CONTROL & AUTOMATION ELECTRICIAN

Emigrate to Australia as a Control and Automation Electrician

If you’re a UK-qualified Control and Automation Electrician planning to work in Australia, your journey begins with a mandatory skills assessment. This process ensures that your technical training and practical experience in industrial automation, PLC systems, SCADA, and instrumentation align with Australian electrical and safety standards—particularly AS/NZS 3000 (Australian Wiring Rules) and AS/NZS 61439 for control panels.

The skills assessment is carried out by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) or a government-authorised Registered Training Organisation (RTO). It evaluates your capabilities in wiring control panels, configuring variable speed drives (VSDs), programming PLCs, and maintaining integrated automation systems in industrial environments.

Without a successful skills assessment, you cannot apply for a work visa or gain a trade license in Australia. At Electrician Australia, we support Control and Automation Electricians through every stage of the process—assisting with evidence collation, preparing you for technical interviews, and guiding you through any practical evaluations.

A successful outcome earns you an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), verifying that your UK qualifications meet the Australian Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician standard.

GAP Training – The Final Step to Full Licensing

All Control and Automation Electricians from the UK begin work in Australia on a Provisional Electrical License. During your first 6–7 months on the job, you’ll need to complete GAP Training.

This includes a logbook of supervised work and passing the Australian Electrical Context module, which focuses on local compliance, safety protocols, and working within the Australian standards for control and automation environments.

This GAP Training must be completed onshore in Australia. We arrange it through a local TAFE or approved provider in collaboration with your employer to ensure your practical experience counts toward your full licensing requirements.

After completing your GAP Training, you can apply for your A-Grade Electrical License, allowing you to work independently across Australia on advanced control systems, automated plant installations, robotics, and smart manufacturing projects.

Steps to Move to Australia as a Control and Automation Electrician

• Complete Skills Assessment with Electrician Australia
• Apply for all Eligible Australian Visas – Free Service
• Start the Job Search – our Recruiters will help
• Apply for 3-Year Working Holiday Visa (if under 35)
• Receive an Invitation to Apply for Skilled Migration
• Apply for a Provisional License
• Arrive in Australia & Start Work
• Complete GAP Training
• Increase Earnings as an A Grade Control & Automation Electrician

Australia Visa Options

If you’re a UK-qualified Control and Automation Electrician planning to take your career to Australia, securing the right visa is essential to accessing high-paying, long-term employment. One of the most accessible and direct routes is the Skills in Demand (SID) Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 482). This visa allows you to work in Australia for up to four years with a clear, structured pathway to permanent residency via the Subclass 186 ENS visa.

UK Control and Automation Electricians—regardless of age—are eligible for the SID visa as long as they hold a positive skills assessment (OTSR). At Electrician Australia, we handle the entire process: free visa support, guidance with your skills assessment, and guaranteed job placement with licensed employers operating in advanced manufacturing, mining automation, industrial robotics, and process control environments.

3-Year Working Holiday Visa for UK Control & Automation Electricians (Under 35)

If you’re under 35, hold a UK passport, and are relocating without dependents, you may also be eligible for a 3-year Working Holiday Visa (WHV). This visa offers unrestricted work rights and no longer requires farm work or sponsorship.

For Control and Automation Electricians, the WHV offers a low-commitment entry point into Australia’s automation sector. You can use your first six months to complete your GAP Training, secure your A-Grade Electrical License, and gain local experience with top-tier employers working on PLC programming, VSD commissioning, SCADA integration, and control panel design. Many tradespeople convert from a WHV to a sponsored or PR visa while working full-time.

Permanent Residency Pathways for UK Control and Automation Electricians

We always recommend applying for a more permanent visa early—either alongside your WHV or through the recruitment process. We manage this at no cost to you, giving you peace of mind and long-term visa security.

Popular options include:

• Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent Visa): A points-tested PR visa with no employer or state sponsorship required—ideal for experienced automation electricians with strong PLC, SCADA, and process control credentials.
• Subclass 190 (State Nominated Visa): A permanent visa with state sponsorship. High-demand states like NSW, QLD, and VIC regularly invite control and automation professionals for infrastructure, manufacturing, and smart industry roles.
• Subclass 491 (Regional Skilled Visa): A 5-year provisional visa leading to PR after three years in regional areas. Control and Automation Electricians are in critical demand in regional hubs such as the Hunter Valley, Gold Coast, and WA’s industrial belt.

