Beerwah SHS Industry Spotlight - Construction April/May 2023
Have you considered a career in construction?
A career in construction means being part of something big – one of the biggest and most exciting industries in Queensland. Nothing compares with construction for being able to earn while you learn on the job (with an apprenticeship/traineeship), work outside in constantly changing scenery and dozens of career pathways, maybe even leading to owning your own small business one day.
Construction offers you
- Excellent job stability and earning potential
- Great work/life balance
- In-demand skills and travel opportunities
- Opportunities for earning whilst you are learning through an apprenticeship/traineeship
- Many construction pathways – over 60 job types
- Lots of funded training to grow your career
- Varied work and job sites with changing scenery
- Great career progression on and off the tools
Choose between uni or non-uni pathways
Non-uni construction careers – hands on site based & trades
Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic – Painter – Concreter - Renderer (Solid Plasterer) - Crane Chaser (Dogger) – Rigger - Roof Plumber – Electrician Roofer - *Safety Professional - Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator – Fencer - Floor Finisher – Scaffolder – Formworker – Shotcreter – Boilermaker - Pipelayer - Bricklayer - Plant Operator – Builder - Plasterer (Wall & Ceiling Liner) - Cabinet Maker - Plumber & Drainer – Carpenter - Railway Track Worker – Gasfitter - Signwriter – Glazier - Steel Fixer – Labourer – Stonemason – Lagger - *Surveyor Landscaper - Trades Assistant - Lift Mechanic - Traffic Controller - Linemaker - Wall and Floor Tiler - Mechanical Fitter
Uni Construction Careers – careers blending office & site work
Architect – Geologist - Building Inspector - Geotechnical Technician - Construction Lawyer - Interior Designer - Construction Manager - Landscape Architect - Contract Administrator – Planner - Digital Engineering Lead Quantity Surveyor – *Safety Professional - *Surveyor – Engineer (Civil/Structural/Mechanical/Electrical/Geotechnical) - Environmental Management – Estimator - Urban Designer
What does construction look like on the Sunshine Coast? (2022)
Useful links in relation to the construction industry
Construction Skills Qld
https://www.csq.org.au/
https://www.csq.org.au/school-students-career-seekers/
Australian Apprenticeships Pathways https://www.aapathways.com.au/
Australian Apprenticeships https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/
Student Success Story: Beerwah SHS Alumni
Chance meeting kickstarts Khonrad's dream career
Destined to follow his family's legacy with a career in civil construction, 17-year-old Khonrad Peters was still unsure where to start. It wasn't until a CSQ Try'a Skill event that he found an opportunity to kickstart his path to success, ultimately landing his dream job with Fulton Hogan.
Khonrad has a strong family connection to the civil sector, with his dad, uncle and grandfather all working in civil. As he says, “most of my family is in civil so I was pretty destined to go into it."
With his strong connection to the industry, it's no surprise that while he was finishing high-school, Khonrad was looking for a way to get into the industry. Meeting Mark, a surveyor at one of Fulton Hogan's CSQ Try'a Skill events was the catalyst that kicked off his career. After chatting at the event, Khonrad was offered work experience with Fulton Hogan that he continued throughout 2022. Impressed with his work ethic, Fulton Hogan offered Khonrad a full-time position, which he started this year.
Khonrad loves the hands-on nature of his work, and the satisfaction of seeing a project completed: “I like the feeling of when you start a project, like the Bruce Highway Upgrade that Fulton Hogan is doing on behalf of The Department of Transport and Main Roads, and at the end you get to see the finished product. It makes you feel pretty good that you've been a part of it."
While Khonrad admits the early starts took some adjustment, the satisfaction of his work and good workplace culture keep him excited about his career in the industry, “I think after you get into the rhythm it's pretty good."
Looking to his future in construction, Khonrad has big aspirations to follow in the footsteps of his family. But for now, he is excited to get as much experience as possible. “I'm going to try and get as qualified as I can, get as many tickets as I can, and try to absorb as much knowledge as I can. Hopefully I end up en route to something bigger and greater". Khonrad has just started a Certificate III in Civil Construction and says it's just the beginning, “I definitely would like to follow in my family's footsteps and go into management or supervision, but I have to get time on the ground first."
Giving advice to others just starting their careers in construction, Khonrad says to aim big and describes training and work experience as vital. “Definitely get as much work experience as you can early on and try and absorb as much as you can, even with things that you don't think are important, try and absorb that and try and understand it and try and ask as many questions as you can because it will definitely help you in the long run."
When he's not working, Khonrad loves exploring fire trails and pine forests around home in the Glasshouse Mountains on his YZ-250F motorbike. His budding career in the civil industry allows him to combine his love for adventure and hard work, all while getting qualified to chase his big dreams! We can't wait to see where Khonrad goes next in his exciting new adventure.
