Students completing courses at Trade Institute of Victoria (TIV) have a number of career paths open to them. The construction industry is one of growth in Australia, offering plenty of opportunities for those starting out as well as those seeking career changes.
Below we’ve gone through a few career choices and examined the type of work involved, the qualifications and skills you require, as well as the money you might expect to earn in such positions. While these summaries are in no way exhaustive, and can vary greatly according to things like experience, they give a general overview of each occupation.
Carpenter
Carpenters construct, install and repair wooden frames, foundations, walls and fixtures on residential, commercial and industrial projects. They most commonly work with wood but also deal with other materials like plywood and wallboard.
Skills/Duties
- Able to work with your hands and enjoy practical work
- Good at mathematics
- Ability to work at heights if required
- Good health and eyesight
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Good decision making and problem solving skills
- Ability to use a variety of hand and power tools
- Able to read construction plans
- Ability to measure and cut precisely
Qualifications
At TIV you have the option of choosing between a carpentry apprenticeship and a carpentry course that includes 800 hours of workplace employment.
CPC30220 – Certificate III in Carpentry | Apprenticeship
CPC30220 – Certificate III in Carpentry
Salary
The type of carpentry specialised in and the years of experience you have will influence your salary, but an apprentice carpenter can expect to earn on average $50,000 per year.
“Rhys is doing the kind of work that I would expect from a qualified tradesman.” – David Lister (Carpentry Trainer)
Site Supervisor
A site supervisor oversees and co-ordinates the daily operations of a worksite to make sure it runs smoothly and that all health and safety guidelines are met.
Skills/Duties
- Strong leadership skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
- Skilled at coordinating timetables and managing different trades
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Good decision making and problem solving skills
- Able to read construction plans
- Ability to forsee and attend to problems
Qualifications
CPC40120 – Certificate IV in Building and Construction | Site Management Stream
Salary
Site supervisor roles are typically advertised in Australia between $90,000 and $130,000 a year. Of course, salary will be influenced by factors like a person’s experience, as well as location and complexity of the work.
Project Manager
Project managers specialise in the planning, management and execution of construction projects.
Skills/Duties
- Strong leadership skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
- Skilled at coordinating timetables and managing different trades
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Good decision making and problem solving skills
- Able to read construction plans
- Ability to foresee and attend to problems
- Awareness of what materials need to be ordered and when
- Ability to prepare and submit project tenders
- Knowledge of regulations and laws relating to project
- Great negotiation skills
Qualifications
CPC40120 – Certificate IV in Building and Construction | Site Management Stream
Salary
Project management roles in construction involve a lot of responsibility, especially with large scale construction. Project manager roles are typically advertised in Australia between $100,000 and $160,000 a year. Salary will be influenced by factors like a person’s experience, as well as location and complexity of the work.
Residential Builder
Builders oversee, coordinate and work on the construction, repair and renovation of homes and other buildings. They must comply with strict safety regulations.
Skills/Duties
- Strong leadership skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
- Skilled at coordinating timetables and managing different trades
- Good decision making and problem solving skills
- Able to read construction plans
- Ability to forsee and attend to problems
- Awareness of what materials need to be ordered and when
- Ability to accurately quote project costs for client
- Knowledge of regulations and laws relating to project
Qualifications
Builders are required to be registered and have a special licence to undertake construction work. More information about this can be found at the Victorian Building Authority website. TIV’s courses are designed to compliment and lay the groundwork for registration as a builder.
CPC40120 – Certificate IV in Building and Construction | Building Stream
CPC50220 – Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Salary
Builder roles are typically advertised in Australia between $70,000 and $80,000 a year. However, salary is very much influenced by factors like a person’s experience, as well as location and complexity of the work. Many builders also own their own businesses and this will also influence salary.
The construction industry in Australia is a thriving one with varied opportunities across a range of trades and positions.