I took a year out in oz 2 years ago, in sydney and the big cities certificates count for nothing (I have NVQ 2&3 from modern apprenticeship), but if you move out of the major cities, you'll find work. I stayed in Alice Springs for 6 months, most people say its a sh**hole because of all the aboriginals, and in a way they are right (the "abos" get constantly hammered and fight with they're shadows) but at 50 bucks an hour you cant complain!! I worked on the abo communities, where it would be 2-3 weeks on then 5 days off, it was 35-45 degrees everyday (you don't get used to that heat, you just stop complaining about it!!) and some of the work was slightly repulsive but I loved it, you see parts of Australia that had you wondering if you were one of the first backpackers to see, very,very remote!! You just have to braze, be able to bend copper and use a shovel to be an aussie plumber, they are crap, which is good as it makes you look like super plumber. I eventually left (though my bos11s offered sponsorship) because i couldn't deal with the racism and arrogance of the aussies!! but thats my story on findind work in oz