1 April 2009

Recently moved to Canberra

| notoriousft
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We have recently moved to Canberra because of my wife’s job. It’s my 5th month in Australia. We were in Melbourne up until a few days.

I am a chemist and used to work as a research scientist before coming from overseas. I would kindly request your recommendations on how to find a job in ACT and to get driving license quickly.

Any suggestions highly welcome.

P.S. Sorry for my English. It’s only my 5th month in Australia.

[ED – racists and xenophobes will be moderated without mercy]

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notoriousft said :

From what I`ve learnt it is at least a 55-minute-test and it wouldn`t be a fluke if you pass that long test. In Victoria it takes maximum 25 minutes – which would make more of a fluke there-

There’s at least one guy on the roads of Canberra with a license who fluked it, the instructor who had to pass him told me about it. He said that after being told he wasn’t ready to go solo the student insisted on going for the one-off test, and on the second try he passed. The instructor can’t fail a driver just because he knows he’s unsafe.

SheepGroper said :

notoriousft said :

Which area seems to be the easiest? Because there are 4: Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Woden and Dickson.

I’d rather people were tested thoroughly then fluke a one-off test before being allowed to drive on the roads I drive on.

From what I`ve learnt it is at least a 55-minute-test and it wouldn`t be a fluke if you pass that long test. In Victoria it takes maximum 25 minutes – which would make more of a fluke there-

Ruby Wednesday8:47 pm 01 Apr 09

ant, I think it is the secretary of each department’s discretion, but it is my understanding that most don’t exercise it these days unless it’s a very compelling case (a position of critical importance where there’s a shortage of local staff, and without any security implications, I would imagine).

notoriousft said :

Which area seems to be the easiest? Because there are 4: Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Woden and Dickson.

I’d rather people were tested thoroughly then fluke a one-off test before being allowed to drive on the roads I drive on.

I thought it was just a new trendy l337 spelling for Link/Linky!

That’s a bugger that even temps have to be citizens now. I wonder why they did that?

Ruby Wednesday7:34 pm 01 Apr 09

Let’s pretend I meant ‘ye olde linke’ and didn’t just spell ‘link’ incorrectly. Whoops!

Ruby Wednesday7:33 pm 01 Apr 09

As per this linke, assessments are only done at Tuggeranong and Dickson:

The cost for booking the 55 minute assessment is $78.40.

Bookings can be made in person at any ACT Government Shopfront. They can also be made over the telephone by calling 13 22 81.

Assessments are conducted from the ACT Government Shopfront in Tuggeranong and Dickson. You will need to select a location at the time of booking.

You also need to have held you learner’s permit for a minimum of six months, if I remember rightly. It’s all on the website.

jessieduck said :

The examiners are fair and reasonable folk- takes an hour-hour and a half and covers off all the usual competencies- you can pick up a Competency Based Training and Assessment Scheme (CBT&A)log book from any of the government shopfronts- that has all of them.

Which area seems to be the easiest? Because there are 4: Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Woden and Dickson.

notoriousft, your grasp of English appears to be pretty good, but if you’re looking to enhance it and feel you need some help there, contact the Canberra Institute of Technology and ask for the Adult Migrant English Program. They can provide lessons and can arrange for a volunteer tutor to be assigned to you to give you some practical, tailored assistance with your English.

I used to have a number for them (I was a tutor for several years) but you should be able to find it fairly easily in the White Pages online or in the phone book.

What’s the prescription, guys?

Ruby Wednesday4:10 pm 01 Apr 09

ant, that particular listing linked to was non-ongoing and still required it. I do take your point, though. I know some places do occasionally waive the requirement, but it’s definitely the rare exception and not the rule.

As for driving, I got my licence quite recently and went the log book route, so unfortunately I can’t comment on the testing regime of the government examiners.

Ruby Wednesday said :

IP Australia have the same caveat that 99 per cent of government jobs do:

Applicants must also be Australian citizens and have not taken a voluntary redundancy from a Commonwealth agency in the previous 12 months.

That’s for ongoing employment, or jobs requiring a security clearance.

IP Australia may will be able to take a non-citizen as a temp.

The examiners are fair and reasonable folk- takes an hour-hour and a half and covers off all the usual competencies- you can pick up a Competency Based Training and Assessment Scheme (CBT&A)log book from any of the government shopfronts- that has all of them.

