Congrats to those who got an offer!
I've just applied for the current 2024 intake. Any advice from successful candidates?

I think that is inaccurate. That example equates to 61hrs/72hrs a fortnight. You have I think got 1 too many Days off there. 3 after last night shift not 4 would be the standard thing if they did that pattern.
But your example gives 132 days off a year @ 61hrs/fortnight, (if u get offered this u have won the rostering lotto !), however with 3 off it gives only 109 days off a year and 67hrs/fortnight which is still 5hrs short so would need a few 40hr/5day cycles with 2 off in roster or similar to get back square again with the hours and then also your days off reduce even more. Like 104/yr which is worse than an office worker who gets all PH off as well. Hope you enjoy shiftwork ? Imagine always getting up at 430am next day after days off ? That pattern looks awful tbh ? Am sure there are better ways to draft rosters though its not rocket science is it ?

First of all good luck with your application and thanks for the congrats :)

I've got a few tips which I feel helped me out. They're pretty general too so even if the specific tests change down the track they should still be relevant for anyone applying in the future.

1. Put safety first! This becomes relevant from the Interrupt test onwards. I'm putting it first here to support the point. ATC is a safety based role. If you're unsure what to prioritise or have multiple options, go with the safer, more conservative action.

2. Listen to/read the instructions carefully. Some tasks require accuracy, so you should only answer once you're confident with your result. Other tests require you to finish all questions, so you need to manage your time. Others don't punish at all so you might as well guess if you don't know the answer. Understand the test parameters and plan accordingly.

3. Give yourself the best chance you can to perform at your best. Don't drink alcohol before a test, get plenty of sleep, eat and drink well etc. Make sure you're comfortable and won't get distracted or interrupted. Then settle in and focus. Some people try to do the tests during a lunch break at work which is definitely going to give you a handicap.

Good luck and hopefully I see you at the academy!

Rumour for everyone, heard from someone involved in training in Aus that they might be getting NZ to train a course for them since they are low on instructors. Who knows if it will actually happen.

Might this be why it appears that nobody got through from the Brisbane assessment day? Has anyone heard of anyone who has, yet?
If we got rejected due to no instructors and AsA insists that this attempt still counts as one of the max two applications, it doesn't seem quite right.

Having said all that, I just got my feedback call from Holly.

She said I did really well throughout however I just fell short in the Verbal reasoning assessment after an adjustment of the bench mark.

When this adjustment was made, was hopefully prior to my assessment but had it been made after completion sounds a bit of a rip job.

But alas, it was a fun journey and Holly was really constructive with her feedback.

We haven't had a sudden exodus of instructors here, but the college has been short on them for years. Unfortunately, given the massive failure rates on the course, recruitment has to prioritise the "strongest candidates". But it's definitely a bit of a rub that you didn't make it through, due this selection process having a glut of candidates, I'm with you there. :ugh:

On my course only a quarter or so knew of PPRune, so it's probably a case of non-PPRune users from the Brisbane AC making it through. However, definitely try again when you can! On my course, plenty of people got through the second time.

NZ has a 95% pass rate, which I think the main reason they are considering NZ for training.

Rip man, Just had the same phone call and the same thing, verbal reasoning dropped under the benchmark.
Seems a bit of an odd decision to alter benchmarks after an assessment centre during an intake, sure-fire way to make it seem like you just wasted 4 months of someone's time.

Thanks! I completed the first round of online testing this week on my day off. I feel like I did well overall, though I ran out of time during the inductive reasoning and spatial tests. I had about 1-2 questions left to go on each. Fingers crossed that doesn't rule me out!

What are things like at the academy?

Hi all, has anyone heard from ASA regarding the December 23' or February 24' intakes?

Did the round 1 online test over the weekend, still waiting for the result.

Looks like I didn't make it past the first round of tests. Oh well...
How regular are their intakes? I'm determined to try again next time!

Online Interviews
 

Recorded Interview due this week. Can anyone remember what questions they are likely to ask. Thanks

A few times a year I believe, but you have to wait 12months before you can try again.

