Working as a Panel Beater in Australia

Overview

The job of a panel beater is to repair, strip, replace, fit, and adjust body panels from damage or modification. In other words, panel beaters restore vehicles back to their original state after incurring damage from an accident, vandalism or other reasons. Put simply, they are in charge of auto body repair. The job entails beating the hollows or dents of a vehicle, thus the term “panel beaters.”

Job Responsibilities

The responsibilities of panel beaters may be categorised into five different parts.

1.     Vehicle Assessment – The panel beater will assess the damages to determine the best course of action to implement. He will then consult with the vehicle owner or operator to give him a summary of the vehicle’s condition and what needs to be done to restore the vehicle to its original state.

2.     Regular Responsibilities – The regular duties of panel beaters include:

• Repairing body panels
• Refitting components
• Testing electrical circuits after assembly
• Testing vehicle ignition
• Body management systems and components
• Welding, filling and they even handle spray painter jobs

3.    Intricate Restoration – Panel beaters are expected to handle complex restoration. This may include rebuilding an entire car engine and performing complex electrical work.

4.     Administrative Duties – Panel beaters may also be required to keep a record of their daily tasks and the working hours they have rendered.

5.     Specialist Duties – Panel beaters usually handle cars. Some, however, also specialise in buses, motorcycles and aircraft bodywork.

To perform these duties and responsibilities, panel beaters use a wide range of tools, which include hand and power tools, precision measuring tools and equipment as well as diagnostic and electrical measuring equipment.

Job Requirements and Eligibility

To acquire Australian qualification for panel beating positions, AQF Certificate III with two years on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV, will be required. At least three years’ experience relevant to the position, however, may substitute the formal qualifications mentioned. 

No formal education may be required, but panel beaters may need to have certain skills, such as metallurgy, welding, and painting techniques, which are necessary for them to perform certain tasks efficiently.  Panel beaters also need to have the ability to read wire drawing and schematics.

Salary Details 

Panel beaters in Australia in Australia may earn $ 55,583 per year or $25.12 per hour, according to Payscale. 

Job Outlook

There have been shortages of panel beaters for a number of years. Since 2016, employers in nearly all states and territories found it hard to recruit panel beaters.

Panel beaters, both local and overseas workers usually work for car dealerships and workshops from small-scale shops that offer a wide range of services to large-scale shops that specialise in a particular make of a vehicle.

We are seeking fully qualified and experienced  Panel Beaters for a growing smash repair workshop in the Northern Beaches coastal area of Sydney.  An attractive package with work visa sponsorship awaits successful candidates.