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 Queensland Government initiative 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 economic and employment growth across the state.
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.
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 was introduced as a new CSQ program in the Annual Training Plan 2018-19, to further build on the successes of Trade Start.
Trade Ready provides additional skills and experiences to individuals who have completed a Certificate I in Construction or Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure, to increase 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
- green/life skills
- 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.
To participate in the Trade Ready program, please visit our industry partners websites – Hutchies and Civil Train.
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.
Upcoming events
Gateways Placement
- 20 September, 2020 - 7 October, 2020
- Queensland
- Continuing
Try'a Trade
- 8 April, 2020
- Rockhampton
- 8:30am - 2:30pm
Try'a Trade
- 8 November, 2020
- Gympie
- 8:30am - 2:30pm
Try'a Trade
- 20 September, 2020
- Ipswich (Ripley)
- 8:30am - 2:30pm
Try'a Trade
- 20 September, 2020
- Alex Hills
- 8:30am - 2:30pm
Try'a Trade
- 9 August, 2020
- Atherton
- 8:30am - 2:30pm
Try'a Trade
- 9 October, 2020
- Townsville
- 8:30am - 2:30pm
Gateways Placement
- 20 September, 2020 - 10 February, 2020
- Queensland
- Continuing
Try'a Trade
- 10 July, 2020
- Nambour
- 8:30am - 2:30pm
Gateways Placement
- 20 September, 2020 - 20 September, 2020
- Queensland
- Continuing
The Gateway to Industry Schools program is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government.