What can we do for you?
A career in construction means being part of something big – one of the biggest and most exciting industries in Queensland. Nothing compares with construction for being able to earn while you learn on the job (with an apprenticeship/traineeship), work outside in constantly changing scenery and dozens of career pathways, maybe even leading to owning your own small business one day.
School Students
The Gateway to Industry Schools Program (Gateways) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and CSQ which aims to transition young people from school to work, while completing school and gaining formal qualifications. The program focuses on priority industries which underpin employment and economic growth within the construction industry. Key activities include linking industry and schools to understand their trade and para-professional skill requirements and facilitate work experience opportunities.
Key activities include; working with construction and civil industries to understand their trade and para-professional skill requirements, facilitate work experience placement opportunities for students and partnering with industry to support their role connecting students to work experience opportunities.
CSQ runs Try’a Trade through high schools to raise awareness of careers options in construction. Each year a selection of schools are invited to send students to attend an interactive program that lets attendees try their hand at various skill and trade areas.
During the day, students receive instruction from trainers before having a go at a range of trades, for example, carpentry, plumbing, painting, electrical, plastering, tiling or bricklaying. Students also gain invaluable career advice from apprentices, local employers and industry representatives.
Try’a Trade participants get to taste-test whether a job in construction might suit them. It can be extremely helpful in a student’s decision-making process.
There is a range of technical jobs in the construction industry beyond traditional trades, called paraprofessional roles. Paraprofessional roles such as architectural drafting, civil engineering, estimating and surveying are crucial to the construction industry and can offer an exciting and rewarding career.
CSQ runs Try’a Skill through high schools to raise awareness of these paraprofessional options. Each year, Try’a Skill partner schools are invited to send selected students to attend the program and explore whether a paraprofessional job might be a good fit for them.
Try’a Skill events generally take place on a construction site, mimicking the blended working environment of most paraprofessionals; who work both in an office and in the field.
Career Seekers
CSQ funds two pre-employment programs – Trade Start and Trade Ready.
The Trade Start and Trade Ready programs are designed to equip individuals with the skills they need, combined with some industry experience, to start a career in construction.
The two programs have been developed to increase the success rates of career seekers, provide employers with a pipeline of skilled new workers and improve retention rates of new entrants to the industry.
Ready For Work kits
Ready For Works kits are supplied by CSQ to Providers delivering CSQ Pre-Apprenticeship programs such as Trade Start, Trade Ready and other approved programs.
Ready for Work kits include basic personal protective equipment (PPE) for participants.
CSQ’s Trade Start initiative is a pre-employment program designed to attract those individuals interested in building and construction who are not currently in school or part of the industry — but would like to be.
Through the Trade Start program, CSQ provides funding to eligible RTOs and other industry partners to deliver an entry-level qualification together with real work experience.
CSQ uses a place-based approach to deliver Trade Start connected to major projects and significant programs of work as a way of linking career seekers with work, and employers with a pipeline of informed new workers.
The Trade Start program provides a mix of classroom-based learning and 160 hours of work experience. This combination means on completion of the course, participants will have job-ready skills together with a Certificate I or II.
Trade Ready provides additional skills and experiences to individuals who have some entry level experience working in the building and construction industry general or civil sectors to build their job readiness and prepare them to transition into a career in building and construction.
This Trade Ready program offers:
- further job readiness and work preparation
- selected construction short courses to build skills and employability
- valuable industry-led work experience.
Being better prepared for the industry will increase the likelihood of individuals completing an apprenticeship and being retained in the industry.
Construction Careers
There are so many career options to choose from across general and civil construction, and with a range of trade, para-professional and professional pathways, there’s sure to be one that’s just right for you.
If you are interested in becoming an apprentice, Australian Apprenticeships Pathways and Apprenticeships Info have great information available to help you get started in the building and construction industry.
Or view our list of 70 careers in construction to help you see what’s available and to find your ideal career path.
The Gateway to Industry Schools program is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government.