Hi mdk2015,
The next Enroute course for this year starts in July. After that the next Enroute will start in January 2018.

I've been doing shift work for as along as I can remember. I am all too aware of the fatigue that comes with it.
Despite this, your comments do not fill me with confidence. In fact they make me worried that I've set upon this path with misguided intentions and nothing but misery ahead of me. Is it really that bad?

Hi,

Does anybody have any idea when recruitment for international ATCOs might begin again?

Thanks

@247 - Makes two of us. Im sitting here waiting for the next international ad.
So far, all my research has yielded a blank. No news when next there will be an international posting.

Fingers crossed they need some experienced Tower controllers!

No.

It's possible most of the time to swap shifts with colleagues if you're willing and flexible; at least in the groups I've worked in. Morning shifts followed by overnight (doggo) shifts have been removed from most groups rosters.
I would never go back to working the same shift every day.

Best Way to ASA Melbourne
 

Hello,

I am a new migrant and living in Melbourne - I am starting at Airservices Melbourne on Monday but since I do not have a license yet I will be commuting. If I am coming from terminal 4, is the best way to go to ASA tower really is taking a cab? Thanks!

Unless you know someone who can give you a lift, a taxi is the only way.

A few people ride bikes to work - you can have a shower if you get a sweat up!

I've experienced problems getting taxis to take me from the terminal to the tower. They want to pick up a higher fare, say to Dandenong/Frankston. I've had some success going upstairs to the taxi drop-off at Departures and asking if they'll take me around to the tower. Since they are heading that way anyway, to the taxi rank, they'll often say ok.

Hello !
rumour has it that AsA is currently changing its mind regarding foreign experienced controllers... Is there anything official ?

Maybe someone has realised that the 457 Visas are for 4 years and at the end of that time you need to start the process all over again!!

I'm sorry I don't get your point...
If I understand correctly, PR is possible after 4 years and most applicants stay, so no need to start it all over again, I mean it's not like the guys are leaving after 4 years, are they ?

Hi, JackD!

The 'problem' could be the age. If you're under 50 when you complete your first 2 years of your 4-year contract, you can apply for the permanent residence visa, so you can be offered a permanent contract by ASA at the end of the initial 4 year contract. If you're over 50, you would have to depend on ASA's sponsorship at the end of the 4 year period to apply for the permanent visa, which they can not guarantee ...

OK thanks for that answer...
So you're still understaffed, they just decided to limit or stop hiring internationals ?

AsA certainly has changed its mind regarding foreign experienced controllers. I received an email this morning stating that the Skills shortage list has changed and my planned employment will no longer proceed.

wow that's bad... so you were planned and they cancelled everything ? (can't PM you :( ).
Is it cancelled, or postponed ?

That is absolutely shocking if they've literally offered you a job and then rescinded the offer just like that...

The skills shortage list is a government thing. If ATC is taken off the list that changes visa type eligibility and hence eligibility for employment in Australia. See https://www.employment.gov.au/occupa...es-information

ATC seems still to be on the CSOL (Consolidated skilled occupancy list)... and apparently staff numbers aren't so good, especially if you look a couple of years ahead, so why would they remove it ?

Political scoring. Forign workers have been a key issue umong public.

JackD
Sorry, ATC is removed from the CSOL. See https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/...ed-occupations.

Yes, line ATCs always feel that there should be more bodies, but obviously management strikes the balance (arguably getting it right or otherwise) between the cost of staffing to slightly over 100% and keeping the ship running with a bit of resourcing tension to avoid staffing inefficiencies creeping in.

There's a long pipeline of citizen applicants to feed future demand. Non citizens with ATC quals are generally only recruited when there is a critical shortage that requires people to be on board faster than the normal ab initio training timeframes.