Sparky/Inlec change of industry thinking marine?

 Hey guys,
For the last few months I've been trying to recover from a nerve injury called Radial Nerve Palsy, which basically limits the amount of movement and strength I have in my left hand (non dominant) basically if my arm is level I cannot lift my wrist and it just hangs down, this doesnt stop me using it as i can still use my fingers it just hinders dexterity slightly.
Recently its become clear it will not be healing without surgery and my doctor has said while I'm cleared to to work he wont let me climb a ladder. As such it looks like I wont be able to return to my job and finding work in the city as a sparky will be extremely difficult. I have to come to terms with the fact I will probably have to change industry if not career.
I've only ever been an electrician my whole life and have no idea where to start looking, at this point I'll need to look at anything but im thinking why not investigate an industry I'm interested in.
Any tips or ideas at all guys?
I do have skills, I'm a smart, well presented (my best friends would probably disagree with that) young man, able to pass a full medical and always eager to learn something new.
Cheers,
Kurt

____________________________________________________________________________

Storyteller with a camera, check out my fishing movies
https://www.youtube.com/user/kwillo89
https://www.instagram.com/kwillo89/


Gav475's picture

Posts: 393

Date Joined: 16/11/11

marine degree

Tue, 2016-08-30 14:17

 Hey bud, hope yoir injury gets better. My oldest boy and is a sparky. Couldnt get work in Perth due to all the irish on 457 visas working for nothing so had to go bush and I cant see that situation changing any time soon. If the ocean is your thing I would look at something like challenger tafe in freo and see what takes your fancy. I guess it depends on your domestic situation. If your a young bloke with no real finacial ties I would definately make a change. If your mortgaged to the back teeth with 3 young kids it would change things a bit.

Good luck with it no matter what you choose to do

Y_Knot's picture

Posts: 64

Date Joined: 05/11/10

Hey K_willo

Wed, 2016-08-31 00:00

 sorry to hear about your arm .

just over 10 years ago(in my late 20's) i lost the use of my right arm in an accident.. I was right handed..

having worked in the mining industry for 10years as a Boilermaker before this it was very difficuilt to try to adjust to life and the injury at first. but

I got a lucky break and was offered a job running a business for someone I knew that serviced the mining sector that was 10 months after my accident.. that was going great until the mining slow down, during  this time I complete my Coxswain and MED II at swan tafe and started skippering a charter boat on my weekends and doing all their maintenance.. 

in the last 2 months i have just started my own fabrication workshop where i do everything (hopefully its successful and I can afford some help in the future) so there is no reason why you can't do anything you want to.. the main thing is trying to keep positive and have some determination and you will succeed.

As far as how esy it was getting my Coxwain and MED II if I can achieve it with 1 arm there is no reason why you can't get yours or even go further.. 

if you want any more info just flick my a pm..

 

all the best 

 

Grant

 

Y_Knot's picture

Posts: 64

Date Joined: 05/11/10

ps

Wed, 2016-08-31 00:02

 I still have 2 arms just one doesn't work

K_willo's picture

Posts: 167

Date Joined: 07/05/12

 Thanks guys really

Wed, 2016-08-31 15:35

 Thanks guys really appreciate the responses (was nice to receive some PMs as well)
A reasonable amount of financial freedom once I'm back on my feet work wise, sounds like challenger tafe will be the place to start. Hoping I might have some luck applying for TA jobs as well, happy to take a hit to the wages just to get a job, I'm certainly not completely hopeless. 
The aboslute most important thing is I can still handle a rod and reel, so its not all bad :)
 

____________________________________________________________________________

Storyteller with a camera, check out my fishing movies
https://www.youtube.com/user/kwillo89
https://www.instagram.com/kwillo89/

Busted Arse's picture

Posts: 253

Date Joined: 02/07/10

 If you are an inlec with a

Sat, 2016-09-03 19:20

 If you are an inlec with a bit of experience  maybe  a  change to planning  and estimating if you have sound  computer skills and a bit of experience in maint processing. Goodluck mate