How To Become A Welder In Australia: A Complete Guide

Do you enjoy working outdoors and are interested in working with metals? Then, a career as a welder might be perfect for you.

Welders are highly skilled workers who fabricate and repair various metal products. They use heavy machinery, specialist welding, and hand and power tools to execute the job flawlessly.

To become a welder in Australia, you must complete an apprenticeship, which includes Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade, to achieve a "First Class Welder".

This article is your go-to guide to becoming a qualified welder (first-class) in Australia. You will learn what it takes to become a welder, including personal requirements, welding courses, apprenticeships, qualifications, certifications, routine tasks, and steps to pursue this role.

1. Who Is A Welder?

Welders, also called Fitter-Welders, cut, fit, measure, and join materials to prepare automotive parts, electronic components, and pipes for various industries. They also repair structural repairs in welding equipment.

A welder can specialize in specific wedding techniques, such as gas metal arc or shielded metal arc. A metal fabricator welder fabricates structural steel, aluminium, and other metals to construct or repair metal structures or products.

Welders Have Three Main Categories In Australia:

• First Class Welder

• Welder

• Second Class Welder

2. What Does A Welder Do?

The job of welders (First Class) comprises varied tasks and duties. Here is the summary of their routine work:

• Interpret technical drawings, blueprints, and engineering plans

• Choose the suitable materials to cut or join and arrange them in the desired configuration

• Apply welding principles 

• Execute welding operations while adhering to safety policies

• Use measuring instruments and hand tools to align metal parts

• Join metal sections using welding techniques, such as riveting and bolting

• Evaluate welds for width, accuracy, and penetration

• Weld using manual metal arc, gas metal arc, gas tungsten arc, or submerged arc welding procedure 

• File, chisel, and grind welds surface to make them clean and smooth

• Perform mechanical cutting, thermal cutting, and manual heating

• Implement quality procedures

• Examine and test welds and welding equipment

• Assist with periodic maintenance of welding tools

• Upgrade or repair damaged machinery or spare parts

3. What Tools And Technologies Do A Welder Need?

• Welders work with the following tools and technologies:

• Heavy machineries such as cranes and forklifts

• Different types of metals

• Specialist welding tools such as stick welders and cutting torches

• Power tools

• Hand tools

They must wear a PPE kit to keep themselves safe from probable safety hazards. This kit includes a breathing apparatus, gauntlets, earplugs, leather gloves, welding masks, and wedding helmets.

4. What Are The Requirements To Be A Welder?

The following are the most-sought personal requirements in a welder:

• Good eye-hand coordination

• Enjoy outdoor work

• Able to handle a physically demanding job

• Good communication skills

• Attention to detail

• Normal eyesight

• Good Mathematical skills 

• Safety-conscious 

• Able to work independently

• Good problem-solving skills

• Able to deliver high-quality, neat and precise work

• Able to use CAD software

• Proficiency in power tools and hand-held operations 

• Good knowledge of welding equipment and welding/positional welding techniques

• Knowledge of safe welding practices

• Able to read blueprints, engineering plans/drawings, and sketches

5. Qualifications To Become A Welder In Australia

You need the following welding qualifications to become a qualified welder (First Class) and work legally in Australia:

• Complete your High School Education

• Complete the Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade (MEM30305). This welding certificate course is part of a traineeship.

• Though not essential, you may complete a pre-apprenticeship course that equips you with the crucial knowledge and skills to seek an apprentice role in the engineering industry.

6. How To Become A Welder In Australia?

Most states in Australia require welders to complete a Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade/engineering tradesperson fabrication (first-class welder) to qualify as professional welders.

Available as an apprenticeship, the course teaches learners the necessary skills to students while working on the job. The typical duration of the apprenticeship is around 42 to 48 months.

You can undertake this traineeship whether you are a school pass-out or an adult looking for a career change. You can start your apprenticeship while studying in school. Talk to the VET Coordinator of your school to begin your training through VET (Vocational Education and Training). 

However, in other cases, you can apply for an apprenticeship at a registered training provider and get paid while learning and working.

7. How Long Does It Take To Become A Welder In Australia?

To work as a Welder in Australia, you must have a Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade (first-class welder). 

The typical duration of this apprenticeship program is around 42 to 48 months.

