When it comes to the largest and most crucial sectors that are apart of Australia’s economy, the requirements for entry can be viewed as fairly stringent. This is especially true when we consider the simple fact that to reach the highest levels of these industries can take an almost herculean effort as a lot of time and work is a minimum. Much of this time and effort is spent on acquiring necessary qualifications to enter an industry.
For obvious reasons as aforementioned, Australia’s labour force demands individuals that are highly trained.
Entering the labour workforce in Australia is not the same for all industries. Depending on the industry being sought out there will be different requirements all based on the path you choose. An example of this would be aiming to be a professional in finance would be a completely different path with different obstacles then aiming to become a professional lawyer. However, there are some levels of standardised qualifications for various industries in Australia.
Australia’s educational standards are centred around the Australian Qualifications Framework, which details the standards for qualifications in the country. Within the Australian Qualifications Framework there are several levels, 10 to be exact beginning with Certificate I and ending at a Doctoral (PHD). Whilst these levels may be filled with courses in different areas, you do not necessarily have to progress through each level to reach a certain level of expertise that leads to employment opportunities. The truth is that it ultimately depends on the specific area of work you are looking at for employment. For instance, many areas require a bachelor’s degree to obtain a starting job within their respective industry, but a significant amount of other areas might only need a Certificate IV.
An industry that is also dependent on the Australian Qualifications Framework is the building and construction industry. The building and construction industry is one of the largest industries in Australia. Furthermore, there is an evident correlation between strong educational backgrounds and construction. As a result the best professionals are hired with all necessary qualifications to meet the high standards required for positive economic outcomes which is a big part for the industry having such a considerable impact on economic growth in Australia.
The cost of such necessary qualifications can vary depending on where you start your qualification and how far you progress in attaining those qualifications. The path from Certificate I to a bachelor’s degree certainly would have financial implications, however only completing a Certificate IV is also a common scenario people find themselves in.
Another point of contention that is commonly considered is that of time. How long does a course take to complete? Like the financial aspect, this all depends on how long you wish to study to be able to meet your goals and hence receive the level of qualification you were aiming for.
The Australian Qualifications Framework is not necessarily the only part of education in each and every industry. Many areas of work have extra requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be fit for employment. A perfect instance of this is the Chartered Accountants (CA) program in Accounting and Finance that a lot of professionals in this line of work are expected to have completed.
But what about building and construction? What does it have that signifies a reliance on extra education? This is what is known as the construction induction training course. This is also known by another name, the white card course.
The white card course is an absolute requirement in the construction industry that must be satisfied by every individual that aims to enter the construction industry. Possessing a white card enables you to enter any construction site or perform works on a construction site. Without one, you cannot engage in these activities legally.
The content of the course is small, but detailed. The construction induction training course primarily focuses on the common safety requirements for construction sites across Victoria. Some of the topics you will engage in include but are not limited to:
- The process for identifying hazards
- The process for reporting safety concerns seen on worksites
- The steps of action required to mitigate risks and potential hazards which can cause accidents or injuries
- The proper methods to responding to incidents on construction worksites related to worker health and safety
With such importance placed on one singular course, many are unaware of the manners by which a construction induction training course can be undertaken. A key question held by many, especially given these particular times of uncertainty, is whether the white card course can be completed online.
The answer is categorically no. This is one of the many things that must be avoided for an organisation to offer the course.
You can obtain a white card by completing the construction induction training course with a registered training organisation (RTO). RTO’s operate by giving students vocational education and training services. RTO’s have a special nature about them. RTO’s are legally recognised by the appropriate regulators which allows them to offer training and qualifications to students. WorkSafe Victoria, a statutory authority of the Victorian Government and the primary body for managing and enforcing workplace safety, outlines every registered training organisation that you can complete a white card training course with on their website.
Something many will attempt to do, knowingly or not, is complete the construction induction training course with a non-approved organisation. This is a big negative for a number of reasons. Firstly, if they are not recognised by WorkSafe Victoria, this means there was insufficient evidence to prove they are a reputable organisation with students’ best interests at hand.
They also may engage in misleading advertising to lure people in to complete their courses which does not align with any of WorkSafe’s guidelines and regulations. For instance, they may advertise the construction induction training course to be at a low cost compared to other organisations, which cannot be viable because there is a standard cost nationwide.
Even more correlated to the topic at hand is how some non-approved organisations will suggest that you can complete the construction induction training course online. This has already been proven false, and should be ignored at all times.
White card courses must always be physically attended, so as to maintain integrity and educational practices.
A good way of avoiding organisations that are not registered with WorkSafe who advertise online white card courses is by making note of the course name: CPCCWHS1001 – prepare to work safely in the construction industry. By knowing this, you conveniently save time by verifying that you are completing the course with an RTO.
What can be taken from all this, most importantly, is that the construction induction training course cannot be completed online. Despite health regulations that have hampered society’s on goings for the past two years, it is imperative for WorkSafe Victoria to ensure that standards for learning with regards to occupational health and safety are met with no exceptions.
Parker Brent is an accredited organisation registered with WorkSafe Victoria, offering the construction induction training course. We also offer courses in building and construction to get you started on your journey. If you are interested, enquire here to find out more.
