White Card training and beyond: what tickets do you need for construction work?

The White Card course in NSW, White Card Vic and every other state

White Card training is also known as construction induction training. It is the first step into any construction career.

The White Card is the general construction induction. The unit is CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry. It takes about 6.5 hours, and the card is recognised in every state and territory.

In the course you learn about work health and safety on site. You learn to identify construction hazards, apply risk control measures, report safety issues and respond to incidents and emergencies. These are the safety measures that protect you and your workmates on every job.

Who issues it depends on the state. Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411) issues it in New South Wales. Edway Training (RTO 91401) issues it in Victoria, South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia. The issuing RTO is shown on the course page before you book.

With your white card certificate in hand, you can start your construction career with confidence. To learn what the card is, read what a White Card is.

Work health and safety training after the card, and work health and safety representatives

Two units have similar names. Here is the difference.

• CPCWHS1001 is the White Card unit. It gives you the construction induction card.
• CPCCWHS2001 Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry is a different unit. It does not give you a White Card.

Edway Training (RTO 91401) offers the Apply WHS course online and self-paced. You have 2 months from enrolment to finish it. It is needed for White Card trainers and assessors, it is the pre-study for the NSW demolition course, and it is one of the owner-builder units.

Ongoing WHS training keeps your safety skills sharp and builds a safety culture on every site you work on.

Health and safety representatives (HSRs) are workers elected to represent their work group on safety. In New South Wales, Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411) delivers the SafeWork NSW-approved 5-day HSR training for elected HSRs and their deputies.

Task tickets by job

Once you have a White Card, these courses let you take on a wider range of tasks on site.

1. Working at heights. For roofing, building work and any job where you could fall. There is no heights licence in Australia. Employers must make sure fall-risk workers are trained, so most sites ask for this course. Edway Training (RTO 91401) issues the Working at Heights course in Sydney. See also whether you need both a White Card and working at heights.
2. Asbestos. The right course depends on whether you only need awareness or will remove asbestos. Read which asbestos course you need.
3. Excavator. Operating an excavator does not need a high-risk work licence, but the business must make sure you are competent. Edway Training (RTO 91401) issues the Excavator course in Sydney.
4. Traffic control. Directing traffic needs its own training as well as the White Card. You need both. In Victoria, Edway Training (RTO 91401) delivers the TC1 + TMI1 course. You must send in your White Card Statement of Attainment before the course. A copy of the plastic card is not accepted.

Hazards and risks in demolition sites

Demolition work changes a site within seconds. Heavy machinery moves through tight work zones, structures shift under new loads, and dust spreads through the air as materials break apart. Demolition crews need workers who recognise these hazards early and act before problems escalate.

Demolition has its own rules in New South Wales. Since 1 March 2025, workers doing licensed demolition work in NSW must complete the SafeWork NSW-approved course for identifying hazards on demolition sites. Training Aid Australia (RTO 91411) issues the demolition hazards course. It covers site and work plans and how to manage health, safety and environmental risks. The 1 March 2025 rule is a New South Wales rule.

High demand construction jobs

Construction offers many entry points, such as labouring, trades support, plant operation and traffic control. There is always a construction or infrastructure project underway. Employers look for workers who already hold the tickets the job needs, so every task course you add opens more roles. The more qualifications you have, the better the level of employment you can find.

Edway can help you get the right tickets and start working in construction sooner.

Travellers, apprenticeships and jobs for school leavers

For travellers, labouring on building sites is a great way to earn some money while you are in Australia. If you are planning on applying for a construction apprenticeship or any of the other construction jobs for school leavers, you need to be carrying a White Card.

If you are new to Australia or just leaving school, the order is the same.

1. Get your White Card.
2. Look at the jobs you want and note the tickets they ask for.
3. Add those courses one at a time.

Once you have your White Card and a traffic control ticket, holding a stop/slow sign is a popular job for school leavers. It suits people who love being outdoors and being physically active. Your employer or apprenticeship provider will tell you which tickets they need you to hold.

Next step

Start with the White Card. Choose your state, check the issuing RTO and pick a date on the White Card course page. Book today and get started on your new career.