In Oct 07 Alan at Go Matilda posted an article about going route b instead of d and quoted the following

"Skill Pathway B issues can arise though in the context of 900 hours of Formal Training. Having discussed this issue more than once with TRA and lodged applications for UK based clients on the basis of these discussions, our experience is that applicants who have qualifications that are equivalent to UK NVQ Level 2 (or higher) are being assessed as meeting the Formal Training requirement.

This opens up Skill Pathway B as a route for trade skills persons who may have been considering that the abolition of Skill Pathway D has closed off their Australian visa options.

Of course, the issue that flows from this is the question of what to do if you do not have a formal qualification at NVQ Level 2 or higher. In such a situation we recommend that you investigate acquiring such a qualification - those who have the appropriate trade skills should find that obtaining a qualification at this level is a relatively straightforward task.
Quote from Alan Collet cica 0ct '07
Resources that we have found useful when advising our clients include:

- City and Guilds
- UK National Database of Accredited Qualifications
- UK Database of Accredited Qualifications Search "

This statement seems to have given my hubby a sense of false security. My husband has had an NVQ level 2 since 2004 and 15 years work experience in the same job with the same employer prior to taking the qualification. Surely this qualification states that you can do the job and not just talk about it.

We have been told by Alan's work colleague that his application would be high risk to be presented to TRA, so before any of you get this qualification and this will be the only qualification you will have, your so many years of experience is still down the drain. We were told that you had to have 2 years training that lead to the NVQ. This cancels the statement above.

First comment how did your husband obtain his NVQ2? After a period of formal training, or after a workplace assessment? We had confirmation from TRA last year that they would accept NVQ Level 2 qualifications obtained via a workplace assessment as acceptable, and this was what led to the article on Go Matilda News. Indeed, we have had clients with NVQ2 qualifications after a workplace assessment successfully obtain a TRA classification through their Skill Pathway B.

However, our previous level of comfort was reduced following a subsequent communication with TRA, in which we were advised by a senior person that NVQ2s obtained after a workplace assessment were not acceptable - even though we were nevertheless seeing such applications approved.

I have highlighted with senior persons at TRA the apparent illogical stance they are taking - to me an NVQ is an NVQ, irrespective of how obtained.

For this reason we are now advising those with NVQ2s obtained after a workplace assessment who enquire of us that there is a risk that such an application will not be successful, but that we are happy to help prepare and lodge an application that optimises the position.

In closing, my opinion (and it is only a hunch) is that we will see a new pathway introduced by TRA that will recognise approved qualifications howsoever obtained, and that this will be what comes in to replace the former Skill Pathway D.

Hope this helps to clarify the position as we see it.

Best regards.

Alan, my husband is a locksmith with on the job training, i emailed you last week regarding the AEQ, but have been advised my our agent to wait for the revised pathway D, my concern is that after reading your reply on here "In closing, my opinion (and it is only a hunch) is that we will see a new pathway introduced by TRA that will recognise approved qualifications howsoever obtained, and that this will be what comes in to replace the former Skill Pathway D."
there is not any formal qualification for locksmiths in this country, many weekend traning courses run by other locksmith but not any recognised qualifications !! any advice regards Sam.

What new Pathway D is being promised by your agent, Sam?

Persons in DIAC and VETASSESS (the assessing body that now assesses certain UK based trade skills applicants) have said that Skill Pathway D is not coming back. And why would it? The issues that led to its removal (fraudulent claims) has not gone away.

More probably we are looking at a new pathway that will enable those with certain other recognised qualifications (eg UK NVQs - however obtained) to obtain a positive skills assessment clasification.

I recommend you seriously question the comments by your agent, Sam. Is s/he a registered agent?

Incidentally, in the last few days we have seen a positive classification through TRA under Skill Pathway B where the applicant had secured qualifications after a period of study of somewhat less than 900 hours.

Best regards.

PS. We are progressing discussions with a TAFE in Australia in respect of the skills assessment process for locksmithing, but this looks likely to be a fairly expensive option ...

