Systems Electrician

Electrical apprentices will learn to install and maintain electrical components, wiring, equipment and systems and may work in specialised areas of the rail industry.  On completion of your apprenticeship, you will be eligible to apply for a full electrical licence. Apprentice Systems Electricians will gain additional experience and may be rotated in the following areas during the apprenticeship.  

You can specialise in the following areas:

Electrotechnology (ET) Communications Tradesperson
Apprentices undertaking this apprenticeship will be involved in the installation, commissioning, maintenance of equipment used for the transmission and reception of voice, image and data signals.  

Apprentices can specialise in the area of Broadcast - work in this area would typically include installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair of broadcast equipment used for the transmission and reception of TV and radio.

Locomotive Systems Electrician
Apprentices specialising in this area will maintain, fault find, overhaul and service electrically the Tilt Train, Long Distance passenger coaches, Diesel Electric and Electric Locomotive Fleet Up grade and install cutting edge electronic circuits and equipment. Dismantle, upgrade and rebuild electrical circuits, contactors and other electrical equipment located on QR’s fleet.

Control Systems Electrician
Apprentices specialising in this area will install, maintain and repair industry control systems and equipment that involve pneumatic, mechanical, electrical/electronic instrumentation systems and equipment.

Power Systems Electricians (Distribution)
Apprentices specialising in this area will install and maintain apparatus and equipment belonging to electricity distributors.  This can range from, equipment in substations and control centres feeding electricity to QR overhead traction power network. Apprentices will work in workshops, substations & switch yards pertaining to the electrical distribution.

Facilities Systems Electricians
Apprentices specialising in this area will install wiring in a variety of residential, commercial and industrial premises.  This includes the maintenance of equipment, apparatus and devices contained in rail buildings, offices and suburban stations.

Plant Servicing Systems Electricians
Apprentices specialising in this area will install and maintain equipment and apparatus associated with mobile and stationary track maintenance plant in commercial and industrial settings. Apprentices will also install, maintain and repair process control systems and equipment that involve pneumatic, hydraulic mechanical and electrical/electronic systems and equipment.

Signalling Systems Electricians (Rail)
Apprentices specialising in this area will be involved in the installation and maintenance of signalling systems used for the control of public transport, especially trains and automobile traffic. This would include working in manufacturing workshops, industrial base workshops and equipped motor vehicles.

Qualification Obtained:   Certificate III in Electrotechnology

Electronics Tradespersons

Apprentices undertaking this apprenticeship will install, commission and maintain equipment used for the transmission and reception of voice, image and data signals. QR has its own state wide telephone and radio network will fault find, repair and install apparatus relating to these networks. Equipment worked on can range from mobile and fix wire telephones, radio installation and repair on locomotives and rail vehicles.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Communications

Power Traction Linespersons

The Power traction linesperson apprentice will be required to work as part of a team when carrying out their duties. These duties include:

• Construct and erect traction equipment eg. foundations, masts, and equipment attached to mast;
• Construct and install overhead traction equipment;
• Run and tension conductors to specification;
• Carry out maintenance line patrols of traction system;
• Operate and/or drive various types of rail traction equipment and vehicles;
• Conduct switching testing and earthing of overhead traction equipment; and
• Attend callouts.                                               

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in ESI — Rail Traction

Blacksmith

Apprentices specialising in this area will be trained in a range of skills relating to fabrication, general manufacturing, drawing, interpretation, welding, forging and heat treatment of carbon and alloy steels.

Apprentices produce and repair metal articles ranging from bolts, brackets, axles, chain crowbars, and various one-off rail application tools and equipment.  They may also shape bars, rods, and blocks of metal by heating, hammering, or pressing to produce or repair metal articles, using hand and power hammers and tools.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Engineering - Frabrication Trade

Higher Engineering Tradesperson

This apprenticeship is designed to deliver higher level engineering industry skill outcomes with multiple exit points between trade and post trade levels.  Competencies can be drawn from the three broad engineering streams including mechanical, electrical / electronic, and fabrication as well as other streams within the competency standard.  This apprenticeship requires the apprentice to use a greater range of skills than provided for the base trade outcome.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate IV in Engineering

