I got a gig in Canadia in 2003 and the numbers at that time were pretty much same same as far as Edmonton vs Brisbane. I was a top pay scale aussie ATC at the time in OZ. Costs in Canada were cheaper and made it pretty much same same at the interim level they were offering there. I pretty much gauge my happiness based on my days off. Roster me, leave me alone when not at work, allow me to be a controller when I am and approve my leave as I want it. The rest, I don't really care about.

I have a bunch of opinion both ways including work and work culture and have family working in Canadian ATC right now if you wish to pm for further info. I have not worked in OZ for nearly 3 years now though to quantify.

Depends on your definition of "nice" I guess but you'd be making compromises for the first few years at least, particularly on a single wage. Housing can be very expensive but for instance Melbourne airport is outer suburban so the housing is more affordable in the area if you don't mind outer suburban.

There's no such thing as a "high grade" tower assignment- we're all paid the same and you start at the bottom and work your way up the payscales.

Has anyone ever had a reference check done (a favourable one...) and NOT been offered a position?

Greetings to all

nice job with the FAQs

finally got my Phone Interview done :) looks like it went pretty good.

just wondering if anyone was able to get a visit to MEL ATC recently?

Cheers :ok:

just wondering if anyone was able to get a visit to MEL ATC recently?

Yep, just give head office a call and they will give you the contact details for someone at Tullamarine who can arrange a time for you.

Everyone was really generous with their time and happy to answer all the stupid questions I threw at them.

I got to spend a few hours in enroute and a quick visit to the tower. Well worth the visit.

References rung today! :D

Room AVBL
 

I have a room available in my house from Friday the 18th if anyone is interested. It's in Taylors Hill, takes about 20 minutes to get to work in the morning. I've just finished in the academy and am starting field training now, my housemate is who just finished is heading up to Brissy.
The house and room is fully furnished with plenty of street parking avbl (it's a safe area, watch the garbage trucks though...). Rent is $120p/w inclusive of unlimited internet and all bills split evenly. Shops close by and the train to get into the city is about a 5 minute drive.

PM me if interested.

cheers all
Kieran

Just one thing to add to the training. It is rigorous, it is full on from the time you hit the academy. Make sure that you have the full support of everyone around you.
The time in the training college can best be describe as a game of Tetris, you keep getting hit with blocks of information, it's your job to put them into place. If you miss any time, think of that as a block not placed in a good position, so all of a sudden you have blocks stacking up. All of a sudden your focus becomes skewed, you get a little bit behind etc etc.
By suggesting it is like Tetris, it isn't a game, you just have to be on top all the time. If you miss any time or fail to pass an exam, then every minute that you use to recover from what you have missed takes time away from the next subject.
The lecturers are all really good, very helpful. They will try to get through but you have to make the effort.
All the other students are really good as well. It is quite a friendly environment. Make sure that you get on well with your group. You will spend the next twelve months with the group on a very close basis.

What to study.
 

Have a look at some of the information on the following websites. It wont give you answers to all your questions, but become familiar with the information, it will make everything a little easier once you get going.
Aviation Weather Services
Pilot's Web The Aviators' Journal - Principles of Flight
Flight instruments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Air navigation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
These are probably a good start. You do get lots of good course information, just keep your reading up.

Another thing, much of the information must be learnt by rote. Rote learning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh, and you might like to look at Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) | Airservices this as well.

This gives a good explanation of rote learning. It is very important once you hit the academy.

I have a bunch of opinion both ways including work and work culture and have family working in Canadian ATC right now if you wish to pm for further info. I have not worked in OZ for nearly 3 years now though to quantify.
I was ATC in Canada for 13 years so I know that employer prety well, thanks for the information though.

Depends on your definition of "nice" I guess but you'd be making compromises for the first few years at least, particularly on a single wage. Housing can be very expensive but for instance Melbourne airport is outer suburban so the housing is more affordable in the area if you don't mind outer suburban.

There's no such thing as a "high grade" tower assignment- we're all paid the same and you start at the bottom and work your way up the payscales.
In Canada the busier Towers and ACC get higher payscales and premiums. I did notice that housing in the major cities in Australia seems quite pricey..

Yeah.. not sure of it is worth the trouble of starting from scratch moving across the Pacific. Thanks for the information though.

Hi guys/girls thanks for the great information
Stevep64 good luck with the course mate and YMML isn't really that bad and love to have a look at your FAQ's if you get a chance
Will advise thanks for answering the questions we are all asking and saving me alot of time trolling through 90 odd pages
quester2000 mate hope you get through, glad you enjoyed the day and any further insights you can offer into the assessment day would be greatly appreciated
Blackgoat I'll see you on the 24th In Melb should be one hell of a day:)

How are locations assigned in Australia for trainees? Popularity contest or luck of the draw?

Archer13, my FAQ has been incorporated into Will's.
Melbourne's okay so far, AsA are paying our accommodation this week and we've already found a place to live for the duration of the course, less than 15 minutes from work.
Can't complain about the weather. If I don't like it I just wait 5 minutes and it changes :)

Luck of the draw. Or luck of where they need trainees at the time. You can nominate preferences but there's no guarantee. For tower you could end up anywhere in the country, while for en-route it's Melbourne or Brisbane.

Speaking of the FAQ. Any chance of it being posted as a separate thread Will? Otherwise it'll get buried. Or are you waiting for more input first?

Where is the ATC training centre, if there is a central one.
Is it like the one in Canada used to be; self contained, dorms, cafeteria, the works?
Or do you have to rent your own place.

Hah. Nothing like that Gill. The Navcan place is like a hotel. That Irish pub was awesome. Loved how at closing time they would sell you three jugs and let you drink them in the foyer.

Plazbot,
Those days are long over.
These days they do the training in the six ACCs around the country, you pay for it, you rent your own place, you cook your own meals, make your bed and all those things PLUS no pay!

The training is in Melbourne (except for a few courses that have been run in Brisbane) and it's in the Airservices compound at the airport - next to the tower. Accommodation is your responsibility, as is making your bed, but you can chance your stomach in the canteen (BYO money).

Is the canteen subsidised, or is it normal food court type prices. I'm old enough to remember subsidised Telecom canteens :\

I'm willing to risk my stomach, occasionally, for cheap food, but might stick to packed lunches from home.

I don't think the food is subsidised - about $8 for dinner. I tend to bring my own, but then Mrs Pingouin is a dab hand in the kitchen :) It also beats the queue and I don't miss out if I can't unplug.