look at the inland too and remember most of the people live around the coast.
Cheers from "ON TOP DOWNUNDER"
Crowie

[realmseeker]

We have Camphor Laurel which is quite abundant in supply and is quite a nice timber but is considered here as a pest/weed and is somewhat poisonous so have to be careful and wear mask when working with it.

We have poplar as our weed that makes good wood. Less poisonous thankfully. It is a pale ugly green normally, but when it gets mineral streaks, goes from black to red. Makes for some fun decorative pieces.

Only have my learners permit. How does 120 in car hours work?! it must take years till you can drive alone? I guess walking and transit will be my friend still. Even if I had a licence, I don't think I'll be buying a car right off the plane.

I was thinking of looking in the classifieds for jobs. I don't trust agencies typically. I've had bad experiences, including not getting paid, and a weird call from local police asking if I had been molested by a local agency. So I was thinking of checking Sydney's local newspaper, what is the name?

The others have said it all, except for having a look around Brisbane, which, at that time of the year will be as hot as Toronto is cold.

Toronto isn't cold :P everything else is within several provinces.

I'll bring in the Lee Valley stuff if you pay for the excess luggage and mailing in country :P What do you guys have for a 'Lee Valley' type store? All your retirees need a place to spend their money :P

Oh here is another question. I was planning on bringing in my tool kit. I can't bring in my drills and such due to wrong current, but I was thinking of having basic screwdrivers, hammer, hand saw, and other normal stuff. Around here you typically own your own non-electrical stuff, and the employer provides the powered stuff.

Found out that my universal health care will cover me to some degree, so I guess I only need basic insurance!

Cheers and beers,

Jordan

[Christos]

Yes you are right quite a few questions. Welcome to the forum.


O by the way. You will find work here and do expect to be paid for the work that you do. Better to have a car if you are going to jump between and with in cities but not really necessary.