Power Generation Plant Operator Career and Immigration options for Australia

Profile Title: Power Generation Plant Operator Career and Immigration options for Australia

Alternative Title:Not Defined

ANZSCO Code: 399213 | Unit Code: 3992

Skill Level: Level 3 | Work Experience: 1 Years

Assessing Bodies: Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)

Skill Occupation List (SOL): STSOL

Specialization: Hydro-electric Station Operator Power Generation Turbine Room Operator

Profile Description: Operates boilers, turbogenerators and associated plant to generate electrical power. Registration or licensing is required.

Job Duties:

• controlling equipment performing continuous and batch processes to process chemicals and natural gas, manufacture refined petroleum products, and blend petroleum base stocks to produce commercial fuels, lubricating oils and asphalt
• controlling the preparation, measuring and feeding of raw material and processing agents such as catalysts and filtering media into plant
• patrolling and inspecting equipment to ensure proper operation and setting operating controls on equipment
• analysing samples and readings and recording test data
• controlling records of production, quantities transferred and details of blending and pumping operations
• checking equipment for malfunctions and arranging maintenance
• operating power generation plant controls to produce required load
• monitoring operation of power generation plant and interpreting instrument readings
• authorizing procedures to isolate high-voltage and low-voltage electrical apparatus and plant
• writing reports and maintaining records on equipment performance, instrument readings and switching operations
• carrying out routine operating tests

Skill Level Description: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below. In Australia: AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3) In New Zealand: NZ Register Level 4 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 3) At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. Registration or licensing may be required.

Available Visa Options (As on February 2024):

• 190 - Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
• 407 - Training visa (subclass 407)
• 489 - Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - State or Territory nominated
• 482 - Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) - Short Term Stream
• 187 - Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
• 494 - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) - Employer sponsored stream
• 491 - Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State or Territory nominated

Registration or Licensing: may be required

Industries: Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators are mainly employed in: Manufacturing; Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services; and Mining

Education Profile: The most common level of educational attainment for Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators is Certificate III/IV (100 per cent).

Job Opening: Over the five years to November 2019, the number of job openings for Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators is expected to be below average (between 5,001 and 10,000). Job openings count both employment growth and turnover (defined as workers leaving their occupation for other employment or leaving the workforce).

Age Group: The main age group is 45-54 years (25.5 per cent) and the median age is 48 years (compared to 40 years for all occupations).

Gender: Almost all Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators are male and most Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators work full time. Average weekly hours for full time workers are 34.4 (compared to 40.2 for all occupations).

Earning: In August 2014 (latest available data) weekly earnings full-time before tax (and not including employer superannuation) were $2,301 (compared to earnings for all occupations of $1,200).

Employment: Employment for this occupation rose moderately in the past five years and rose slightly in the long-term (ten years). Looking forward, employment for Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators to November 2020 is expected to remain relatively steady.