8. Online Welding Courses In Australia

Australian Welding Solutions has developed a system to enable welder's complete welder qualifications online. It prepares the "Australian welding ticket", a mandatory document for Welder Qualification Testing.

AWS also provides customized training programs for welders, short courses for Supervisors, Engineers, and workshops for inspectors on the Science of Welding. The institution runs online welding courses in Australia via a webcam, video conference, or smartphone.

This makes the online wedding process simple, cost-effective, and efficient. In addition to convenience, you will save a lot of money on travel and accommodation.

9. Welding Certification Programs

The Australian Welding Institute has designed a certification scheme for the evaluation of the skills and capabilities of a welder. The industry drives this flexible, progressive, and logical certification scheme.

Successful completion of a welding certification confirms that the welder's competence meets the required standards and codes in the Australian welding and fabrication industry.

The welder obtains a wallet card and a verifiable and acknowledged certificate from the Australian industry.  AWS works in partnership with TWI Global, the world's largest provider of welding technology and inspection-based training.

How about becoming a welding inspector in Australia? AWI could be the best training institute to consider. It works with Registered Training Organisations and TAFE to implement a nationally recognized education scheme that caters to the following:

• Certification of Welding Inspectors 

• AS 1796 certificates or welding tickets 1-9 

• Certification of Welding Supervisors to AS 1796 and AS 2214

10. Welder Apprenticeship Programs

Do you want to know how to become a welder apprentice? Weld Australia is a globally recognized training institution that offers a wide range of flexible learning courses to aspiring welders.

Weld Australia is the leading welder training organization in Australia that is committed to producing highly skilled future welder's generation. They run a wide range of training, certification, and qualification programs for Australian welders, manufacturing and fabrication companies, and industries.

Weld Australia delivers specialist industry-based learning courses in many study options, such as face-to-face, blending, and online. A list of their training courses includes:

• Welding Inspection courses

• Welder Certification Courses

• Welding Appreciation Courses

• Welding Supervision and Coordination Courses

These courses equip students with the understanding and skills to improve job opportunities on a global scale.

11. TAFE Welding Courses

Are you considering becoming a welder with no experience? The "TAFE Statement In Basic Welding" is an introductory course for beginners without knowledge. This is a short-duration part-time course delivered on campus.

Other TAFE courses to consider are as follows:

• TAFE Statement In Advanced Welding To As1554 – TAFE NSW (Short Course)

• Introduction to Welding – TAFE Queensland (Non-Accredited)

• Manufacturing and Welding – TAFE SA

• Welding For Beginners – North Metro TAFE (Short Course)

• Certificate IV in Engineering (Welding) –South Metro TAFE

• Introduction To Welding – Wodonga TAFE (Short Course)

• Introduction To Welding –TAFE Gippsland (Short Course)

• Women in Welding - TAFE Queensland (Non-accredited Short Course)

12. Welding Tickets 1-9 List

Here is the complete list of welding certificates:

• Certificate No. 1 - Manual metal arc welding (MMAW) of butt welds in carbon steel plate and carbon steel pipe over 600 mm outside diameter (single vee welded from both sides).

• Certificate No. 1E - Manual metal arc welding (MMAW) or butt welds in carbon steel plate and carbon steel pipe over 270 mm outside diameter (single vee welded from one side only).

• Certificate No. 2 - Manual metal arc welding (MMAW) of butt welds in carbon steel plate and carbon steel pipe (single vee welded from one side only)

• Certificate No. 3 - Manual metal arc welding (MMAW) for but welds using hydrogen-controlled electrodes in alloy steel plate and steel pipe over 270 mm outside diameter (single vee welded from both sides).

• Certificate No. 3E - Manual metal arc welding (MMAW) of butt welds using hydrogen-controlled electrodes in alloy steel plate and steel pipe over 270 mm outside diameter (single vee welded from one side only).

• Certificate No. 4 - Manual metal arc welding (MMAW) of butt welds using hydrogen-controlled electrodes in alloy steel pipe (single vee welded from one side only)

• Certificate No. 5 - Gas tungsten-arc welding (GTAW) root run and manual metal-arc welding (MMAW) of butt welds using hydrogen-controlled electrodes in alloy steel pipe (single vee welded from one side only).

• Certificate No. 6 - Gas welding (GW) (single vee welded from one side only).

