What is the Experience Engineering in Western Australia program?

The resources industry is the backbone of the Western Australian economy, which means that engineering skills are in high demand. To assist with the demand EEA and Navitas Professional have developed, in conjunction with the engineering profession and industry, the Experience Engineering in Australia program.

Centring on the hub of engineering and mining activity in Australia and including over 80 hours of coursework including work-preparedness units, engineering industry components and ethic cases, diagnostic testing and an all-important 12 week (unpaid) work placement, this program aims to provide overseas qualified engineers with a working holiday opportunity as well as exposure to the Australian engineering profession.

Testimonials

“My experience with the Engineering Experience Program has been an overall advantage to my career. I am an overseas graduate Mechanical engineer with an Australian Master’s Degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from UWA. I found it quite difficult to find a job with no (local) experience; however I can proudly say that Navitas and Engineering Education Australia helped me to achieve my goals. During the Engineering Experience Program I was fortunate enough to be placed with Enerflex as a Project Engineering intern. I was then offered employment by Enerflex which enhanced my self-esteem and confidence. I strongly recommend this program to graduates and encourage them to make full use of the opportunity with Navitas and Engineering Education Australia. Thank you to all staff for giving me this opportunity”

Hear From Past Participants

• What is a work placement?
• Am I eligible for the program?
• Are work placements paid or unpaid?
• What are the prerequisites for the program?
• Is the program available anywhere else in Australia?
• What positions are available and when?
• What is the cost involved?
• Intake Dates
• How do I register?
• Enquire Here

What is a Work Placement?

Work Placements (or what were once termed ‘internships’) are an integral part of the Experience Engineering in Australia program; giving participants the opportunity to put into practice all they have learned throughout their pre-placement training and education in a genuine engineering environment and context.

Am I eligible for this program?

Applications* to join this program are only available to qualified engineers who hold or are eligible for the following visa types:

• Skilled – Graduate Recognised (temporary) visa 476
• Working Holiday Visa (417)
• Working and Holiday visa (462)

Applications are also open for Australian citizens and residents.

As the Experience Engineering in Australia program is a WA-based program, all participants must be able to undertake the program in WA for the specified duration of the program. This means that participants currently located in other states must fund their own relocation for the period of the program to WA.

In the instance where a work placement is located in a remote or regional area, host companies will be required to provide transport and accommodation assistance by agreement, but this does not include actual relocation to WA itself or any accommodation costs incurred prior to or after work placement.

*acceptance into the program may also be dependent upon placement availability within your engineering discipline despite meeting immigration criteria, so acceptance is not based wholly on visa approval alone.

Are work placements paid or unpaid?

All Vocational or Work placements are unpaid. However, if your placement is in remote or regional WA then your host company will be expected to assist with your transport and accommodation costs as is the norm in the industry.

Is the program available anywhere else in Australia?

The program is aimed at attracting recent overseas engineering graduates to experience the workplace in the backbone of Australia’s resources industry – Western Australia (WA), so for the 2012/2013 calendar years the Experience Engineering in Australia program will only be available in WA.

Known for its friendly, safe and relaxed environment, WA’s capital city Perth (where all classes will be held regardless of the work placement location) offers all of the attractions of a large cosmopolitan city right at the doorstep of some of the most ruggedly beautiful landscape in the world.

What are the benefits of the program?

As well as the invaluable work placement component, the program also consists of 4 weeks (80 hours) of coursework including work-readiness, CV and interview skills, engineering industry and ethics components as well as online resources and self-paced learning. From April 2013 the program also includes a Certificate IV in Project Management delivered on-line in conjunction with the work placement.

Participants are also provided access to the comprehensive and best-selling “Backpacker to Briefcase” on-line suite by Jill Noble.

Where is the work experience?

The current focus of the Experience Engineering in Australia program is in Western Australia only. All face-to-face classes will take place in Perth, however as many engineering organisations are based in remote or regional areas, work placement locations will vary according to the needs of industry.

Participants will not be able to choose where they are placed. However, if your placement is in a regional or outlying area it is expected that your host organisation provide transport and accommodation for the duration of your work placement.

Can I work during the program?

All visa types applicable to the Experience Engineering in Australia program are eligible to work during the theory component of the program, however the work placement component is full-time; 5 days a week, which would prohibit working elsewhere. All work placements are unpaid.

What documentation do I require?

All applications should have supporting documentation including:

• Completed application form
• Certified copy of passport and Australian government approved visa details
• Certified evidence of English language skills (minimum IELTS 6.0)*
• Certified copies of academic transcripts and graduation certificates
• Current curriculum vitae

*some passport holders are exempted from this requirement, please check www.immi.gov.au for further details

Intake Dates

How do I register?

Please mail or email the completed application to:

Further Questions?

Please register your interest here or contact Anne Bauer on (08) 9314 9645 or Download brochure here