How to get into the construction industry in Australia

Do you want to get into construction business in Australia without any experience? Here’s a step-by-step guide, starting with training and ending with your first paycheck.

Construction makes good and fast money. You can decide to try it today and be on a site making real money within a week. You don’t need a degree or background in business for most jobs.

All you need is a card, a pair of boots and some effort. Want to learn more? In this guide, we explain how to enter the construction industry with no experience, every step of the way, from scratch to your first paycheck.

Why is the construction worth seeing?

If you have no experience, the construction industry is one of the highest-earning industries. Workers earn $30-40+ per hour depending on the state, and rates go even higher on large projects and night shifts.

There are too many housing and infrastructure projects in Australia and not enough people to build them; That’s why employers are constantly hiring newcomers because they have to.

Approximately 1.36 million people work in the sector, which corresponds to one in every ten workers across the country. And it continues to grow. Government forecasts predict the workforce will grow to 1.41 million by 2033, fueled by an effort to build 1.2 million new homes and a massive pipeline of infrastructure.

There still aren’t enough workers to achieve these goals, so newcomers are constantly being recruited.

There is also a clear path forward. Start as a worker, trade a trade and then manage your own team or business. Numerous site administrators started exactly where you are now.

How to get a construction job with no experience?

Getting your first construction job involves five steps. Get your White Card, buy some basic equipment, choose the type of role you want, prepare a simple CV and start applying. None of them last long, and most people can start in just over a week.

Step 1: Get Your White Card

A White Card is the legal minimum and you cannot set foot on a construction site in Australia without a white card. This is the official certification that proves you know all the safety rules you must follow on a construction site in Australia. The course behind this is called general construction induction training (CPCWHS1001) and covers the basics of site safety in a single day.

Some states accept fully online courses, while others require in-person or live video sessions; so check your state’s rules first. A. White Card QLD For example, the course should be done in person or via live video with an instructor.

Expect to pay between $90 and $150, depending on the provider and training center.

Once issued your card works Australia wide. There is no expiration date, but you may need to retrain after leaving the industry for two years. You can book your White Card course as soon as possible and should do this before you apply for a job. Employers won’t wait.

Step 2: Sort your equipment

You don’t need much to get started. Steel cap boots and a high-vis shirt cover most sites, and hard hats are usually provided on arrival. Allocate a budget of around $150-200 for basic needs. You’ll want to skip the fancy equipment for now, as it’s not needed.

PPE (personal protective equipment) such as gloves, safety glasses and earplugs are usually distributed on site, so don’t overspend before your first shift. Once you know what the business really needs, buy the rest.

Step 3: Choose your entry point

General work is the fastest way. You need a White Card and nothing else and your salary starts immediately. Trading assistant (TA) roles put you under a sparkly, plumber or snippy persona; This also comes in handy when the end goal is trading.

Apprenticeships take this even further. You gain three to four years of learning and finish with real proficiency. Civil construction also offers internships covering road works and earthmoving.

Labor pays more up front. Apprentice wages start low, but pay off in the long run because skilled tradesmen earn more than workers by far.

Step 4: Prepare a basic resume

Keep it on one page. You sign in with your White Card number and driver’s licence, followed by a short line saying you’re fit, used to manual work and show up when you say you will. Reliability is the most important part at this level.

An applied background is important even outside of construction. Warehouse shifts, farm work, sports, regular gym sessions, weekend projects in the shed. List them all.

Do yourself a favor and skip the long paragraphs. A site administrator reads a resume in about ten seconds.

Step 5: Where are jobs actually found?

Labor hiring agencies are the fastest way for those who start working for the first time. To try Hay’s, WorkPac, programmed and smaller local outfits.

Open TO CALL And ActuallySearch for “inexperienced worker” plus your commuter. Local business and labor groups on Facebook receive new job postings every day. The old-school method still works, too.

Call small builders directly or come to the site early in the morning and ask for the site manager. Gumtree is also worth a look for smaller residential jobs.

Extra tickets that increase your salary

The White Card gets you through the door. Extra tickets give you better pay and more options in the jobs you take. Each of the following can be done within a day or two:

• Traffic control ticket: stop-slow work pays surprisingly well, and roadwork crews always need people.
• Working at height: It’s required on many business sites, so it puts you ahead of other applicants.
• Forklift license (LF): Opens field and warehouse jobs with higher wages.
• First aid certificate: Cheap, fast and valuable on every site in the country.
• Every ticket you add means more doors opening and potentially more money in your pocket.

Frequently asked questions

These are the questions that come to the mind of those who are new to the construction business.

Is it easy to find construction work without experience?

It’s much easier than most industries. There is a real shortage of employees, and site managers care more about credibility than your resume. Labor hiring agencies always hire first-time workers.

Get your White Card, apply widely and follow up on phone calls. Most people who really make the effort can find a job within a few weeks.

How old do you have to be?

Most states allow you to do the White Card course at age 14, but anyone under 18 usually needs a parent or guardian to sign. Actual field work usually starts around age 16, and school-based apprenticeships can start even earlier as you finish year 11 or 12.

However, many employers only hire workers 18 and over, mainly due to insurance and heavy machinery rules. High-risk operating licenses, such as forklift licenses, also require you to be 18 years old.

How long does the White Card course last?

The training takes approximately six hours, so you will be finished in one day. You complete the course with the instructor, and at the end there is a brief assessment that includes multiple choice questions as well as a quick verbal or webcam check, depending on the situation.

Proof of completion is issued immediately, and most employers accept this paperwork while you wait for the physical card in the mail. In other words, you can start applying for a job the day you finish your job application.

Can I work in construction with a student or working holiday visa?

Yes. Both visas allow you to work in construction, but the rules are different.

You can work full time on a working holiday visa.

Even better, construction work in Australia counts towards extending your visa:

• you can study for three months and then apply for the second year; or
• Study for six months and you can apply for a third.

One tip: You can normally only work for the same employer for six months, so check your visa conditions before committing to a long project.

On the other hand, on a student visa, you are limited to 48 hours every two weeks while classes are continuing. This still fits into two or three shifts a week, with this limit being dropped entirely between official course breaks.

Either way, you’ll need a tax file number and get paid at the same rate as everyone else on the site.

Does my White Card work in every state?

Yes. Once you have the card, it works in every state and territory. Complete the course once and be covered anywhere in Australia.

The only rule that varies between states is how you take the course, not where the card will work next. Queensland wants face-to-face education. NSW accepts a classroom session or live video. In most other states it’s okay to go entirely online. Book a format that your home state allows and you’re good to go.

Remember that old white cards from before the national system are still valid as long as you continue to work in the industry. And lost cards can be replaced by their issuer, usually for a small fee.

final thoughts

Many people talk construction out of construction before they even try it. They may think they are too old or have no career behind them. In the meantime, sites continue to hire, and the person who gets the job is usually just the person who shows up with a card and asks.

A year from now, you may have a solid bankroll with a few extra tickets to your name, or you may still be considering it. Only one section needs to be booked and the process takes one day. Book your White Card course and get your first job; This will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.

This article was written in collaboration with his team. National White Card CoursesA government approved RTO (41072) providing construction induction training Australia wide. The team works with new site workers every day, and this guide covers the questions they hear most.