Licensing and referees

[Michael.j22]

Hi all,
I'm currently going through the process of my cat a&b licence app but don't know anyone on the list of referees. Tried the pharmacist and doctor, both refused to sign it because they don't know me.
Anyone else have this issue and found a way around it. I don't know any accounts, government officials, JPs, the post office manager ect.

[AnotherMisfire]

It can also be any public servant who has been employed for at least 5 years. That's how I read it.

Know any public school teachers or government employees?

[bladeracer]

Hi all,
I'm currently going through the process of my cat a&b licence app but don't know anyone on the list of referees. Tried the pharmacist and doctor, both refused to sign it because they don't know me.
Anyone else have this issue and found a way around it. I don't know any accounts, government officials, JPs, the post office manager ect.

They don't need to "know" you like family exactly, they just need to state that they met you more than twelve-months ago, and obviously they have met you again when you asked for their reference. That's all that's required. Pretty much any interaction with somebody that required you to prove your identity more than a year ago works.

I had a similar problem as I'd just moved here from WA.
Luckily I'd been over here years ago and met a friend that works for Justice here who was happy to go referee for me.
I think she qualified under:

"An individual employed as an officer or employee by one or more of the following:
• the Commonwealth, a State or Territory;
• an authority of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory; or
• a local government body of a State or Territory;
who has been so employed continuously for a period of at least 5 years, whether or not the individual was employed for part of that period as an officer and for part as an employee."

Have you ever had a tax agent do your tax return?
Did you go to school in Victoria?
Never been to a dentist or vet?
Never bought insurance or opened a bank account?

If you absolutely can't get anybody then talk to Firearms and ask their advice, it probably does happen occasionally.

[Gwion]

I thought it was more about verifying that you are who you say you are and not a character reference???

In as much, if you have visited the doctor a few times over the years they can verify your identity. Maybe you just need to explain that you are not asking for a character reference and that there is no come back on them as the police conduct their own 'fitness' checks.

If they still decline, they probably just don't like firearms and refuse on some misguided principle.

[<<Genesis93>>]

Hi all,
I'm currently going through the process of my cat a&b licence app but don't know anyone on the list of referees. Tried the pharmacist and doctor, both refused to sign it because they don't know me.
Anyone else have this issue and found a way around it. I don't know any accounts, government officials, JPs, the post office manager ect.

So you havent known anyone at all from the list for at least 12months??
Are you a recent import? from interstate or overseas??
Are you on some kind of witness protection program??

If from interstate, send your app over to someone listed, surely if you're 18 then you will know someone, or someone will know you or 'of' you...

[Michael.j22]

Thanks for the suggestions, I got it sorted by going to a doctor I haven't been to in about 20years.

[Gwion]

Yep... Well done.