White Card Brisbane

If you are looking to work in the construction industry in Brisbane, you will need a White Card. You can get a Queensland White Card by completing general construction induction training (GCIT) with a registered training organisation (RTO).

Jump straight to the Brisbane White Card training providers to book your course

What is a White Card?

WorkSafe QLD is the government body that handles worker's compensation in case of injuries due to their employment in Queensland. This regulatory body also handles licensing for construction work, including the QLD White Card course.

In simple terms, just like a driver's license is required before driving a car, the White Card is a license required to enter and work on construction sites. White Cards are nationally recognised and can be used in any state or territory in Australia.

The White Card is also known as a construction induction card, and were previously known as Blue Cards in Queensland.

How do I get a White Card QLD?

The White Card training is delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs).

The RTO will issue your White Card as well as a Statement of Attainment for the unit of competency CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry upon successful completion of the construction induction training.

The course takes between 4.5 to 6 hours to complete.

How do I get a White Card in Brisbane?

The first step to get a Brisbane White Card is to find a legitimate provider delivering the White Card training. Here are the main criteria to consider:

• Price
• Location
• Parking
• Reviews

The parking situation is often overlooked but can turn a seemingly cheap course into an expensive ordeal, especially near the Brisbane CBD.

We've compiled the following list of Brisbane RTOs with a google review score of 4.5 or more to get you started quickly (ordered by price):

We have also compiled a list of White Card training providers on the Gold Coast.

Can you get a White Card online in QLD?

No, the White Card training has to be completed face to face in Queensland.

While the White Card Queensland course used to be available online, WorkSafe Queensland changed the delivery criteria in 2019. You can read about the change on worksafe.qld.gov.

As of today, only residents of Western Australia and Tasmania are allowed to complete the White Card course online.

Note: Queensland residents living in remote locations can opt to complete the course via face to face virtual classrooms.

What you must bring to complete the White Card course

You must bring 3 forms of identification to verify your identity. You must bring at least 1 photo document and 2 documents with your name on it.

For example, you could bring your driver's license (photo document) and 2 credit/debit cards. Or your passport (photo document), a medicare card and a Visa.

Note that you can bring more than 1 photo document, it's just a minimum of 1.

Other acceptable forms of identification include:

• Bank statement
• Utility bill in your name
• Student ID

Here is the full list of accepted identification documents.

In addition to identification, you will need a Unique Student Identified (USI). USIs were introduced in 2016 to record course completions in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector and can be created online for free. Be aware that the validation is very strict, and you'll need to enter your details exactly as written on your document.

You might also want to bring something to eat and drink to the training as only a few RTOs provide snacks and drinks in Brisbane (should be advertised on the website). The course can take up to 6 hours, so better be safe than sorry!

As with most classroom-based training, casual clothing is fine. The training organisation should provide everything else, including the PPE required for the training.

What level of English is required?

You will need basic reading and oral skills. Courses are rated on a scale from 1 to 10 in Australia, 1 being the easiest and 10 the hardest. These levels are known as AQF levels, which stands for the Australian Qualifications Framework. The unit of competency CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry is rated AQF level 1.

Additionally, RTOs have an obligation to help within reason. If they can't provide enough support for you to complete the course, they will need to recommend third party organisations.

What do you learn in a White Card course?

The course requirements and content are defined in the unit of competency CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry. The course aims to cover all general safety subjects that workers benefit from while working in the construction industry. The 4 big categories are:

• Identify health and safety legislative requirements of construction work
• Identify construction hazards and risk control measures
• Identify health and safety communication and reporting processes
• Identify incident and emergency response procedures

You will also be required to:

• Have the numeracy skills to locate and recognise numbers commonly used in safety signs
• Have the oral communication skills to ask questions and clarify instructions, listen to instructions to identify key safety information and tell another person about a construction problem or hazard
• Have the reading skills to follow simple pictorial safety instructions and follow simple safety instructions that are written in English
• Have the problem-solving skills to select risk control measures

As part of the course, you will learn about personal protective equipment (PPE) commonly used on construction sites and you will be required to demonstrate how to correctly fit and wear the following pieces of PPE during the assessment:

• Hard hat
• Earmuffs or plugs
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Retro-reflective vest

I have experience working on construction sites overseas, do I still need to complete White Card training?

Yes, there are certain topics that are somewhat unique to Australia. The course will address the harshness of the sun for example, which is not necessarily an issue to the same degree in other countries (especially important in Brisbane and the rest of Queensland). You will also be taught about signage & tags that are unique to Australian construction sites as part of your training. Even if you're familiar with most of the course content, a refresher can never hurt when it comes to safety training.

How do I replace my QLD White Card?

In Queensland, RTOs are tasked with issuing the original cards as well as replacement cards.

White Cards can be replaced by the RTO that issued the original card. If that RTO is no longer in business, you can shop around to find an RTO that will issue a replacement White Card at a good price.

You will need to provide your Statement of Attainment for the unit of competency CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry as evidence that you completed the training.

Also note that construction Blue Cards cannot be replaced - if lost or damaged, you'll need to complete the current White Card course.

Do White Cards have an expiry date?

No, unlike driver's licenses for example, White Cards do not have an expiry date. As long as you don't lose your card, it should be valid... forever!

Are construction Blue Cards still valid?

Yes, construction Blue Cards (predecessor of the current White Cards) are still valid and accepted in Queensland and the rest of Australia. As mentioned in the replacement section, however, Blue Cards cannot be replaced. If you have lost your Blue Card, you will need to complete an up to date White Card training to be allowed on construction sites.

White Card job ideas

Once you have completed your training and obtained your White Card, you should consider working on a Queensland solar farm! Not only is it a good way to extend your Australian Working Holiday Visa, it can also be extremely lucrative.

If your Resume needs work, we've shared the best tips on how to write a good Resume here.