Boilermaker

Apprentices will work with heavy guage steel: cutting, shaping assembling, and welding, while constructing or repairing rail Rollingstock such as wagons and locomotives.  Typically, their work involves the production, fabrication, and development of items manufactured from plate materials, generally in steel of varying thickness, but can be involved with non-ferrous materials.  Other work may involve the development and fabrication of structural items such as: building supports, structural beams, gantries, crane carriages and jibs in and around workshop buildings and plant.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade

Carpenter

Apprentices will carry out, set out, and construct wall frames, ceiling frames, pitched roofs, eaves, external stairs, flooring systems, install windows and doors on rail building, stations and offices.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Carpentry

Diesel Fitter

Apprentices would generally be involved in the repair/servicing and maintenance of heavy earthmoving and rail track maintenance machinery. The work may also involve the repair, servicing and maintenance of small to medium diesel engines, heavy lift vehicles and stationary plant equipment (ie: lifting motors and generating sets). It would also be expected that the apprentice would perform these duties on engines, cooling systems, automatic transmissions, brakes, clutches, gear boxes, fuel pumps, axel assemblies and electrical equipment related to these items. 

Qualification Obtained:   Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade

Mechanical Fitter & Mechanical Fitter and Turner

Apprentices would generally be involved in the setting up of machinery to enable the manufacture of engineering products; repair and replacement of components, parts or other items; installation of Locomotives and Rollingstock design and manufacture of modifications to existing components parts and other items; maintenance of workshop plant and associated equipment. 

Duties may also involve the repair of Diesel Electric and Electric Locomotives (i.e. winches, glands, drive shafts, and turbines) and engine repairs. The apprentice would normally work in a workshop but may on occasion perform work away from their normal workplace. 

Apprentices will use specialist measuring equipment and a range of hand tools, work from detailed drawings and be expected to use the following equipment: welding equipment, lathes, milling machinery, grinding machinery, hydraulic presses, thread cutting machinery, CNC & NC lathes or machining equipment, hydraulic copying equipment, tool cutting and grinding equipment, gear cutting machinery, and boring equipment.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade

Plumber

Apprentices lie out, test and maintain pipes, fixtures, metal roofing, fittings, gas meters, regulators, units and appliances. They install equipment such as water tanks, water heaters and toilet cisterns in rail buildings, offices, long distance trains and locomotives. They may also install, maintain and repair pipes in storm water or sewerage systems and drains, septic tanks, holding wells, sullage pits and absorption tracks. In some cases plumbers may be licensed to perform a limited range of services such as draining or gas fitting.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Plumbing

Painter

Apprentice painters will apply paint by brush and roller, apply texture coat paint finishes, apply clear stains, match specified paint colours, apply decorative finishes, apply wall paper and treat lead paint hazards.

Qualification Obtained:   Certificate III in Painting & Decorating

Vehicle Builder

Apprentices will repair passenger vehicle bodies, manufacturing and modifying purpose-built body parts and panels for QR’s long distance, suburban, and tilt trains.

Specifically, you will be involved in constructing framework sections made of various materials through shaping, welding, and cutting, working from engineering drawings. You will fit windows, seats, flooring, decorative panelling, and vehicle component seals.

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Automotive Manufacturing - Bus, Truck and Trailer

Vehicle Finisher / Vehicle Painter

Vehicle Trimming
Apprentices will install, repair, replace seats and also modify upholstery, seats, linings, interior trim, roof and door linings, and floor coverings of QR’s passenger and long distance fleet.

You will be responsible for removing old coverings or fittings from vehicles, re-measuring, selecting pieces of fabric, vinyl or leather, cutting to size and sewing. Duties also include fitting of trim, seat cover manufacture and repair, refitting, aligning and checking window winding mechanisms and door locks and the fitting of weather strips and draught sealers.

Vehicle Painter
Apprentices undertaking this role will undertake task such as:

• Removing rough spots on QR’s Rollingstock fleet panels;
• Sanding surfaces using hand or power tools;
• Carrying out masking procedures;
• Colour matching and mixing paints;
• Spray primer and finishing coats and polishing; and
• Waxing the finished paint work.                      

 

Qualification Obtained:  Certificate III in Automotive Vehicle Body, Vehicle Painting

Click here to register your interest for a QR Apprenticeship in 2009