I grew up in a society which believes that working in an office is the way to go and that being a tradesman doesn’t really equate to having a good future. In the Philippines (my country of origin), tradesmen generally don’t earn well and are unfortunately thought of to be inferior. This is not the case here in Australia as trades jobs are some of the most sought after careers and rightly so.
If you’re an immigrant in Australia who is trying to find a new career to pursue, I’d suggest considering becoming a tradie. Read on below to figure out if it’s something you see yourself becoming.
What is a tradesman?
A tradesman, more commonly called as a “Tradie”, is a skilled worker who has a high degree of expertise and knowledge of his or her particular trade. Tradies are among Australia’s top wage earners but their job can be tough and physically demanding.
Lesser profession?
First off, tradesmen wouldn’t need to go into a large sum of debt to pursue a university degree. In fact, they’d already be making money as they work on their qualifications while they’re still an apprentice. They wouldn’t have to worry about employability because their skills are always needed, hence the high earning potential. So no, it isn’t a “lesser profession”.
From what I have seen, Australians usually have a high regard for tradies. I think this is mainly because they earn good money. But of course, there are still some myth surrounding the profession. One being that tradies are less intelligent but this isn’t true. We have to remember that there’s more than one form of intelligence. Tradesmen are mechanically inclined, great problem solvers, and are creative tinkerers/ creators.
There’s also the misconception that those who choose to become a tradie do so because they have no other choice but to work with their hands. Though this may be the case for a few, most go into their trade knowing that it’s what they’ll be best at and that attending uni and eventually working in an office isn’t for them. Basically, they choose to become a tradie because doing a skilled trade is what they prefer.
Different kinds of tradies
The most common positions that people usually think of when talking about trades jobs are sparkies (electricians), chippies (carpenter), brikkies (bricklayers), and dunny divers (plumbers). But being a tradie can mean any number of roles other than the ones we’ve just mentioned. An example of this are the high paying trades jobs in the mines. Obviously, the duties and salary would vary depending on the trade.
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Is it a good career?
Yes. I believe that becoming a tradesman is a good career. There are a couple of reasons as to why I think that is. These are:
High Demand
Since there will always be demand for the skills that tradies offer, there would always be work available for them. Someone would always be needing their plumbing fixed, their house built and so on and so forth. In fact, there are a lot of trades jobs where there is more demand for skilled workers than there are workers available. For example, boilermakers, who are in high demand particularly here in Queensland and in Western Australia where the mining industry thrives.
No University Degree Needed
As many of you know, completing a university degree takes many years and would most likely amount to a large sum of debt. This wouldn’t be an issue to those who are going to pursue a career as a tradie. Though getting your qualification as a tradesman usually takes between 1 to 4 years (apprenticeship), there shouldn’t be a big debt for you at the end. Firstly because there are government funded training programs available. And also due to the fact that you’ll get paid for the practical work that you’d do while completing your qualification as you learn the majority of your skills on the job through working in an apprenticeship.
Great Pay
Like I have mentioned many times before, tradesmen are often well paid and receive good benefits. And of course, they can earn even better when they develop more skills, with proper trade qualification. Many tradies also end up establishing their own business where they have full control of the work that they do and potentially earn more.
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Nature of the job
The nature of the job is generally known to be tough and physically demanding but it would slightly differ depending on the actual trade. A lot of skilled trades involve getting dirty, sweaty, and grimy. And because tradesmen mostly spend their days working outdoors, they’re exposed to the sun, heat, rain, and cold etc. That, along with early mornings, long hours, and dangerous work can be hard on the body. Also, tradies often work at different sites so there may be lots of travel. Some of them work on a seven on seven off schedule.
How to become a tradie?
If you are now interested in becoming a tradesman, you’d first need to complete an apprenticeship to gain your trade qualification. To do that you’d need to:
1. Check your eligibility
There are different eligibility requirements per state but they’re usually to do with age and citizenship. I’ve written some general criteria below but be sure to check eligibility requirements in your state.
- Minimum age
- Here in Queensland, you can do it as young as 13. In Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, and NSW it’s 15 years old. In South Australia it’s 16. In Tasmania, you can start a school-based apprenticeship when you’re in year 10.
- If you’re under 18 when you commence your apprenticeship or traineeship, you might need a signed consent from your parent or guardian.
- Here in Queensland, you can do it as young as 13. In Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, and NSW it’s 15 years old. In South Australia it’s 16. In Tasmania, you can start a school-based apprenticeship when you’re in year 10.
- Restricted callings
- There are certain apprenticeships and traineeships where there is a minimum entry age to apply.
- There are certain apprenticeships and traineeships where there is a minimum entry age to apply.
- Citizenship
- Australian citizen or;
- New Zealand citizen/resident or;
- Australian visa holder with a visa that allows employment
2. Get an apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is a combination of a structured training and paid work. To get an apprenticeship, you would need to find an employer who’d be willing to take you on. You can be employed either:
- Directly by a business:
You can find apprenticeship positions being advertised online on a variety of sites like Seek, Indeed, Apprenticeship Central, MEGT, Mas Experience, and of course Job Active. - Through a group training organisation (GTO)
GTOs are organisations who help place apprentices and trainees with a host employer. You can find your local GTOs through sites like Apprentice Employment Network, and Australian Apprenticeships
3. Choose a training organisation
Training organisations are your courses and qualifications provider. The trainings are usually offered in different ways. You can do it in person (classroom based), online (flexible learning), or work based.
4. Complete a training contract and other documentations
A training contract is a legally binding document which sets out the agreement between the apprentice and the employer to work and train together for a period of time. There would also be other documentations required like a white card/ prepare to work safely card. Just be sure to read everything carefully.
5. Complete your apprenticeship
There’s nothing much to say about this. Just complete your training and hours. As I’ve mentioned before, an apprenticeship typically lasts between 1 to 4 years to complete.
Down sides of being a tradie
Like with any other job, there are downsides to being a tradie. These are as follows:
(Note that not all tradesmen experience these and not always to the same extent.)
- High risk of injury
- Long hours
- Having to travel to follow work. As a result, you may be away from your family and friends.
- Having to endure extreme weather while working outdoors.
- Hard physical work. Overtime, this can wear down a person’s body.
- May be ripped off by dodgy contractors.
- Some may experience job insecurity in certain situations like when working for labour hire companies or project work. A way to know whether or not a company is shady is if they have high turn over. If they do, it’d be best to avoid them.
Conclusion
Now that you have all of those information, what are your thoughts about becoming a tradie? Do you see yourself as one? Let us know in the comments below. Also, before I let you guys go, I’d like to share this post that I found which answers the most searched questions about tradies on Google.
For more information about apprenticeships, you can check out Australian Apprenticeships, MEGT, and Fairwork.
Resources:
– https://tafeqld.edu.au/trade-training/become-an-apprentice-or-trainee
– https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/apprentices/getting-started
– https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/apprentices/getting-started/eligibility-requirements
Disclaimer All content and information in this post is for purposes of sharing my experiences only, does not constitute professional advice and does not establish any kind of professional-client relationship.
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