Bricklaying - The First Step in Your Successful Career

Bricklaying and Blocklaying is a great career in its own right. However, it also can be the start of a future career in many areas of building and construction, providing both a fulfilling and a creative future life for you. At this page you can view (currently on the download) just some of the Career Pathways which are availalbe to you from a beginning in bricklaying. You can also read about some amazing success stories that began from initially choosing bricklaying and blocklaying as the first step.

Career Pathways - Skills to Build On!

Download: Career Pathways from a Start in Bricklaying

Successful Case Studies

Bricklayer to Successful Buiness Owner - Nick Bianco - South Australia

Nick Bianco started his life as a brickie at 14 years of age. While he was doing his bricklaying apprenticeship he would apply for tenders in the building industry, such was his drive to succeed. Nick now owns the Adelaide United Soccer Club and is a major sponsor of Port Power. More...
Nigel croke - worldskills gold medal winner

Nigel croke - worldskills gold medal winner

WorldSkills Gold Medal Winner - Nigel Croke - New South Wales

Nigel Croke is 2008 Winner of the Gold Medal at WorldSkills. He qualified for WorldSkills through preliminary competitions in the Macquarie region. He's now moved to Sydney and set up as a subbie and has already found work. Nigel aims to complete the Building IV Certificate to provide greater services on site. More...
MikeButler_Australand

Bricks to Buildings - Mike Butler - Victoria

From apprentice bricklayer to General Manager of leading national building company Australand, Mike's is a story of dedication to the things he loved. He left school after completing his HSC and because he loved working outdoors, he did bricklayer labouring over the summer which then lead to an apprenticeship. He took every opportunity that presented itself from then on. More...

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INSIGHTS INTO BRICKLAYING APPRENTICESHIPS
The bricklaying industry is an integral part of the commercial and residential construction industry, with approximately 26,000 bricklayers and blocklayers across Australia.
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This National Research Project is now complete and the final report on the findings is available, click here to download your copy.

VIC
David Switches From Uni to Bricklaying – Now He Is a Builder!
David Valastro studied a double degree on health promotion and nursing when he was Deakin University, but after two years he decided he didn’t like it. He then started a pizza business, but still felt he hadn’t found his ideal career.
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QLD
ABBTF Brickstart Bonus - Employer Benefits Total $12,000
Bricklayers and blocklayers can benefit from the new BrickstartBonus from ABBTF for putting on a new bricklaying apprentice. The bonus is $2,000 payable on completion of the first year and applies for new apprentices who start before 30 June 2010.
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NSW
Masonry Contractors Award Winners
The Masonry Contractors Association (MCA) held their 12th Annual awards for Brick and Blocklaying Excellence at Le Montage Function Centre in Sydney in November.
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WA
Brick Companies Support Bricklayer Training
Producing high quality bricks is the aim of Western Australian brick manufacturers. But they also ecognise the urgent need for trades people, with the training and skills, to lay the bricks so that the benefits of the product are fully realised in construction projects.
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SA
Apprentice Numbers up by 60%
Since early 2007, when ABBTF commenced the program to address skill shortages in bricklaying, apprentice numbers have increased by 104 or 60%.
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ACT
Bricklayer and His Apprentice Join Forces
ACT bricklayer Michael McPherson completed his training at Wagga Wagga in 1983. He started his business two years later, moving to Canberra in 1992 and has always been self employed.
Michael’s apprentice, Ashley Harris was awarded the Bricklaying Apprentice of The Year for 2008 and Michael reckons he felt like a proud parent.
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Tas
Darrel Lillico – 40 Years of Bricklaying and Helping Apprentices
Launceston bricklayer Darrel Lillico was 16 years of age when hestarted as an apprentice. “After completing my apprenticeship, I went out on my own, and have been working for myself ever since, 40 years of bricklaying!” said Darrel.
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