The McGowan Government has launched a new short course in bricklaying on the back of its highly successful $147 million Building Bonus program, which has re-energised Western Australia’s residential construction sector, creating hundreds of additional jobs.
The Bricklaying Job Ready program will create a pipeline of qualified bricklayers to meet the needs of WA’s building industry, which is booming thanks to the State Government’s $20,000 bonus, with the stimulus generating enough construction work to last through to 2022.
Applications for the course, launched today at the Construction Futures Centre in Belmont, are now open with 50 places available for the first intake that is scheduled to start on November 9, 2020.
The program is free for certain concession-eligible students.
Students will complete a mix of on-campus training and a four-day work placement with participating employers.
Students will be required to undertake the Work Safely in Construction short course, which teaches work safety practices, basic measuring and calculation skills, and how to operate small plant and equipment used on building and construction projects.
On completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to start a bricklaying apprenticeship with a participating employer.
The pilot program will be delivered by South and North Metropolitan TAFE and private training provider, Skill Hire. The program will be reviewed at the completion of the first course with a view to it being expanded to regional WA.
Employers who sign up to the program will be able to access State and Australian Government incentives and wage subsidies.
The ‘job-ready’ program was developed in consultation with the Construction Training Fund and key industry partners including HIA, MBA and ABN Group.
People can register their interest in the program by emailing [email protected]
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“This new ‘job-ready’ course is a golden opportunity for anyone thinking about a career in construction.
“The McGowan Government is doing everything possible to support Western Australia’s economic recovery and thanks to stimulus measures like the Building Bonus, WA’s construction sector is booming.
“That means certainty for the industry, more jobs for Western Australians and more opportunities such as this new pathway to an apprenticeship.”
As stated by Construction Training Fund Chairman Reg Howard-Smith:
“There’s currently a high demand for apprentice bricklayers and the Bricklaying Job Ready pilot initiative will help the industry meet this demand.
“The program offers new entrants the opportunity to acquire fundamental skills and safety training as a pathway into a bricklaying apprenticeship.”