• Certificate No. 7 - Gas tungsten-arc welding (GTAW) (single vee welded from one side only).

• Certificate No. 8F - Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) or plate and pipe.

• Certificate No. 8G - Gas metal-arc welding (GMAW) of plate and pipe.

• Certificate No. 9 - Automatic welding.

13. Job Prospects For Welder In Australia

It is a medium-sized occupation. Most qualified welders (First Class) work in the Construction, Oil and Gas, Petro Chemicals, Mining, Power Stations, Technical, Professional, and Manufacturing industries in Australia. The government Job Outlook website projects stable future growth in this sector.

Though welders are in need in all regions of Australia, most work in Western Australia. Most welders choose to specialize as a "Special Class Welder" after gaining experience.

14. How To Emigrate To Australia As A Welder?

Are you a migrant wanting to work as a welder in Australia? Then, you would need to complete a skills assessment to apply for a skilled visa to Australia. 

This way, Australian Immigration checks whether you have the necessary welding skills per Australian guidelines.

Qualifications

It is optional to hold a Welder qualification to take the skills assessment. However, you must have either a Welder apprenticeship certificate or three years of paid work experience before or after qualifying for the Welder skills assessment.

Age

Your age must be between 18 and 45 years. Migrants below 31 years can consider applying for a Working Holiday Visa.

Process

• First stage: Here, the applicant provides documents proving he is a Welder. Payslips, detailed CV, references, qualifications, photos, and videos are documents required to attest your Welder designation.

• Second stage: You must attend a technical interview with an Australian-qualified trainer, assessor, and welder. The interview can be over Skype, Zoom, or a one-to-one discussion.

Once you complete the Australian Welder skills assessment, you will obtain a TRA skills assessment letter. With this letter, you get a skilled visa to Australia and an Australian Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade (First Class).

You will require to present both these documents before Australian employers when applying for Welder jobs in Australia.

Cost

• Documentary Assessment: $1280 (estimated)
• Technical interview: $2000 (estimated)

Validity of Assessment

The Australian Welder skills assessment has validity for three years from the date of issue of the skills assessment letter. You must reapply for the evaluation before the completion of 3 years.

However, there is no expiry date for Australian Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade.

15. Work Environment Of A Welder In Australia

A welder works in physically strenuous outdoor conditions under different weather conditions. This work environment can be uncomfortable and loud.

Considering the associated safety hazards, a welder has to mandatorily protective safety clothing and gear that include life jackets, safety shoes, gloves, glasses, and hard hats.

Regarding the nature of employment, around 88% of workers work full-time. This is higher than the industry's average of 66%. When working full-time, welders work for approx — 44 hours per week.

The average age of the employed welders is 41 years, almost the same as the average of 40 years of all other professions. It is a male-dominated job where only 1% of the employed workforce is female.

16. How Much Does A Welder Earn In Australia?

Based on PayScale, the average welder's salary is AU$57,812 a year or an equivalent of AU$27.30 per hour in Australia. $1,541.

Based on Experience

• An entry-level Welder (< 1-year experience): AU$23.75 per hour

• An early career Welder (1 to 4 years of experience): AU$25.10 per hour

• A mid-career Welder (5 to 9 years of experience): AU$27.62 per hour

• An experienced Welder (10 to 19 years of experience): AU$29.38 per hour

• In late-career (20 years and above): AU$29 per hour

Based on Location

Based on Indeed, the top-paying Australian cities for Welders are as follows:

• Darwin Northern Territory: $57.44 per hour

• Perth, Western Australia: $41.26 per hour

• Melbourne, Victoria: $39.42 per hour

• Sydney, New South Wales: $38.50 per hour

• Brisbane Queensland: $38.41 per hour

• Welshpool Western Australia: $38.25 per hour

• Dandenong Victoria: $36.27 per hour

• Newcastle, New South Wales: $35.58 per hour

17. Conclusion

A career in welding may appeal to only a few. However, it can be an excellent option for those who enjoy working with hands in a challenging environment. Working as a welder gives you a great sense of fulfilment and pride when you look at your welding creation.

With no significant formal qualification, it takes little to pursue your passion and enter this profession. Completing a welding course from the above prestigious institutions prepares you for a thriving career in the welding industry.

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