Who Needs a White Card in Sydney?
If you work or plan to work in the construction industry in Sydney (or anywhere in Australia), you’re required to hold a White Card. This card shows you’ve completed the mandatory general construction induction training and understand essential workplace health and safety practices. Without it, you legally can’t enter a construction site as a worker.
Jobs and Work Types That Require a White Card in Sydney
The White Card isn’t just for builders or tradies — it applies to a wide range of roles, both on and around construction sites. If your work takes you into an active construction zone, you must have one. Below are examples of the jobs and activities where a White Card is required in Sydney:
1. Trades and Building Roles
- Carpenters, joiners, and cabinet makers working onsite
- Electricians (residential, commercial, and industrial)
- Plumbers and gas fitters
- Bricklayers and stonemasons
- Painters and decorators
- Roofers and cladding installers
- Tilers and flooring installers
- Plasterers and ceiling fixers
2. Civil and Infrastructure Work
- Road construction workers and asphalt crews
- Bridge and tunnel maintenance teams
- Drainage, sewerage, and pipework crews
- Earthmoving operators (excavators, bulldozers, graders)
- Railway maintenance and track workers
3. Site Preparation and Demolition
- Demolition crews (structural or non-structural)
- Site clearance and rubbish removal teams
- Scaffolding erectors and dismantlers
- Formwork and concrete workers
- Temporary fencing installers
4. Specialist Construction Services
- HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) installers
- Glaziers and window installers
- Steel fixers and welders working onsite
- Insulation installers
- Waterproofing specialists
5. Supervisory, Project, and Compliance Roles
- Site supervisors and forepersons
- Health and safety officers visiting worksites
- Project managers who enter active construction zones
- Surveyors and engineers conducting inspections onsite
6. Labour Hire and Short-Term Workers
- General labourers on casual or full-time contracts
- Traffic controllers working within or near construction sites
- Event crew setting up in areas classified as construction zones
- Delivery drivers who regularly enter sites to unload materials
Why This Matters in Sydney
In Sydney, construction sites are regulated under NSW Work Health and Safety laws, and SafeWork NSW enforces these requirements. Whether you’re on a high-rise in the CBD, working on a suburban renovation, or helping build new infrastructure, you must have a White Card before you start.
Book you White Card Course and receive your Certificate same day.
