Professional Year - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Professional Year (PYear)?
A Professional Year is a twelve-month 'job-preparedness' program aimed to equip participants with the professional and communications skills needed for a successful career in the Australian workforce whilst also helping to address Australia's engineering skills shortage.
Is the PYear in Engineering only open to engineering graduates?
Yes. Applicable Engineering categories for Professional Year are:
- Professional Engineer, and
- Engineering Technologist,
Other PYear programs are available for former international ICT and Accounting graduates. Please refer to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for further information on all other PYear programs.
Who can apply for the PYear in Engineering?
Recent engineering graduates of accredited Australian university courses who have been issued a Skilled-Graduate (Temporary) 485 Visa, or a Bridging Visa A or B, may apply for entry into the program. Applicants must also have undergone a successful Migration Skills Assessment to be applicable for entry into the PYear program.
Australian citizens and permanent residents who are also recent graduates may also apply for the program but the PYear is full-fee paying and HECS does not apply.
What is the application process?
All applications for the Professional Year in Engineering are to be returned with all supporting documentation (certified copies only) and full payment to the address specified on the application form, where the application will be assessed to ensure it meets the Professional Year requirements.
All applicants will be contacted regarding the acceptance of their application and (if accepted) advised of an interview time. If an application is not accepted, all fees will be fully refunded.
All successful applicants will be advised of commencement dates and times as well as class location details once the interview process is complete.
What are the 'cut off' dates for PYear applications?
There are no 'opening & closing' dates for PYear applications. Applications can be submitted at any time and all successful applicants will be placed in the next available intake in their preferred location. The first intakes for 2009 are expected to take place in February/March.
What if I don't hold the appropriate Visa?
If you do not hold a 485 Skilled-Graduate Visa, or an applicable Bridging Visa, please contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for further details.
The department's website is http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration and contains all the relevant information regarding eligibility for the PYear in Engineering.
Does completion of a Professional Year guarantee permanent residency?
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship may award an individual who successfully completes a Professional Year 10 points under the General Skills Migration points test, but permanent residency is not guaranteed.
Engineers Australia (EA) and Engineering Education Australia (EEA) cannot comment on immigration policy or decisions.
Does completion of a Professional Year guarantee me employment in Engineering?
Whilst the PYear is designed to enhance a participant's ability to obtain employment in their chosen field it does not guarantee job placement.
The program will help participants apply for jobs and be 'job-ready' for the Australian workforce, and also provides networking opportunities through participation in Engineers Australia technical and non-technical events, but cannot guarantee employment on completion of the program.
Can I relocate to undertake the PYear?
It is intended that the PYear will be offered in all states and territories across Australia within the next 6 to 12 months, but PYear participants may elect to relocate to undertake the PYear program at their own discretion and expense.
Can I do the PYear on a part-time basis?
The PYear program occurs over a minimum 44-week, maximum 12-month period. Each PYear Partner will structure the PYear program as they deem appropriate to facilitate the needs of the majority of participants.
What is a PYear Partner?
A PYear Partner is a recognised learning institution authorised to deliver the PYear in Engineering by Engineering Education Australia.
How is the Professional Year in Engineering structured?
The PYear in Engineering provides practical training and workshops as well as access to learning and career development tools and methods.
Designed to enhance the participant's ability to obtain employment in their chosen discipline by applying his or her technical skills and knowledge in the Australian workplace, it also includes submission of a Career Episode Report (as part of Engineers Australia's professional development program), mandatory attendance at two technical and two non-technical Engineers Australia events as well as ongoing networking opportunities, professional development and further professional credentials as a Graduate Member of Engineers Australia.
Importantly, the program includes an invaluable minimum 20 weeks (unpaid) supervised engineering intern placement with a host company.
What will I learn?
Communicating effectively in the workplace, participating successfully within a team and implementation strategies to manage your personal career development are just some of the components of the PYear, along with effectively providing service to internal (and as appropriate) external clients.
The PYear also looks at the Australian legislative requirements applicable to workplaces and operations as well as occuptaional safety, health and environment (OSHE) processes, how to work effectively within an organisations requirements, including those for EEO and diversity, and strategies for applying occupation-specific knowledge and skills to complex professional situations.
Is there a guarantee the industry work placement (internship) will be in my area of expertise?
The industry work placement (internship) component of the program is a key element of a successful professional year; providing participants with workplace experience in an engineering firm or department.
PYear partners will make every effort to ensure participants are placed with organisations with relevant engineering work but if, for some reason, no industry internship is available, participants will not be able to complete the professional year and all fees will be refunded.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment is based on learning facilitator reports of work undertaken by the participant. There are no exams, but to be successful all participants must complete all tasks in each component of a satisfactory standard in English (IELTS level 6 minimum).
Assessment of the work placement (internship) component will be based on a work placement report by the participant's industry supervisor within the host company.
What will happen if I fail one of the PYear components?
Each PYear Partner will determine policy surrounding whether a participant can repeat a component of the Pyear program. The objective of the PYear is to adequately equip participants for a career in Australia and each partner will make every effort to ensure that outcome is achieved for every participant, but the program must be completed within 12 months of the original registration and no extension can be granted.
Is the Industry Work Placement (internship) paid or unpaid?
The PYear is a 'job-preparedness' program and as such, the internship component is unpaid.
Can I work while I undertake the PYear?
Please refer to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for all Visa enquiries
How much does the Professional Year in Engineering cost?
The recommended fee for 2009 for the Professional Year in Engineering is $12,950 including GST
How do I apply for the Professional Year in Engineering?
Expressions-of-Interest for the first 2009 PYear intakes should be addressed to professionalyear@eeaust.com.au
Be sure to include a contact phone number as well as your current email and mailing addresses in your expression-of-interest. Please also indicate the state or territory in which you want to undertake the PYear program.