Working in the construction industry in Australia means you need to comply with different requirements regulated by appropriate organisations. So, if you have been looking into construction job opportunities, there are many things that you should keep an eye on besides what company to apply to.
Working in the construction industry requires a handful of training. The most notable one is the White Card course training. Everyone working in the Australian construction business landscape has to take the White Card course training to acquire proper certification and induction training to work in the industry. Even if you are just visiting the country shortly under a working holiday visa, you cannot work on a construction project without a White Card.
Knowing all this might pique your interest and form many questions. That being said, you’re probably wondering what a White Card is, why the training is mandatory, and how important it is in working in many construction companies in Australia. This article will provide answers to all those questions. Read through below and learn what to expect if you enrol in a White Card course in Australia.
How the Australian Workforce Defines a White Card and Who Needs It
A Prepare to Work Safely in the Construction Industry CPCWHS1001 training course is commonly known as a White Card. It is a mandatory work card in Australia. Without it, you cannot work on a construction site. A person holding a valid White Card means that that person completed official and certified general construction induction training with an Australian-registered organisation.
Even those who are not involved in a construction project but work close to the site is required to have a White Card. According to the National Code of Practice for Induction for Construction Work, the following people require a White Card:
- Construction workers
- Tradespeople
- Project managers
- Supervisors
- Surveyors
- People who access working construction zones unaccompanied or unsupervised
- Workers who enter working construction zones routinely
A White Card has to be carried in person whenever you enter an operational construction site or work on a construction project within the site’s premises in question. The work card does not expire.
Everything You Need to Know About White Card Course in Australia
You need to take note of many things if you enrol yourself in a White Card course in Australia. Primarily, the training to acquire this work card covers the overall requirement of the safety of an operational construction site in the country.
Besides that, the key learning point of White Card training in Australia is a full understanding of various legal requirements for workplace health and safety, particularly in a construction site. They will also teach you the following:
- Current Legislation and Requirements of Construction Work
- Identify Potential Hazards in a Construction Site and Risk Control Measures
- Learn Incident and Emergency Responses
- Understand Health and Safety Communication and Reporting Process
You will learn more of the key learning points through your assessor. The organisation that facilitates the White Card course will also prepare class activities to reinforce learning through demonstrations and different perspectives. When all this is done, there will be an assessment at the end of the day.
In order to receive a White Card, you must pass the assessment. It is highly recommended that you have a good understanding of the occupational and safety hazards of a construction site. You will encounter many potential risks and unforeseen events when you have a job in the construction industry. That is why being aware of these risks will guide you on how to respond and cope with different life and death situations and lessen work-related injuries and casualties.
Right after you complete the White Card course, you will be issued with a Statement of Attainment, as well as your laminated White Card, which will be your permit to work for a construction company in Australia as soon as you can.
Benefits of Getting White Card Course Training in Australia
Other than the opportunity to work in qualified construction companies across Australia, a White Card brings more benefits than you can think of. Below is a list of why you should consider enrolling in a White Card course.
1. More Opportunities
Whether you like it or not, most employees hire the candidate with the best experience, training, and qualifications. If you have a White Card, you have an advantage over your competitors. More than that, a White Card makes you eligible for different kinds of jobs in the construction industry.
2. Develops Attitude of Safety
Construction jobs have many threats and health risks. If you want to reduce these health hazards, having a White Card is your best option. Undergoing rigid health and safety-related course training will instil awareness of what to do and not do in a worksite.
3. Prepares for Future Working Environment
Given that the situation in a construction site is different from working in the office, you will not have a hard time making a huge career transition. Working on a construction project, you will experience unique situations and deal with unfamiliar locations. When you decide to pursue a more prominent career in construction, you will be prepared because you are a White Card-holder.
4. Learn Something New
A White Card course is beneficial for novices in the industry as it introduces them to many facts about construction. But even if you are a veteran, attending a White Card course training in Australia will give you up-to-date facts about the niche you are working in.
Give us a call on 07 3269 5005 or visit our QLD White Card page for more information!