Hi Alan, to be honest they haven't promised anything they just want us to wait and see what they new criteria will be,whether it be a new pathway altogether or new rules to pathway d, it seems that for a locksmith there is a no win situation regarding qualifications needed. we feel we are a lost cause,our agents are registered. will give them a call and see what they are expecting us to do!! thanks again.

hi, my name is stuart eccleston sam`s husband, i have just been reading your reply to my wife`s question of the pathway d closure.
i have been told on good authority that the pathway d is opening , the 1st july 08.
i cannot belive that there is so much bull about wheather it is opening or not.
we are sticking with the opinion that it is opening and will wait until it does. many thanks stuart

Hello Stuart. Your posting indicates an understandable frustration with the position in which you find yourself.

Can I assure you that I have it on good authority that there is little to no chance of a pathway returning for those with trade skills seeking to obtain a skills assessment on the basis of work experience alone. Indeed I had a meeting in Queensland only yesterday with workplace assessors who are also in contact with TRA regularly, and they were of the same view as me.

Of course until TRA publishes its long awaited guidance all of us are merely offering opinions - albeit some with a more informed perspective than others.

Best regards.

I think what Sam and Stuart were trying to say was that there are NO qualifications WHATSOEVER for Locksmiths. There are various training courses which are run by other locksmiths but NONE of these result in a C%G or NVQ as it simply does not exist.
One training institution in the UK is working with a recognised body and will, upon successful completion of its' course, award a certificate which will be "nationally recognised."
For all the Locksmiths out there, Australia is the ONLY COUNTRY where there is a formal apprenticeship scheme for Locksmiths. In the USA, there are no formal bodies to give qualifications. Same goes for Canada. Of course there are no end of "organisations" claiming to be the superior ones to be a member of, most notably the MLA in the UK. But even here, if you do the training or advanced training with the MLA, you will get their certificate which is recognised only by themselves!
The MLAA (Australian) website has some handy stuff about what is involved in their practicals to be accepted as a member.
Maybe if TRA looked at this and used it as a guideline (changing the Australian relevant things to UK relevant etc) then an assessment could easily be set up in the UK.
Otherwise, I am left wondering if Locksmiths will be deleted from the skills in demand list as it is simply impossible to gain a positive assessment as there are no nationally awarded or recognised qualifications.
I am also wondering how anybody managed to apply successfully as a Locksmith from the UK before Pathway D was pulled last year as they would have only had experience to put forward and, as Alan says, TRA want to see paper qualifications.
Are there any expat Locksmiths reading this? How the hell did you get a positive assessment?!!

There is one TAFE in Australia that is providing an AQF III in Locksmithing - the NMIT (North Melbourne Institute of TAFE).

We have been in discussions in the last few weeks with the NMIT about establishing a workplace assessment/AQF III pathway, but these discussions have stumbled on the issue of funding the cost of the assessment, including the preparatory paperwork, designing the tests, etc.

Clearly we are not in a position to fund these costs. Similarly the TAFE is not going to fund their preparation if the certainty of numbers attending is not present.

If locksmiths in the UK (and elsewhere) are able to group together to fund the cost of preparing the tests (in the region of A$8k to A$9k), and are then minded to travel to Melbourne for a workplace assessment (likely to last little more than a day) we may be able to put something together.

Hope this helps to put some flesh on the bones of where we are at, and gives interested parties something to think about.

Best regards.

I think that there is sufficient commitment and determination for people to do this Alan. I most certainly would be interested. However, the question arises that if one does pay out for an agent, then the 8 or 9k for the tests, then the flights and all the logistical costs to go with it is there any guarantee of a positive assessment? Surely if there is a skills shortage of Locksmiths (which there is as it is on the demand list)then the MLAA (Australia) could tell TRA what tests should be done and someone in the UK could be contracted to carry out practicals. What's so difficult about that?
After all, there are various UK based practicals for chippys and sparkies etc. Why not Locksmiths?

There are no guarantees in migration, I am afraid. For example, you could obtain an AQF III following a workplace assessment, obtain a positive skills assessment from TRA, and then fail the medical.

I am going to send out an email to Locksmiths on our database this week, and to other UK agents with whom I liaise periodically, in an effort to establish how many are prepared to pay for an assessment (along the lines I have discussed).

I am not sure of your full name, so can you send me an email with your name so I can ensure you are on our database?

Others who read this should feel able to also send me an email along the lines, "I am a Locksmith and want to know more about the costs involved in having a workplace assessment carried out."

Best regards.

Can you send me your

hi guys

this is just the forum im after

i to have a work assessed NVQ 2 and have been finding it hard to work out if this was good enough