Engineering – Australian Professional year starts in 2009
The Professional Year in Engineering
From January 2009, Engineering Education Australia will offer a Professional Year in Engineering.
Background
From September 2007, all former international students now seeking permanent residency in Australia, and who hold a Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) 485 Visa must, within 18 months of graduating from an appropriate course of study in Australia either:
- achieve an IELTS level 7 result,
- be in employment related to their graduate status, or
- successfully complete a specified Professional Year (PYear) Program.
In 2008, Engineers Australia (EA) along with Engineering Education Australia (EEA) were authorised to provide the approved Professional Year Program (PYear) in Engineering.
About the PYear Program
The PYear is a minimum 44-week, maximum 12 month ‘job-preparedness’ program aimed at equipping participants with the professional skills needed for a successful career in the Australian Engineering workforce; in turn helping to address the engineering skills shortage in Australia.
Designed to enhance the participant’s ability to obtain employment in his or her chosen engineering discipline through practical training and workshops in areas such as communication, as well as access to learning and career development tools and methods, the program includes an invaluable minimum 20 week (unpaid) supervised engineering intern placement with a host company.
Participant Eligibility
To be eligible for acceptance into the PYear Program, applicants must:
- have graduated from an Australian university Engineering course of at least two years duration within the past six months,
- hold a valid Skilled-Graduate (Temporary) 485 Visa or a Bridging Visa A or B,
- hold a successful Migration Skills Assessment,
- meet other entry criteria as set by Engineering Education Australia and available on application.
Enquiries
Requests for further details and expressions-of-interest for the 2009 PYear in Engineering intakes should be addressed to: professionalyear@eeaust.com.au
Extract from Ministerial Statement by Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, December 17,2008
International students who are enrolled in courses that are not on the CSL will still be able to apply for a permanent visa without a sponsor. However if they want their application considered as a priority they will need to focus on finding an employer to sponsor them. International students graduating from courses will have access to the 485 visa.
The 485 visa was introduced by the previous Government and provides students with a period of 18 months to find work in their occupation and improve their English language skills. They can also use that time to find an employer sponsor. These measures will provide an incentive for training providers to better link international students with employers and give students an incentive to study courses that will lead to employment outcomes in that field.
The PYear with its ‘job-preparedness’ program to provide international students graduating in engineering with the professional skills needed to land an engineering job in the Australian Engineering workforce will help address the engineering skills shortage in Australia.
There are a few providers out there and I think that there will only be one provider for Engineering Professional Year per state. I’ve heard that Navitas will be offering it in Perth and Sydney from their website http://www.professional-year.com.
Novi – There are a number of providers, but Engineers Education Australia is the coordinating body
Dear,
I have a bachelor degree in Engineering(not recognized) but i have a masters degree from a Uk uni in Engineering which is gives me the 476 visa. I have read on the site of EEA that Engineers holding 476 visa could apply for the professional year but i can not find the application of 476 visa, only there is an application for 485 visa. also, do i need an assessment to enroll the professional year like the 485 visa holders who already subject to the assessment by EA. moreover, if i do not need the assessment…to what extend the studying of the professional year could help me to pass the assessment by EA via competency demonstration report (CDR) to get permanent visa in later stage. please does the professional year consider as a one year experience which a conditional demand to apply for the permanent visa.
many Thanx
Khaled – Only courses from nominated overseas universities are acceptable for the professional year. This information is Available from the Engineers EducationAustralia website. You need to talk to a migration agent on visa matters. You need to check with EEA, but I don’t believe their program covers people with non recognised qualifications.
Hallo Ianlitte,
You are doing such a nice job by helping others, I wish one day I will be in your position and do the same genrosity for others.
But first I need a job for this. I am a graduate in Mechnical Engineering from Pakistan (2000) and Maters in Technical Management from Germany (2008).I have 8 years of working experience in Oil refinery,PetrochemicalPlant, compressors, pumps, & other auxillary mechanical equipments business. I have travelled & live in Pakistan,Gulf countries, Germany & canada for work & study purposes.
Now after arriving into Australia 3 months ago on spouse visa (Temp residence) I am racing my resume after Australian employers without taking a breathe. The success rate is to reach only upto initial telephonic screening interview, the story goes smooth with the interviewers (that includes worley parson) uptill couple of replies where I feel like I am selected for the job and than suddenly receive the heart breaking news they have found someone or at this stage they cannot forward…. I realised and got fix my resume in 320$ from a local resume expert with Aussi way.
Do you rekon I should improve to have another local qualification to appeal my resume, as I also belongs to the bill gates group having “No local experience”.
I have finished writing & will submit my CDR for stage 1 assessment from Engineers Australia soon.
Now you seems like my last destination kindly suggest a mantra from your vast experty.
I promised my wife to get her a diamond ring on our Wed anniversary next month.
Reagrds
Nasir – Sorry for the delay. I somehow lost the comments of Jan 15. Buy a copy of Project Australia. It will be the best $40 you can spend. This will give you a wide range of strategies to meet people and find prospective employers. I wrote Project just for people like you. You need to meet people in the business, amd be prepared to travel to get that first job. Go for quality applications, rather than quantity. You are well qualified with good experience. Get involved with engineering organisations such as the Engineers Australia and the Institute of petroleum. Project Australia tells you how to find these organisations. Your arrived at a bad time. It is just about impossible to get jobs in December/January. keep going back to companies that have knocked you back. You should try and get an engineering contact in each company and contact them every month. If you get a knock back ask them what you can do to improve your application. Also ask them if they know of any other companies that are employing. Brisbane and Perth are the best places to be looking for work in your area at the moment.
You would be better trying to get a job as a cleaner in an engineering company rather than doing more study. This would earn some money and give you a chance to make contacts.
You need to work hard on your English too.