Your Carpentry Toolkit: 101 Things to Know Before Studying or Working in Australia

Building A Foundation

We’ve categorised what you need to know into different areas of your “carpentry toolkit” so you can have a better understanding of your pathway based on study, work readiness, expectations, and potential pathways. These are fundamental things you need to learn about carpentry before studying or working in Australia.

Academic Eligibility

If you’re keen on taking carpentry as a course of study, there are certain criteria that have to be met. Immigration states that a Student Visa (500) is necessary for international students to study in Aus. 

Course & Qualification

1. A 1.5 to 2 year vocational qualification
2. CRICOS-registered courses
3. Minimum age of 18 years old

Academic Background

4. High school completer: either Year 10 or Year 12 (depending on the provider)

Language Skills (English)

5. IELTS 5.5 to 6.0 (or equivalent TOEFL, PTE)
6. Combine English test results with additional ELICOS (English Languages Courses) if needed 

This is a good starting point to prepare. Age, Academic Background, Language Skills, and Course Qualification are a few of the essentials to keep in mind when deciding on taking carpentry for study. There’s a comprehensive list of qualifications on the Immigration website, you can check that out for detailed information. For Language Skills assessment, you might want to read the PTE Score Changes for the latest updates on English requirements.

Pre-Training Checks 

7. Particular institutions provide pre-training reviews or entry interviews

Student Visa Requirements

For an international student to begin studying in Aus, here’s what you’ll need to have:

8. Secure a Student Visa (500)
9. A confirmed enrollment/offer in a CRICOS-registered course
10. Have evidence that shows sufficient funds to support your stay and study
11. Must have your mandatory Overseas Student Healthcare Cover (OSHC)
12. Provide evidence of English proficiency and genuine student intent

Budget & Living Costs

13. Tuition fees range from AUD 10,000-36,000
14. Living fees estimates around AUD 1,500-2,500 (rent, food, transport, other expenses)
15. Working while studying is possible

We’re giving you a heads up that tuition fees and living costs do vary based on the school and the location where you’re studying. We suggest checking online for specificity, but what we’ve laid out here for you is an estimate of what your expenses could look like. The good thing about studying in Aus is that working while studying is doable provided that certain provisions are followed. 

Physical Preparation & Safety

16. Must need to prepare for a physically demanding course
17. Light strength training is suggested (arms, shoulders, back) 
18. Practice basic woodwork beforehand
19. Prepare your safety gear
20. Prepare your tools and materials (there are institutions that provide these for you)

Carpentry deals with a lot of timber and wood craftsmanship, so it can be physically demanding at times. Doing strength training for different parts of your body is a great way to prep for the possible strenuous activities you’ll be doing. Also, it’s best to have your own safety gear and tools, though there are schools that provide these to their students.

Core & Practical Skills

When studying for a Certificate III in Carpentry, it’s a balance of both theoretical and practical learning. It’s knowledge and hands-on training combined. There are a lot of skills you’ll be able to pick up along the way. Here’s a quick overview:

Core Skills

21. Math Skills
22. Business Skills
23. Physical Dexterity
24. Hand-Eye Coordination
25. Problem-Solving
26. Detail-Orientedness

Calculating measurements, accuracy and precision, creativity, adaptability, general health and stamina, and marketing your craft are some of the capabilities that will be honed through studying theory and application. 

Specialised Skills

27. Tool Proficiency
28. Tool Mastery
29. Measurement & Cutting
30. Blueprint Reading: 
31. Framing
32. Installation
33. Material Knowledge
34. Fundamentals
35. Construction Techniques
36. Repairs
37. Safety Awareness
38. Precision & Detail
39. Custom Work
40. Teamwork & Communication

Proper handling and mastery of tools and equipment, interpreting drawings and building physical structures, building and installing frameworks, modes of construction, fixing and repairing wooden structures, understanding OSHA (Occupational Health Services Australia) rules, creating furniture, cabinetry, joinery, and collaborating with other teammates on a project are the technical skills that students learn in school.

Trade Course & Classes

Would you rather Study Trade or go into University? Would you prefer TAFE or a Private College? Knowing about what the student experience is like is helpful in getting a sense of what it’s really like to learn and master the trade. 

Course Details

41. 1.5 to 2 years full-time (depends on the school)
42. Part-time or accelerated options are possible

General Class Structure

43. Theory classes
44. Workshop or Practical classes
45. Industry Placement or Work Experience
46. Assessment and Project Work

Theory and workshop go hand-in-hand during the school weeks, then necessary assessments will be made to gauge how much you’ve learned throughout the lectures. After that, you get to be immersed in the industry through work experience. To get an idea of what the trade school experience is like you can see how TAFE SkillsTech in Brisbane and Entrepreneur Education apply their curriculums for trade courses. 

Course Delivery Modes

47. On-campus workshops
48. Blended learning
49. Block scheduling

General Subject Units 

50. Constitution Principles and Site Preparation
51. Safe Use of Tools and Equipment
52. Timber Framing
53. Reading and Interpreting Plans
54. Installing Fixtures and Fittings
55. Basic Finishing Techniques 
56. Workplace Health and Safety

Usual Weekly Schedule 

57. Full-time timetable of 20-25 contact hours to satisfy visa requirements

Assessments

58. Practical assessments
59. Written or Online tests
60. Portfolio or Project 
61. Workplace performance

Course Delivery Modes, Assessments, and Scheduling can vary depending on the school. With the Subject Units these would generally be the rudimentary subjects you’d be taking on and learning about in carpentry class. Learn more about the carpentry student experience from Jade, a PTA client, as she explains it from her POV.

