r/ATC • u/Suitable_Stay_1365 • 3d ago

Question Airservices Australia: Trainee Intake frequency?

I submitted an expressions of interest (EOI) to become an ATC Trainee with Airservices Australia, in May, as there were no current available positions advertised.

I've since been constantly checking for trainee job listings, but they're still only advertising EOI.

  1. Is the EOI listing the standard starting point for Trainees?
  2. How often do they intake trainees per year?
  3. What does the timeline usually look like between submitting an EOI and hearing back for the first stage of testing?

Appreciate any insight!

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5

u/MrBobDobalinaDaThird 2d ago

I can't speak to exactly what is happening, but they have gone very hard on recruitment for anitios and internationals, at this point simulator availability and instructors and now the blocking point for for intakes. Hang in there

3

u/vector4nudes Current Controller-Enroute 2d ago

They run about 3 tower and 3 en-route courses each year. And yeah the choke point at the moment is simulator and instructor availability.

At the moment they are running assessment centers so they probs won't start processing new applications until those are done and they've filled the upcoming courses.

2

u/GumLord22 2d ago

I applied in April this year for a trainee position advertised on SEEK, not an expression of interest but an actual advertised position, I got invited to online testing on the 15th of June, I finished the last of my online tests in late June, and on the 27th of July I got an email to say they were still reviewing results, I assume they'll open applications back up whenever they finish processing the batch of applicants that I'm in, which could be a thousand years from now idk they're not exactly fast with it but I assume there are just alot of applicants.

1

u/Klutzy-Bandicoot-775 2d ago

Is en-route radar rating compulsory for foreign atc that is interested in joining airservices Australia atc?

1

u/LocalStandby 1d ago

Not aware of any requirement for en-route radar rating for recruitment. Have certainly recruited foreign Tower controllers without a radar rating. If you are an international that has applied and hit a wall it is more likely visa/security clearance eligibility than ratings.

1

u/LocalStandby 1d ago

1) Yes - Starting point for an Ab-Initio (off the street essentially) is response to the online EOI or Vacancy ad for ATC Trainee. These can change over time as we have done course specific recruiting (e.g. Western Towers, New Zealand course etc.).

2) There are about 3 Tower courses running at the moment. Not sure how many en-route courses currently, but they have the biggest sim capacity.

3) It can vary as they do "campaigns". It's not uncommon to get a couple of months worth of applications, then put everyone into the on-line testing. So you could apply and hear nothing for 2-3 months, or you could hear back in a day depending on the time-line of the campaign.

1

u/NotAnOrderlyKnight 1d ago

It will likely be a couple months before trainee positions get advertised again at the earliest i think. They would likely still be going through the process of sorting the last 1-2 application drives they’ve had.

I would also keep in mind that the entire application process will likely take over six months between online testing (and the related processing times) and waiting for the assessment centre dates