Jobs in Gas. How to get jobs in the Australian gas sector

Jobs in gas

Jobs in gas to look out for

Australia is not coping well with it’s supply of its current annual engineering workforce needs. This has created a new opportunity for people looking for jobs in gas. The industry is diverse, with a wide selection of jobs in all sort of disciplines.

According to Engineers Australia, even with Australian universities and TAFEs producing around 9,000 graduates annually, Australia is still unable to provide a reliable domestic solution to key engineering shortages. This is an obvious area for job-seekers who want to work in the gas industry to explore and exploit.

Oil and gas projects (committed and uncommitted) by state:
There are numerous gas projects (detailed below) in most Australian states. Investment in the gas industry in Australia is phenomenal and runs into the billions of dollars.

  • Western Australia; 89
  • Northern Territory; 36
  • Queensland; 123
  • New South Wales; 94
  • Victoria/Tasmania; 53
  • South Australia; 61

During the construction phases, tradesmen shortages are being felt in the following areas:

  • Structural Fitters and Welders
  • Mechanical Fitters
  • Electricians
  • Fixed and Mobile Plant Operators
  • Structural Steel Fixers
  • Motor Mechanics
  • Crane Operators
  • Carpenters
  • Concreters

What type of training do you need to get into a gas job?

The expansion of the CSG industry and creation of the LNG industry will provide Queensland with a welcome boost in construction and operational jobs in gas. To maximise the benefits from this opportunity for Queenslanders, the industry and Energy Skills Queensland (ESQ) have formed the CSG/LNG Skills Taskforce. Key industry leaders of this Taskforce are Arrow Energy, Origin, QGC and Santos.

The Taskforce will work with the Queensland Government and other key stakeholders to ensure the availability of a competent and sustainable workforce to support the current and future development of the CSG/LNG Industry. The sole purpose of this taskforce is to increase the opportunity for skilled people to realise a jobs in gas can be attained with the right training and method of skills transfer.

The Taskforce engaged Energy Skills Queensland to undertake strategic workforce development planning to prepare for the considerable increase in skills demand over the next ten years.

The CSG/LNG Workforce Planning Report has been created to advise the industry as well as the Queensland and Australian Governments of the skill requirements, numbers of workers required to be trained and locations where the training needs are likely to occur. Depending on the outcomes of this assessment, the Taskforce is expected to develop a dedicated CSG/LNG workforce, increasing the number of gas jobs and development capability in Queensland.

Jobs in gas – where do you start?

As in most industries, in the gas sector there is a strong focus on employing people who are highly trained in safety awareness and have a strong understanding of the importance of risk identification, control and management. For people looking for jobs in gas there are courses you can do to build your qualifications in areas that gas companies and employers regard highly.

Gas Jobs – do your research first?

In a competitive environment, researching the gas industry is your first priority. You must have a through understanding of the industry developments and technologies used within the sector. This will build your confidence and allow you to really make an impression when you start to go for interviews.

For instance, if you searched on SEEK for gas jobs, you would see there are literally 1000’s of jobs in a variety of roles from engineers to marketing and business development, with salaries ranging from $90,000 to $200,000+.

Take the time to look through these jobs, taking note of what the expectations are from employers in terms of skills, qualification, training and experience. Not to mention the required attitude and ability for candidates to work in teams, problem solve and show they can work well under any circumstance whilst remaining focused on safety and compliance.

If you feel you have the right mindset and abilities to work in the industry, read through the list of entry-level courses you can complete.

Some courses you can do to prepare you for an entry level job in the Australian gas industry. These courses are not complicated to do and the majority of them would be a half day or a full days training at best. You can also complete some courses online or face to face in a classroom at convenient locations around Australia.

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Work safely at heights
  • Enter and work in confined spaces
  • Manual handling
  • Four wheel drive skills and light vehicle management
  • Gas test atmospheres training
  • Workplace training and assessing
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Risk Management

Training courses are a good investment in your future. It is important to do your training with accredited, Registered Training Organisations who have a track record of delivering high quality training as well as giving you full support once you have completed your training.

iMINCO is not a training provider as such, we partner with Industry Pathways, who are leaders in training and assessment for the resource sector. The recommended courses are simply an indication of where to start and by no means will guarantee you a job in the industry.

If you are looking for ways to make yourself more employable in the resource sector and take advantage of the future jobs in LNG, call them on [email protected] for more information.

Reference: Jobs in gas