Thank you all: SheepGroper, jimbocool, Danman, Thumper, Jim Jones, NoAddedMSG, Tisme, Mike Crowther, grundy, Holden Caulfield, Ruby Wednesday, neanderthalsis for your kind and prompt help.

I have made a note of all your useful suggestions and will act on them accordingly. You`ve been more than helpful.

If you don`t mind: I have one more specific question. I have a Learner Permit from Victoria and have a one-off chance to get an ACT Provisional license by a drive test. Could anyone who has sat this test recently comment on what to expect in the test? That is, how long the test is, and whether the examiners are generally fair or harsh etc. ?

Thanks in advance.

neanderthalsis10:45 am 01 Apr 09

There are plenty of Industry Associations here in the ACT that use people of a scientific bent in research and/or policy roles. Try Plant Health Australia, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association, the Pharmacy Guild or maybe even the Wine Makers Federation.

I know IP Australia has resorted to recruiting from overseas, so I’d still suggest he contact them. That requirement may just be specific to that job ad I linked to.

Ruby Wednesday10:30 am 01 Apr 09

IP Australia have the same caveat that 99 per cent of government jobs do:

Applicants must also be Australian citizens and have not taken a voluntary redundancy from a Commonwealth agency in the previous 12 months.

ACT government doesn’t have this requirement and will accept permanent residents. I don’t know about other visa classes.

As for driving schools, it depends on your current licence and agreements between countries. A visit to a government shopfront or a look at their website should help.

Good luck with your search. As someone married to a once immigrant (now citizen), the job thing is always a challenge, particularly in this town.

Holden Caulfield10:28 am 01 Apr 09

A chemist hey? Maybe the Rebels OMCG could employ your services.

IPAustralia is always looking for qualified people to examine patent applications.
They would love to get their hands on an experienced chemist.

http://apsjobs.gov.au/SearchedNoticesView.aspx?Notices=10428602%3A1&mn=JobSearch

http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/

They provide all the training you need to start examining patents and starting salaries are quite generous.

Good luck!

Mike Crowther9:51 am 01 Apr 09

With the upsurge in biker related warfare it will surely only be a matter of time before one of them loses a valued chemist and seeks a replacement.

The Migrant and Refuge Settlement Service might be useful.

Location: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, 2nd Floor, North Building, 180 London Circuit Civic, Canberra
Postal Address: GPO Box 697, Canberra City, ACT 2601
Tel: 02 6248 8577
Fax: 02 6257 7655
Email: marss@marss.org.au

There is not a lot of chemistry work in Canberra unfortunately. There is the Research School of Chemistry as has been mentioned, but there really are not a lot of jobs there, especially if you do not have a PhD. These people (http://www.unijobs.com.au/show.php?id=16547) may also be interested in chemists. Note with the university, not many jobs are widely advertised, the only way you will find out about a lot of them is by approaching the researchers directly.

CSIRO do not have much for pure chemists, but if you are on the biological side of chemistry, they might have some jobs available. The Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Vet Medicine and Pesticide Authority people hire lots of chemists (some lab positions, but mostly office jobs requiring a science background). There are some issues with them hiring non-Australain citizens though.

In terms of industry, Dyesol out in Queanbeyan are the only industry I have come accross in the Canberra region who hire chemists. There are probably a few very small places around. Kelly Scientific are a recruitment company which specialise in finding people for science jobs, but I don’t know anyone who has used them, so I don’t know if they are any good.

The Business Office at the Research School of Chemistry at the ANU would be well worth talking to (phone: 61253637). Just let them know what you can do and with a bit of luck they’ll keep you in mind for anything that might pop up.

Also probably worth scoping out the CSIRO (http://www.csiro.au/), although they’ve been shedding staff over the past few years.

I gotta admit that I don’t know much about chemists – would a temporary move to a commercial chemist (the pharmaceutical side of things) be a viable option?

SOS recruitment in Manuka, top darts for them, they got me my job over 3 years ago and I’m now permanent.

Avoid Drake, they just liked to bolster numbers but not actually find anyone work. If you like free movie passes they are the go anyway.

Not sure about jobs – although I would think that the various Research Schools at the ANU would have something going.
Drivers licence – unless you have a licence from one of the countries recognised by the ACT you will have to pass the knowledge test (to get your Learner’s Permit) and then the practical test (to get your licence). Go to rego.act.gov.au/licensing for the details.

Apex Driving school for the driver’s license, I highly recommend them.

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