I spent this afternoon catching up with one of FCTA – Building Careers recently completed apprentices, Jay Gerardis.   Jay is 21 and has just finished his bricklaying apprenticeship and completing the training required to apply for his builders licence. In Jays words, the best reasons to become a bricklayer are ‘being able to work the hours you want, be outside, not stuck in an office’ That’s when Jay looks at me in front of my computer and adds in ‘no offence’. 

Jay won the HIA Bricklaying Apprentice of the Year award in 2010, 2011 & 2012. This year he has been nominated in the SA Training Awards, for Apprentice of the Year. Jay got in to bricklaying after completing a week’s work experience. “You have to try it first, I was even thinking of doing tiling, but once I tried bricklaying I made my mind up. With the other trades you’re either stuck inside all day, or like carpenters, most the time people can’t see your work”. When I ask Jay about changes in the industry he talks about his concern about the possible price increases associated with the carbon tax and ‘green’ building, versus the benefits of building greener homes. “There’s definitely a move to these new 5 star energy efficient homes. I’ve worked on a few of them, and they are a bit more expensive but you have to think about all the money you’re going to save over the years, it’s worth it”.

The biggest shock for Jay once completing his apprenticeship was finding out about all the tax and financial issues during the training for his builders licence, “I was talking to this guy and saying, do you know you can claim all these things on your tax, and the guy had no idea, I just said, you’ve got to do the training!” Jay is currently working on a stone fronted house in the Adelaide Hills, “it’s a tough site, it’s like building on the side of a mountain, but it’s going to look great. You don’t mind the tougher sites when you work out how much you can earn by putting in the extra effort. I’ve built with Hebel, stone, block and brick, there’s lots of different ways to build. At the moment I’m working on a classic style house, there’s a trend getting back to that look, and red brick homes”. Jay is planning to hire his own apprentice once his business is up and running, “As an apprentice you think, how does the boss want it done, but then when you go to do it, you end up mixing what your boss has taught you with what you learn at trade school, that’s what’s best about it. I’m definitely hiring an apprentice, it was the best thing that happened to me”. 

Trisch Baff, Marketing & Project Manager,
FCTA – Building Careers

Last week I had an apprentice in to discuss how to go about becoming a licensed builder. As a manager at FCTA, which is a Registered Training Organisation, I get questions like this a lot, because basically, it’s unnecessarily complicated to get information!

Each state handles the issuing of builders licences separately, with their own rules and regulations. As a result there are differences state by state, and no one website to visit. Instead each state has its own website and application procedure. In South Australia, it’s the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au. To mix things up a bit more, from July 2012, until sometime in 2013 a national system of licensing will be rolled out and the system for applying will change again.

Regardless of the complexity, it’s a step well worth taking! Fully qualified and licensed bricklayers can expect to earn more than they were as an apprentice and even have the ability to become their own boss. The process is the simplest for people who have finished their apprenticeship.

>The requirement in SA is that two additional units are completed, one in small business finance, the other in business and legal requirements. These units cover off issues such as how to set up your business finances and what legal issues you need to be aware of. Once that is done, it’s a matter of filling in the paperwork, supplying copies of your apprenticeship papers and proof of completion of the two additional units to the South Australian Office of Consumer and Business Affairs. This department is in the process of developing an online application process, so keep checking back at http://ocba.sa.gov.au/licensing/olap.html

At this point, eyes start to glaze over and the idea of working as a subcontractor and being paid by ABN seems like a better option. While many people in the industry will tell you this is a good option, you need to be aware that if the majority of your income shows as being paid by the same employer this way, there will be issues. Generally, a worker is an employee and not a contractor if:

• You are paid for the time you work, as opposed to being paid for results
• You receive paid leave
• You are NOT responsible for providing the majority of materials or equipment to do a job and
• Your work hours are set by an award or agreement.

The implications of being paid under an ABN when you are working as employee can include, not having workcover support if you are injured at work, not having your superannuation contributions paid and for the employer, fines of up to $33,000 if they try to claim falsely they you are a contractor.

On top of this, employers can be made to pay superannuation and other benefits previously not paid under the shame contractor set up. For information on becoming a builder in other states you will need to contact your local licensing authority, training organisation, MBA or HIA.

A little work now to get your builders license will save some major headaches later on!

Trisch Baff, Marketing & Project Manager,

FCTA – Building Careers

One of the toughest challenges for young apprentices is when they see unqualified labourers on job sites being paid more than apprentices.  This is because the lower wages paid to an apprentice are supposed to compensate for the cost of their training and education.

When times are good, it becomes even more frustrating for apprentices as many unqualified workers enter the market.  BUT when the industry slows down, those with qualifications and skills training are better prepared to weather the storm.  

Recently an unqualified builder in South Australia was found guilty of operating without a license or qualifications. He was fined $8000 for trading unlicensed, and was ordered to pay $6020 in compensation. My advice to apprentices is to stick at your apprenticeship.  In the long run you’ll have many more options than unqualified labourer’s.  Plus, you’ll be on your way to becoming a licensed builder.

Lorraine Baff
Director
FCTA SA

We’re a trades training organisation that is constantly being asked about the best way to find out about becoming a bricklayer and we believe we have the answer.

We always recommend a 10-12 week pre-apprenticeship course.  It gives you a great idea as to what to expect in the trade. Our focus at Holden Hill’s SA FCTA- Building Careers,  is on developing practical skills.  Some students who come to us are seriously worried about being placed in a classroom most the day – instead of outside, really doing things.  Well, that’s not a problem here!  Right from day 1 you’re learning to lay bricks. We’re 2 days into our latest pre-apprenticeship course, and as you can see, the students are already being shown the basics and getting their hands dirty!

View Gallery Images

There are similar pre-apprenticeship courses around Australia, and the Become a Bricklayer website will explain this.  Here in SA, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) funds this course, with a view to having students better prepared and ready to start laying bricks as soon as they secure an apprenticeship. This gives them a real edge over others who haven’t had this early experience.

FCTA is a training organisation (it stands for Flexible Construction & Training Assessment) and it’s called ‘flexible’ because we have a very flexible attitude to training for both students and employers!  Check us out.

Lorraine Baff
Director
FCTA SA