With automation skills now seen as essential for modern industry, visa approvals for Control and Automation Electricians are moving faster than ever. Electrician Australia takes care of everything—from paperwork to job matching—so you can hit the ground running and focus on what you do best: building intelligent, efficient, and safe control systems for Australia’s growing industries.

Working in Australia as a Control & Automation Electrician

Once your visa is approved, the next step is securing the right role—and that’s where we come in. We specialise in placing UK-qualified Control and Automation Electricians (ANZSCO Code ) with licensed employers across Australia’s advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, defence, and smart building sectors.

From PLC-intensive production environments to SCADA-driven water treatment facilities and energy-efficient automation projects, we help you step straight into high-paying, technically rewarding employment.

Australia is experiencing a major shortfall in skilled automation electricians—particularly in regions like Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria where demand for process control, instrumentation, and industrial automation is at an all-time high.

Through our national employer network, we place electricians into roles offering: competitive salaries and long-term contracts; immediate-start roles with full visa sponsorship; opportunities to work on smart factory upgrades, automated manufacturing lines, mining plant control systems, airport baggage systems, and public infrastructure automation; positions involving PLC and HMI programming, commissioning, instrumentation loops, and fieldbus/protocol integration (e.g., Modbus, Profibus, BACnet).

UK Electricians experienced with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, Schneider, or Beckhoff systems are in especially high demand.

High Earning Potential & Onsite Perks

Australia rewards technical skill—especially in automation. Control & Automation Electricians can expect: starting salaries from AUD $100,000 – $120,000+; experienced professionals frequently earn AUD $130,000 – $160,000+ depending on site and system complexity; additional earnings from shift loading, commissioning bonuses, and site uplifts; structured development pathways toward controls engineering, site supervisory, or commissioning specialist roles.

Licensing & Compliance for Automation Electricians

To work independently in Australia, you’ll need an A-Grade Electrical License. We assist with: converting your OTSR into a full license through GAP Training; aligning your training via a local TAFE with employer support; managing state registration, White Card, and any site- or industry-specific compliance (e.g., LVR/CPR, confined space, high-risk work permits).

Relocation & Settlement Support

We do more than find you a job—we set you up for long-term success. We help with everything from accommodation support and airport pick-up to bank account setup, TFN registration, and induction into local union or safety systems. Whether you’re working on a major automation upgrade in Sydney or integrating control systems for a regional food processing facility, we ensure your relocation is smooth and fully supported.

With automation and smart systems now driving Australia’s industrial future, there’s never been a better time for UK Control and Automation Electricians to make the move.

Transitioning from the UK to Australia as a Control & Automation Electrician

Relocating to Australia as a UK-qualified Control & Automation Electrician means entering a market that demands precision in process control, field instrumentation, and intelligent systems integration across sectors like mining, water treatment, logistics, food processing, and advanced manufacturing.

Your first step will be securing an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), verifying your UK qualifications align with the Australian Certificate III in Electrotechnology. This is followed by GAP Training and supervised work under a Provisional Electrical License. GAP Training focuses on adapting your knowledge to the Australian context, including compliance with AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules) and AS/NZS 61439 for switchboard assemblies, as well as job site safety protocols like LOTO (Lockout/Tagout), isolation procedures, and test-and-tag.

On the job, you’ll be expected to work autonomously on systems involving PLC programming (Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider), HMI/SCADA interfaces, PID loop tuning, instrument commissioning, and fieldbus network protocols such as Profibus, DeviceNet, Modbus RTU/TCP, or EtherNet/IP. Control Electricians in Australia are routinely involved in tasks like programming VSDs, building and wiring MCCs, integrating temperature/pressure/flow transmitters, and working with control panels to AS standards—often with industrial clients operating under 24/7 uptime requirements.

If you’re already working on BMS, process automation, or advanced fault-finding across distributed I/O and remote telemetry, your skills will transfer exceptionally well. You’ll also benefit from strong EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement) rates, structured RDOs, and the chance to specialise further into commissioning, system integration, or project engineering roles.