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Hello from Portugal

1K views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  FilipeEstacio 
#1 ·
Hello everyone!

I'm from Lisbon, Portugal and I have recently graduated with a master's degree in Civil Engineering (Hydrology). I have been looking for a challenge outside my country for quite some time and since my girlfriend has found a job in southern Queensland, I am currently looking for a job in the Toowoomba/Brisbane area.

The more I read and talk to relatives about Australia, the more I'm convinced that it's going to be a great place for me to start my living. Europe is getting increasingly unstable.

I hope to find what I need to move to your country :)
 
#2 ·
Welcome to the forum Felipe and that you can find what you want to about Australia by having a look at the various sections.
First off you need a visa and depending on what visa your Gf is using and your relationship, you may be able to be added as a secondary applicant on her visa, the cheapest way to go.

Work wise, there has been a significant ammount of civil infrastructure going on in the SE of Queensland and though our flooding rains just this past week have Dams overflowing and the pressure off water storages needs for the time being, I'm sure there'll be other works involving Civil hydrology in planning stages.
 
#3 ·
That's good news :)

I applied for a job at Toowoomba Regional Council for the exact same position that I currently hold in Portugal earlier this year. They haven't gotten back to me, but I have just noticed that the position reopened, so I guess they didn't find anyone suitable in Australia.

Do you have any insight on what the policy on hiring foreigners for public service jobs is? Since the job was re-listed, I would hope that by showing myself interested they still might consider me as a candidate.
 
#4 ·
That's good news :)

I applied for a job at Toowoomba Regional Council for the exact same position that I currently hold in Portugal earlier this year. They haven't gotten back to me, but I have just noticed that the position reopened, so I guess they didn't find anyone suitable in Australia.

Do you have any insight on what the policy on hiring foreigners for public service jobs is? Since the job was re-listed, I would hope that by showing myself interested they still might consider me as a candidate.
I know the Federal Governement does have a requirement of Citizenship for most if not all appointments though exceptions can be made.

That would not I expect apply with local government authorities though any level of government can have a bureaucratic approach and they could lack the flexibility to look at overseas applications, some positions often being advertised with a proviso that applicants already have Australian work rights or it may just be that they consider it'll take too long to get you filling a position even if they consider you meet selection criteria.

Another thing that is usually a requirement for any level of government will be membership of the relevant Australian Professional Organisation, the IEA for engineers and you can see that with the way the position qualifications are specified
•Bachelor of Civil Engineering or equivalent related field with relevant previous experience is essential.
•Chartered Membership of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, (or experience such as to be eligible for registration at this level).
•Management of Business Administration (Technology Management) or similar, is desirable.
You'll need to have your qualifications assessed by the IEA for any independent visa application and seeing as it'd be a benefit for a lot of jobs, it'd be a good idea to look at getting that done, Chartered Membership level of the IEA probably being with 3-5 years experience.

Getting your assessment alone will take 2-3 months, then having a visa application processed could take 9-12 months and it's possible the council is hoping to attract an applicant for an earlier start.

But if your Gf has a job/visa and you are eligible to be a secondary applicant, her visa already being processed you could be in Australia quicker and if you get the IEA assessment underway, that's another matter.

If you have several years of experience, feel you meet the councils selection criteria and can be in Australia earlier, it's not as though an organisation is necessarily going to keep a job for someone but it would not hurt for you to contact the nominated officer in the Advert to seek some feedback as to how he would consider you measure up against the criteria.
You could also explain your intent to be in Australia earlier and that you are getting your qualifications assessed if you have not already done so.

But the most important issue is getting your IEA assessment and with that, there could even be the possibility of an Employer Sponsorship to allow quicker processing than what an independent visa would if you cannot be a secondary applicant with the Gf.
 
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