Pieter(46)

Twenty-five years as a plumber in Enschede — I knew every pipe in the city. But the Dutch market was saturated, competition from self-employed workers undercutting prices was increasing, and my body was starting to feel the effects of the heavy work. My wife and I wanted something different. Australia came into view at an emigration fair in Utrecht.

The TRA assessment (Trades Recognition Australia) was the starting point. As a plumber you need to prove you meet Australian standards. My Dutch certifications were largely recognized, but I had to do a practical assessment — a full day of plumbing work observed by an assessor. Costs: AUD 2,500 all in.

South Australia had plumber on their state nomination list, and my employer — a large plumbing company in Adelaide — was willing to sponsor me directly for a Subclass 186 visa (Direct Entry stream). That gave me immediate permanent residency. Total visa costs were AUD 4,640 plus AUD 3,000 for my wife as a secondary applicant.

In Australia an experienced plumber with a full licence earns between AUD 90,000 and AUD 120,000 per year. I started at AUD 95,000. After two years I've applied for my own ABN and work partly self-employed. Emergency plumbing — blockages and leaks on weekends — pays AUD 150 per hour. In Enschede I charged EUR 65 per hour and people already thought that was expensive.

Adelaide is perfect for tradespeople. The city is growing, there's lots of construction and the shortage of tradespeople is chronic. Cost of living is the lowest of all capital cities — our mortgage for a four-bedroom house in Aberfoyle Park is AUD 2,200 per month. In the Randstad I would have paid that for a two-room apartment.

For other tradespeople considering emigration: do it. Australia needs plumbers, electricians, carpenters and bricklayers. The TRA assessment is achievable if you know your trade, and the reward is enormous. Plus: no monthly VAT returns — the GST system here is much simpler than the Dutch tax office.