Career & Employment Stability

During and after your study, there are opportunities that may come for you to be employed. If you’re looking for ways to find stability in your carpentry career, Here are possible pathways and options for you to explore:

Work Options during your Study
62. Can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods

63. Unlimited work hours during scheduled course breaks

Career Path after Graduation

64. Carpenter or Joiner
65. Construction Assistant or Labourer
66. Site Supervisor or Junior Foreman
67. Cabinet Maker or Furniture Maker

Post-Study Visa Options

68. Temporary Graduate visa (485) is needed
69. Post-work study stream
70. 2-4 years stay depending on the qualification level 
71. Allows full-time employment in any role 
72. Can gain work experience in Australia

The Temporary Graduate visa (485) lets international students stay in Australia for 18 months, 3 years after finishing their studies, without employer sponsorship or points testing. Once you graduate, you may be able to find employment that can help boost your carpentry career path. 

Further Skill Advancement

73. Certificate IV in Building and Construction
74. Diploma of Building and Construction
75. Other specialised courses like Roof Framing or Building Codes and Compliance

Skilled Migration Opportunities

76. Eligible for GSM (General Skilled Migration) or Employer Sponsored Visas (482 or 186)
77. Must have a skills assessment
78. Demonstrated work experience in your trade (1-2 yrs of work experience in Aus)
79. English language proficiency 
80. Suggest to be proactive with toolkit and safety certifications

Migration & PR Potential

There are good prospects to Permanent Residency when working in the carpentry sector, although there are no guarantees. Here are potential PR pathways you can take when thinking about working and migrating to Aus. 

Temporary Graduate Visa (485)

81. Stay and work in Aus
82. Can stay up to 18 months for vocational or trade qualifications
83. Can be employed in any job
84. Get a skills assessment from the TRA

Skills Assessment and Job Ready Program

85. Assessments are usually done by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
86. Complete a Provisional Skills Assessment
87. Employed and working in your trade
88. Have your Australian workplace experience validated
89. Have a positive final skills assessment 

The Job Ready Program (JRP) is a four-step employment-based skills assessment program for international student graduates seeking a skills assessment for migration purposes. This program is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking a pathway to permanent residency in Australia but are unable to meet the general skilled migration requirements. Unsure of how to do this? Don’t worry, you can check out our walkthrough of the Job Ready Program Guide or feel free to Contact Us. 

Skilled Migration Visas

90. Skilled Independent Visa (189) 
91. Skilled Nominated Visa (190)
92. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (491)
93. Employer-Sponsored Visas: Skills In Demand (482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (186)

The Skilled Independent Visa (189)  grants permanent residency, allowing you to live, work, and study in the country without time limitations. The Skilled Nominated Visa (190) is a permanent skilled migration visa for highly skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory. While the Skilled Regional Work Visa (491) is originally a temporary visa that may lead to PR. It’s not employer sponsored and requires you to commit to living and working in a regional area. 

For the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa 482, you must be qualified for and nominated to work in an occupation that is included on one of the occupations lists at the time the application is made. For the Employer Nominated Scheme (186) is ideal if you meet these criteria and wish to transition to permanent residency without prior employer-sponsored work in Australia You can check the 482 Requirements & Eligibility and 186 Benefits & Requirements to see if you fit the criteria for either one. 

To be more guided about visa options, you can watch our Visas for Carpentry that explains all the types of visas you can apply for when pursuing a career in carpentry in Australia. 

Points System and PR Importance

94. Younger applicants score higher
95. Higher English proficiency gives more points
96. Australian work experiences is highly valuable
97. Must have a positive skills assessment result

To have a deeper understanding of how Carpentry can lead to a PR, you can watch Jade’s Pathway to Aus and download our Carpentry Course & PR Pathway (e-guide).

FAQs about Carpentry in Australia

We often get the same questions from different people. We found that these are the ones that people are interested in knowing about the most: 

98. What do you need to be a carpenter in Australia?Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220)
    On-the-job experience (3-4 years)
    White Card (Mandatory construction safety card to work on sites)
    Basic maths & measurements skills
    Physical capability

99. What is the 3/4/5 rule in carpentry?

It’s a simple method used to check or create a perfect right angle (90°). It’s used for framing walls, decks, floors, and layouts.

100. What knowledge do you need for carpentry?Technical knowledge
     Construction knowledge
     Soft skills
101. Is being a carpenter worth it in Australia?Yes. Carpentry is worth it if you value:
     Practical skills
              Job security
              Long-term career progression
              Opportunities for migration or sponsorship (in some cases)

The Training-Trade-Migration Pathway

Carpenter (331212) is currently on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List. This means immigration has identified carpenters as an in-demand occupation in Australia. Pursuing it as a course of study then transitioning into a career would be something that has potential. Like with any kind of study, carpentry requires dedication to knowledge and practical application, as well as being able to have the stamina to take on physical tasks. 

If you’ve decided on carving your own pathway in carpentry, book a FREE Education Consultation with one of our lead education agents to get you started on your journey.