Emigrate to Australia as an Industrial Electrician
Electrician Skills Assessment
The journey to working in Australia as an Industrial Electrician starts with skills assessment, a mandatory process ensuring your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards. This assessment, conducted by TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) or an approved RTO (Registered Training Organization), evaluates your technical expertise, hands-on experience, and ability to work under the AS/NZS 3000 Electrical Wiring Rules.
Without a successful skills assessment, securing a work visa or a trade license as an Industrial Electrician in Australia is impossible. At Electrician Australia, we streamline this process, guiding you through document preparation, competency assessments, and practical evaluations so you can obtain your provisional Australian Electrical License with confidence.
Securing a Positive Australian Skills Assessment as a UK Industrial Electrician grants you an OTSR (Offshore Technical Skills Record). This OTSR awards you Certificate 3 in Electrotechnology in Australia – effectively converting your UK Qualifications to the Australian equivalent.
GAP Training
Every Industrial Electrician, regardless of age, experience or additional UK qualifications initially starts in Australia on a Provisional Electrical License. During your first 6 to 7 months in Australia you are required to undertake GAP Training which consists of keeping a record of achievement and passing the Australian Context. Think of this process as equivalent to passing the UK 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, in an Australian Context.
Your GAP Training can only be done in Australia and Electrician Australia will arrange your GAP Training via a local TAFE college, and in conjunction with your employer.
After passing your GAP Training you will be eligible to apply for an A Grade Independent Electrical License.
Steps to Move to Australia as an Industrial Electrician
- Complete Skills Assessment with Electrician Australia
- Apply for all Eligible Australian Visas – Free Service
- Start the Job Search – our Recruiters will help
- Apply for 3-Year Working Holiday Visa (if under 35)
- Receive an Invitation to Apply for Skilled Migration
- Apply for a Provisional License
- Arrive in Australia & Start Work
- Complete GAP Training
- Increase Earnings as an A Grade Industrial Electrician
Visa Processing – Unlocking Employment Rights
Employer Sponsored Visas for UK Industrial Electricians
Securing the right Australian work visa is essential for UK Industrial Electricians looking to relocate Down Under. One of the most common pathways is the Skills in Demand Employer Sponsored Visa, which allows you to work and live in Australia with employer sponsorship. This visa provides a direct pathway to permanent residency, meaning once you’ve gained experience in Australia, you can apply for PR and settle permanently.
UK Industrial Electricians of any age are eligible for the Skills in Demand Employer Sponsored Visa providing you hold a positive Skills Assessment (OTSR). Electrician Australia can help with Skills Assessment, Free Visa Processing & Recruitment.
3-Year Working Holiday Visa for Industrial Electricians
If you’re a UK citizen under 35 with no children, you may qualify for a three-year Working Holiday Visa, which gives you 3-years of working rights in Australia.The key benefit of the Working Holiday Visa for UK Industrial Electricians is that it is cheaper, easier, no longer requires you to do any farm work.
The WHV also allows you to check out Australia as a long term option, and the first 6 months of your Working Holiday Visa can be used to complete your GAP Training and secure your A-Grade Electrical License.
Australia Emigration Visa Options for UK Industrial Electricians
We strongly recommend applying for a more substantive visa at the same time as your Working Holiday Visa or during the Recruitment process, and we handle this free of charge to ensure your long-term security.
For an Industrial Electrician over 35 or those moving with family, the best visa options include:
- Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa) – A points-tested permanent visa that does not require employer or state sponsorship. This is ideal for highly skilled Industrial electricians with strong qualifications and work experience.
- Subclass 190 (State Nominated Visa) – A permanent residency visa that requires nomination from an Australian state or territory. States with a high demand for electricians, like Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, often invite skilled workers for PR under this program.
- Subclass 491 (Regional Skilled Visa) – A five-year provisional visa that provides a pathway to permanent residency after working for at least three years in a regional area. Many Industrial electricians opt for this route due to higher approval rates and regional incentives. Furthermore, Perth & Gold Coast are classed as ‘Regional’ areas for Industrial Electricians.
With a critical shortage of Industrial Electricians in Australia, visa processing is faster than ever for qualified applicants. We manage the entire Skilled Migration process free of charge, ensuring your application meets all requirements so you can fast-track your move and start earning in one of the world’s highest-paying electrician markets.
Job Placement & Settlement – Securing Your Future
Once your visa is approved, the next critical step is securing a high-paying job in Australia’s thriving industrial sector. We partner with leading mining companies, heavy manufacturing plants, renewable energy projects, and large-scale infrastructure developments to connect industrial electricians with top-tier employers across the country.
Whether you’re looking to work in Western Australia’s mining operations, Queensland’s industrial manufacturing hubs, or large-scale energy projects in South Australia, we ensure you are placed with verified employers offering competitive salaries, relocation assistance, and long-term career stability. Industrial electricians are in high demand for work in power stations, refineries, automation systems, and heavy machinery maintenance, ensuring a broad range of career opportunities.
