Victoria University
4 months full-time (bricklaying) or 5 months full-time (carpentry); 2 years if undertaken as VETDSS
This pre-apprenticeship course equips aspiring construction workers with practical skills in bricklaying and carpentry through hands-on training in modern facilities. Designed for school leavers and career changers, it significantly improves your prospects of securing a building and construction apprenticeship.
Applicants must complete a Pre-training Review (PTR) and literacy and numeracy assessment to determine suitability. For VDSS applicants, suitability and literacy/numeracy levels are assessed through consultation with secondary schools. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee entry as some courses receive more applications than available places. Special entry programs are available for applicants from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds. VU Early Entry is available for Year 11 and 12 students.
The course comprises 9 core units covering workplace communication, measurements and calculations, basic levelling procedures, WHS requirements and workplace safety, emergency life support, construction industry preparation, plan and drawing interpretation, and working platform safety. Students then select one of two trade streams: Bricklaying (5 units covering tool identification, basic techniques, brick veneer, cavity brick construction, and masonry blockwork) or Carpentry (10 units covering tool identification, setting out, sub-floor construction, wall frames, roof frames, external cladding, window and door frames, interior fixings, timber dismantling, and formwork for concreting). VDSS students complete the program over two years with units distributed across Year 1 and Year 2.
Victoria University is ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide and #1 for skills development according to QILT. The university features multi-million dollar trades facilities including the Construction Futures hub with Six-Star Green rating, modern laboratories, and simulation software. VU received the highest five-star rating for cultural diversity from the Good Universities Guide and provides 24/7 learning support through The Learning Hub. With 4000+ industry connections, VU ensures students receive nationally recognised training aligned with employer demands.
Graduates progress into Certificate III level apprenticeships in bricklaying, carpentry, painting and decorating, wall and ceiling lining, wall and floor tiling, solid plastering, stonemasonry, and joinery. Career pathways include positions as bricklayers, stonemasons, carpenters, and joiners across the building industry spanning development, design, cost planning, construction, and building management. Employers strongly prefer apprentice applicants with pre-apprenticeship qualifications. Graduates can find work across manufacturing, construction, and mining industries with earnings influenced by qualifications and experience.
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