What is a white card? How do you obtain it? What kind of training do you need? You will find answers to these questions and much more down below.
Why Do You Need a White Card?
So, why exactly do you need a white card? What purpose does it serve? Well, when you possess a white card, you have a piece of physical evidence that you have completed the general construction induction course. These courses are done with registered and reputable organizations in Australia. This piece of paper also proves that you meet all of the necessary requirements that are provided by the National Work, Health & Safety regulations.
In addition to that, these white card courses are here to prepare you for identifying any construction risk and other associated dangers you may be able to prevent for the sake of everyone’s safety and health at the construction site.
Just keep in mind that every state has their own white card training requirements. So, make sure to get your training done in the state you want to work in. This course is required for all construction workers and that includes:
- Building and construction workers
- Construction site supervisors and managers
- Surveyors
- Staff who routinely access operational construction zones
- Tradespeople
- People who enter construction sites unsupervised
Vital issues on the White Card Test
The National Code of Practice for Induction for Construction Work requires all construction workers to get their training done in a registered training institution. After you complete the CPCCWHS1001 course, you will receive a Statement of Training and by receiving this document you will be able to start working at any construction site in Australia. Some other essential details of the White Card test are:
- A photographic ID for the registration – You need to provide it on the day of your registration for the course.
- If you maintain your competence your White Card does not expire. That means that if you spend more than two years without working at any construction site, you will be required to renew your White Card.
- Online courses are not accepted and recognised by the health and safety regulatory bodies. In addition to that, other government-run agencies don’t accept this form of training. This is due to the fact that online courses don’t cover real-time scenarios that are very common occurrences at construction sites.
- The White Card training is meant to prepare you and teach you some of the most basic risk management principles as well as standard behaviour acts that you will be required to apply at the construction site you work at. After you acquire the needed document and pass the test, you will be facing potential hazards and risk on a daily basis at your construction site. That is why this training is so important for all of the construction workers.
Mode of Training
As you can probably guess already, there is in-person learning and online training. Some people prefer the first one and other prefer the online version. However, you do have to keep in mind that different states across Australia have different rules when it comes to white card validity and acceptance of online training. So, in conclusion you have to pick the adequate form of training depending on what your state accepts.
Even though online courses come with a certain level of convenience and flexibility, you will be required to acquire your white card through in-person training by most states in Australia. Professional white card training in Sydney is one of many great options you can choose from when obtaining a white card for your workplace. The only two states allowing online courses right now are Tasmania and Western Australia.
What Are the White Card Territories?
There are several territories that determine the legal requirements of a white card such as:
- Work safe Act – requires you to obtain a general construction induction training card. This Act ensures that every construction worker possesses competent skills needed for the construction site they work at.
- Safe Work NSW – requires you to complete the training program provided by a registered training institution.
- Workplace Health and Safety QLD – provides existing and new workers with the needed skills and knowledge for manoeuvring in the construction industry.
- Safe work SA – provide inspectors who are meant to verify safety and work parameters. In addition to that, they also action whenever statutory laws are breached in the construction industry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in order to work at any construction site in Australia you need to obtain a White Card. To do so, you need to go through in-person training provided by registered institutions. Only two states in the country allow online courses, but for the rest of them you need to take in-person classes. Nonetheless, we’re experiencing a shift in educational practices and online learning is definitely the future of education.
