School
pathway
#Try a trade. Get a head start. See if construction is for you.
Construction isn't one job, it's hundreds. Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, project managers – you get the idea.
Queensland's building pipeline is forecast to reach $77 billion. Add the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the industry isn't slowing down.
That means construction businesses are looking for new people. And you can get your start while you're still at school.
Why construction
50,000
Workers needed
Extra construction workers Queensland needs by 2027.
Up to $125K
Carpenter pay
Qualified carpenters in Queensland earned up to $125K a year. Market figure, not a wage offer.
95%
In work after
Of trade apprentices were employed after completing.
90%
Completion rate
Hutchies Training learners finish what they start. The national average is 58%.
Source: Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), 2025 and National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), 2025.
#Where to start
01 (you're here)
Ready 4 Construction (R4C)
Certificate I in Construction (CPC10120). One day a week on a live site while you're at school.
02
Apprenticeship – four years, paid
Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220). Work on real sites and get paid while you learn.
03
Step up – supervision and beyond
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (CPC40120), then the Diploma of Building and Construction (CPC50220). Move into supervision, safety, estimating or project management.
04
Your career
Stay on the tools, lead a crew, or run your own business.
Nationally recognised: CPC10120 Certificate I in Construction; CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry; CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction; CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction. Delivered by J Hutchinson Pty Ltd, RTO 32409.
#How Hutchies Training connects with school students
Hutchies and Hutchies Training support school students at every stage, from trying construction for a day through to a nationally recognised qualification.
Ready 4 Construction (R4C)
One day a week on a live construction site during term time. Open to Year 11 and 12 students in Queensland. You work towards a nationally recognised Certificate I in Construction (CPC10120). There is no course fee for eligible students - funded under the Queensland Government's VET in Schools (VETiS) program.
Try'a Trade
A one-day, hands-on experience for Year 9 and 10 students, run by Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ). Hutchies opens its live sites so students rotate through trade stations, try the tools and talk to experienced tradespeople.
Cadet program
Further down the track, university students can apply for Hutchinson Builders' Cadet Summer School – a 14-week paid program with site visits to 30-plus live projects and a structured route into the management side of construction.
#For parents and career advisors
Have a student who's keen on a career in construction?
Here's what to know about Hutchies Training's R4C:
- Funded under the Queensland Government's VET in Schools (VETiS) program, for eligible students
- Learning happens on supervised construction sites with experienced trainers, during term time
- Students work towards a nationally recognised qualification and complete the general construction induction (White Card) unit - the card is issued by the relevant state regulator
- Hutchies Training's completion rate is 90%, well above the national average of 58% (NCVER, 2025)
- R4C is a common first step towards a construction apprenticeship
#Schools & Pre-employment
Get the right skills and knowledge to prepare yourself for your first job in construction through a Certificate I in Construction.
Certificate I in Construction
CPC10120
Ideal for school students to develop basic skills and knowledge for a career in the construction industry.
Certificate II in Construction Pathways
CPC20220
Coming soon
Trade Ready
Coming soon
Careers
Hutchies Training offers a range of career pathways in construction.