Beyond employment, we assist with state electrical licensing, site safety certifications, and compliance with Australian industrial standards, making sure you’re fully prepared to work in hazardous and high-voltage environments.
Our support also includes housing guidance and financial setup, ensuring a smooth transition into your new career in Australia’s booming industrial sector. With demand for skilled industrial electricians at an all-time high, there has never been a better time to make the move and secure your future.
Transitioning from the UK to Australia as an Industrial Electrician
Australia’s industrial sector presents an excellent opportunity for UK-qualified industrial electricians looking to emigrate. The occupation of Industrial Electrician (classified under OSCA Code 381233) is in high demand due to Australia’s expanding mining, manufacturing, and energy industries.
With large-scale infrastructure investments and increasing demand for automation, power distribution, and industrial maintenance, skilled industrial electricians are critical to keeping Australia’s industrial economy running.
Major industrial hubs such as Western Australia’s mining sector, Queensland’s manufacturing plants, South Australia’s renewable energy projects, and Victoria’s heavy engineering facilities are experiencing rapid growth.
This demand has created significant job opportunities for UK industrial electricians, particularly those with experience in high-voltage systems, industrial automation, and hazardous area installations.
Essential Qualifications and Skills
To successfully transition into Australia’s industrial electrical workforce, UK industrial electricians must complete a skills assessment. This process involves obtaining an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), which verifies that qualifications and experience align with Australian industrial electrical standards. This is a mandatory step for securing the appropriate licensing and employment in Australia’s high-demand industrial sector.
Industrial electricians must possess high-voltage systems expertise, as Australian industrial settings frequently involve working with 415V three-phase power, motor control systems, and 11kV+ high-voltage switchgear in factories, power stations, and mining sites. The ability to safely install, maintain, and troubleshoot these systems is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation of industrial plants.
Industrial automation and PLC programming skills are highly valued, as many Australian industries rely on Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and SCADA systems to automate manufacturing, processing, and power distribution. Industrial electricians with experience in programming, fault-finding, and optimizing automated systems are in particularly high demand.
A strong background in motor control and variable speed drives (VSDs) is also essential. Industrial electricians working in manufacturing plants, mining operations, and energy facilities must be proficient in motor starters, VSDs, soft starters, and control circuits to regulate motor speeds, improve efficiency, and minimize electrical faults.
For those working in hazardous industrial environments, expertise in explosion-proof (Ex-rated) electrical systems is required. Industrial electricians employed in refineries, chemical plants, fuel storage sites, and oil & gas facilities must be competent in AS/NZS 60079 hazardous area classifications and installation standards, ensuring that electrical systems are compliant with strict safety regulations.
Proficiency in power distribution and maintenance is another critical requirement, particularly for roles in energy transmission, heavy industry, and large-scale infrastructure projects. Industrial electricians must be skilled in industrial switchboards, circuit protection, power factor correction systems, and electrical load balancing, ensuring that high-power electrical systems function safely and efficiently.
Familiarity with Australian industrial safety regulations is mandatory for all industrial electricians. Compliance with AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules, AS/NZS 4836 (Electrical Safe Work Practices), and Mine Safety Standards is essential for working safely in high-risk, high-voltage environments. Understanding WorkSafe Australia regulations and state-specific licensing requirements is also necessary to secure full electrical licensing and work legally in the industrial sector.
Licensing and Employment Prospects
After obtaining the Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), UK industrial electricians can apply for a provisional electrical license, allowing them to work under supervision while completing Australian context gap training.
This training ensures familiarity with local electrical standards, safety regulations, and industry practices, making sure electricians are fully compliant with AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules and high-voltage safety protocols. Upon completion, industrial electricians can apply for a full electrical license, granting them unrestricted working rights in Australia’s industrial sector.
With Australia’s ongoing industrial expansion and a critical shortage of skilled electricians, salaries for industrial electricians are among the highest in the electrical trade. Wages typically range from AUD $120,000 to $160,000 (£63,000 – £84,000) for those working in manufacturing plants, power stations, mining operations, and heavy industry. Electricians with expertise in hazardous area electrical work, industrial automation, and high-voltage power distribution often earn well above this range, reflecting the complexity and specialization of their roles.
For industrial electricians willing to work in remote mining and infrastructure projects, salaries often exceed AUD $160,000 (£84,000), with additional benefits such as site allowances, fly-in fly-out (FIFO) rosters, and overtime pay. Some roles in oil and gas, mining automation, and large-scale renewable energy installations offer total compensation packages surpassing AUD $210,000+ (£105,000) per year.
These high-paying positions are commonplace, particularly in demand in Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia, where the country’s largest industrial projects are concentrated.
Australia’s largest mining companies, energy providers, and infrastructure contractors actively partner with Electrician Australia to recruit UK-qualified industrial electricians, frequently offering sponsored visas to address urgent skill shortages.
With record investments in renewable energy, industrial automation, and resource extraction, there has never been a better time for UK industrial electricians to relocate and secure high-paying, long-term career prospects in Australia.