The construction industry in Australia produces around 9% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generates over $360 billion in revenue. With a projected annual growth rate of 2.4% in the next five years, various job opportunities are in store for everyone with the right skill set.
Note that the industry is heavily regulated in many sectors and occupations and there are regulations (like licensing and such) at every level of government. All workers in the industry must hold a white card. This is where the VET sector comes in – offering programs or white card courses to grant licences.
Now, let’s go over the processes involved in getting a white card. Read on.
What is a white card? How do you get one?
A white card, also known as a general construction induction card or construction safety card, is a required certification. Anyone wishing to step onto a construction site must fulfil this mandatory requirement. The term “white card” also refers to one-time health and safety courses that provide the construction safety card certification.
All builders, contractors and other industry professionals must go through this course before starting work. If you’re thinking of working in the construction industry, you have to work through this course to get licenced. Without this card, you will not be permitted to enter any construction site, let alone work there.
As per the National Code of Practice for Induction for Construction Work, these are the people who need this card:
- Construction labourers, contractors, site managers, supervisors, surveyors, and tradespeople
- All workers who routinely enter operational construction zones
- Anyone who has to access operation construction zones (unaccompanied or unsupervised)
This applies to migrant workers as well. No matter how qualified or experienced a migrant worker in their home country is, everyone working directly in Australia must have a white card.
In-Person Courses
Face-to-face courses last about 4 hours in the classroom. Most worksites prefer that construction professionals have completed the training in-person to guarantee that they meet the requirements. Participants will also receive a QLD Construction Induction card (white card)
You may refer to this eligibility criteria:
- An individual must be at least 14 years of age to participate in the induction training.
- Applicants will need to provide the trainer with 100 points of ID as set by Safework Australia.
How does the training go?
In this section, let’s have a look at how the course goes.
The “Prepare to Work Safely in the Construction Industry CPCCWHS1001” training course covers the general safety requirements of an operational site in the country. During the course, participants will learn about the country’s legal requirements for workplace health and safety on a construction site. The following are taught:
- Identifying a safety hazard;
- Reporting a safety issue on a worksite;
- Identifying what measures should be taken to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries in the workplace; and
- Responding properly to a workplace health and safety incident.
Throughout the course, participants will be involved in class activities. There will also be an assessment/test at the end of the course, which participants must pass in order to receive their white card.
For migrant labourers, it is recommended to have at least a basic understanding of the English language to be able to follow the course material and pass the assessment at the end.
As soon as the participant completes the white card training, they will be given a Statement of Training. With this certification, they can start work on a construction site anywhere in Australia right away.
Other important things to know
- White cards don’t have expiry dates, but employers may ask construction professionals to take a refresher course.
- If you get a card in one state, you can use it in any other state as white cards are nationally recognised.
We hope this post has helped you answer your question of how long a white card course takes.
Apply for Other Courses
Registered Training Organisations across Australia offer various courses. Here at the Australian Training Institute, we specialise in First Aid training and offer courses like CPR, Low Voltage Rescue, and Asthma and Anaphylaxis Management, among others.
