Migrating to a new country is often a challenging experience, especially
for professionals like engineers who seek to re-establish their careers in a
new country. One of the most common hurdles migrant engineers face in Australia
is the need for "local experience." This can be frustrating,
especially when you possess years of expertise in your home country, only to
find that it's not quite enough to break into the Australian market. I've been
there myself, so I understand firsthand how daunting this barrier can be.
Why Is "Local Experience" So
Important?
The term "local experience" refers to having industry-specific
experience within Australia. It’s not just about having worked as an engineer
somewhere else—it’s about understanding the unique standards, codes, and
practices that govern how things are done in Australia. Each country has its
own way of approaching engineering projects. In countries like Nepal, China,
India, and others, industry norms, construction methods, and materials differ
significantly from what is commonly used in timber residential construction in Australia.
This means that while your overseas experience undoubtedly equips you
with valuable skills, it doesn't always align with the Australian engineering
landscape. Companies here are often hesitant to hire candidates without local
experience because they anticipate the need for additional training. And
training someone requires time and resources, which are seen as an investment
and a cost to the company.
For an engineering firm, training a new hire is not just about sharing
knowledge. When an experienced engineer takes time away from a project to
mentor and supervise a trainee, they divert valuable resources that could be
generating revenue (profit). The company has to weigh the potential long-term
benefits of this training against the short-term costs. And in many cases, it's
not just the financial burden; the risk of mistakes made by inexperienced
engineers introduces additional technical risk.
But there's an even bigger concern: flight risk. Companies fear that once
they've invested time and effort into training a migrant engineer (or a less
experienced engineer), that person might leave for another job once they've
acquired the necessary skills. This makes companies wary of hiring candidates
without local experience, creating a vicious cycle where it becomes difficult
to get your foot in the door in the first place.
My Motivation to Develop Our Training
Programs
Having gone through this process myself—as both an employee looking for
opportunities and later as an employer—I recognised the need for a solution to
this unjust industry norm. I decided to take action by developing specialised
training programs designed specifically to help migrant engineers (or less
experienced engineers) gain the practical knowledge and skills they need to
thrive in the Australian residential construction field.
Our training programs are built around real-life projects that reflect
the daily tasks you will face as a structural engineer in Australia. It's not
just about theoretical knowledge; it's about understanding how to apply that
theory in a way that aligns with Australian standards (AS/NZS) and industry
practices. For example, when designing timber residential structures, you need
to understand not only the structural design approaches but also the relevant
clauses in Australian Standards (AS/NZS), construction materials, methods, and
the considerations that will allow you to communicate effectively with
architects, builders, surveyors, etc.
In our training programs, you work on two real-life projects from start
to finish, guided step-by-step with explanations of relevant Australian
Standards. By the end of the training, you will have developed your own
portfolio of real-life Australian residential projects and are equipped to step
into a professional environment with minimal supervision required. This
dramatically lowers the risk for employers and increases your attractiveness as
a job candidate.
The entire "local experience" barrier boils down to risk
management for companies. When they see you've already mastered the necessary
skills and knowledge, you become a low-risk hire—someone who can contribute to
the team and generate profit without the need for extensive training. This
transforms you into a much more valuable asset.
The success stories of our trainees are proof of the effectiveness of
this approach. They have transitioned into roles within the engineering field
and avoided the trap of being stuck in irrelevant jobs. According to Engineers
Australia, over 100,000 qualified migrant engineers are working in unrelated
fields or driving Ubers—a situation they've labelled a national disaster.
Having lived through this myself, I know how discouraging it can be. But
I also know that with the right support and training, you can overcome these
obstacles. Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and
confidence to break into the Australian market and build a successful career in
the residential design and construction field.
If you're ready to make that change, we're here to help you achieve it.
