Northlanders seeking work in Western Australian mines are being advised to undertake training in New Zealand before heading across the ditch.
More than 2000 Northlanders attended two Reciprocus Recruitment seminars in Ruakaka and Kaikohe a year ago, but have had little work due to what the recruitment company says is an industry "bottleneck".
To increase their chance of work in Australia Reciprocus is now advising Northlanders to seek accreditation training for mines before they leave.
The company is flying two trainers in from Australia, to help run sessions that will cost individuals $900 to $1800, but will give them a basic understanding of the skill levels that mines in Western Australia are satisfied with, and health and safety rules.
The accreditation is compulsory in Australia, and Northlanders will save money by doing the training here, Reciprocus says.
The seminars, to run for between four and six weeks, are for skilled workers such as scaffolders, welders, boilermakers, sandblasters and painters who do not already have Australian accreditation.
The Perth-based company, run by former Northlanders Doug Foster and Edward Rihari, wants Northland job seekers that have been waiting for nearly a year to be patient and optimistic of finding work.
Mr Rihari said a similar accreditation seminar in Australia cost no less than A$1800 ($2220) , whether or not trainees were experienced.
"People need to understand it takes a long time to have a labour presence in Australia, let alone Western Australia, but we won't be paying thousands of dollars sending trainers at our expense if we didn't believe this will work."
Mr Rihari said competition for mining jobs between Western Australians, workers from other states and Kiwis had created a "bottleneck" in terms of work and accommodation.
He said companies that Reciprocus had approached for jobs took a long time to accept they have a shortfall - hence a lengthy delay in securing work for Northlanders but was optimistic the situation would become clearer within six months.
Details on seminar dates and venues will be announced soon.