Standard HR type questions using STAR method. Will be easier to google

did you hear any updates?

Negative. Given that the Oct 2023 cohort received their calls in June (i.e. 4 months prior to starting), then I'd expect the calls for Dec 2023 to also be 4 months prior (i.e. Aug 2023). Clearly August has passed and no-one that I know of has received a call regarding that intake. So I suspect that they didn't get enough people to fill the Dec 2023 intake and thus why they're currently going through another round of assessments to fill the Feb 2024 intake. So if my 4-month hunch is correct, then we should expect to hear sometime in October. To me, this makes sense since based on the recent posts here on pprune and other forums, it appears that a few people are just past half-way through all the application tests - meaning that they're likely to finish in October. Thus, I'm expecting a call from Holly in October. I'd suspect that we'll both be in the same cohort in Feb 2024 :)

Got offered to start tower course starting Dec 4th. Finally!

Only catch is that training will be in Christchurch but will be shorter.
I’m told there are 6 in my group. Maybe its unlikely but I wonder if anyone is from here?

Nice nice! Congrats! Disregard my previous post :D All the best!

Training in Christchurch? That's a new one. Can you elaborate on this?

They’re outsourcing to Airways International to run more courses simultaneously. Slightly bummed that I will miss out on life and connections at the academy in Melb but oh well that’s life. The NZ bunch look like they have a good track record training NZ and UAE ATCs so I’m not too worried at this stage.

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

Congratulations on getting through. How much notice did you get of the course being in NZ? What’s the accommodation situation? I assume you stay over there for the length of the course?

I was given 3 months notice until the start of training. The actual move to CHC won’t happen until 2-3 months into training and its going to be split between chc and at local base. Flying back and forth a few times. 20weeks total in chc. Besides that I wasn’t given specifics. Accommodation is self arranged but there will be an allowance.

If they do run another course through Christchurch next time I think it could be different depending on how our intake goes. It does seem like we are the guinea pigs haha

Does anyone here have their assessment centre this month?

Called it :cool:

https://australianaviation.com.au/20...-atc-training/

Can't even train their own controllers now!

An initial cohort of six Airservices Australia trainees will be sent to Christchurch following 10 weeks of online training with Airways’ AKO virtual academy. This represents the beginning of a new contract between the two ATC organisations, with further cohorts expected to be sent in future. ......

Hi all,
Can anyone tell about the conversion course for the experience Air Traffic controllers. What is the success rate during the training and success rate for the final rating endorsement.

Thanks in advance

Looks like AsA are hiring Simulator Support Officers. Does anyone know if it’s possible to move laterally from SSO into ATC?
I’ve heard rumours that there is a pathway for it.

There is no formal pathway to it internally. You'll still have to pass the tests and interviews like the general public. The only advantage you might get is the admin side of it because of having an ASIC and company profile, and being somewhat familiar with the role.

A possible disadvantage is a conflict of interest because you'd have done or seen ATC sim exams as an SSO.

New hopeful
 

Hey everyone!
I’m going through the newest set of recruitment for ASA, waiting for my second phase 2 of online testing.

I’ve read a fair bit here of the recruitment process, and although im not largely confident im going to get through im very curious about the life past testing

Any chance any controllers can tell me what the 12-15 months are like in training actually? What dyu learn etc

Conversion course is usually based on a Training Needs Analysis (Gap Analysis) and usually done in Melbourne. Success rate is usually pretty high though matching your skills and experience to your new location isn't always AsA strong suit. Examples include Radar Controllers to a Procedural Sectors, Procedural Tower ATCs to a Radar Tower.

Recently heard of nil conversion course, experienced ATC sent directly to a Radar Tower.

5 or 6 years ago there was a trial of SSO > ATC, unsure whether it was successful.

Thanks missy, my application is still on active hold. I guess ASA usually take longer duration for the final outcome. Interview and ref check was completed in October, 2023 and yet no concrete answer. 😊

Do you have the right to work in Australia? Last I heard they weren't sponsoring visa application, but that could change.