Information on this page is for Australian residents

Course not available to international students

Duration:
3 months full time.
Delivery mode:
Face to Face
Location: 
Industry
Sunshine
Werribee
Study off-campus:
Available for Industry or VET Delivered to Secondary Schools.
Contact VU Polytechnic for more information
Application due dates:
Applications for this course are currently being accepted.
Apply

Overview

Lay the foundations for a career in the building industry with a Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship (bricklaying or carpentry) at Victoria University Polytechnic.

Increase your chances of getting an apprenticeship by developing basic skills and knowledge in:

  • painting
  • tiling
  • levelling
  • scaffolding
  • workplace safety and first aid
  • safe use of power tools
  • calculations
  • environmental sustainability.

Bricklaying stream

In the bricklaying stream you'll learn:

  • foundational bricklaying skills
  • brick veneer processes
  • masonry.

Carpentry stream

In the carpentry stream you'll learn about:

  • wall and roof framing
  • demolition
  • concreting
  • cladding.

When you graduate from this course, you’ll be on your way towards a bricklaying or carpentry apprenticeship.

You’ll learn at our $44 million state-of-the-art trades hub at our Sunshine Campus. Our ‘Construction Futures’ hub is a sustainable training facility with a six-Star Green rating. It provides modern high-tech labs and dynamic workshops including:

  • concrete laboratory
  • survey laboratory
  • engine laboratory
  • soldering/construction laboratories
  • power systems laboratory
  • computer workstations with simulation and modelling software.

VU's Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

  • workshops
  • drop-in sessions
  • peer mentoring
  • maths and writing resources
  • resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.

Our campus libraries have photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and print resources.

You'll also have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including:

  • databases
  • e-learning content for courses
  • student email
  • student software packages
  • social networking tools.

On campus, we make sure that all of our students have access to digital resources. We offer:

As part of Victoria University, Victoria University Polytechnic believes in inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. Studying with us means you’ll be learning in an environment that values community empowerment. 

Victoria University received the highest rating of five stars for cultural diversity by the Good Universities Guide. Our students feel fortunate to learn in a setting that has such a rich representation of cultures. 

VU also works to address refugee issues, tackle diversity and social inclusion issues and improve the health and social wellbeing of the region. We are proud of our varied cultural and community engagement projects with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Indigenous communities.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced Victoria University Polytechnic course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back

TAFE resources

Careers in building and construction

Building and construction workers have careers that span the building industry from development, design, cost planning, construction and building and management.  This pre-apprenticeship program is designed to give you industry skills so you can start a career in the building industry.

Employers prefer apprentice applicants that have undertaken a pre-apprenticeship.

Job titles include:

Graduates can typically find employment across several industries including manufacturing, construction and mining.

Salaries

As an apprentice, your education or training will influence how much you can earn. The following is the average earnings for qualified trades in:

Employment rates

Employment for Bricklayers, Stonemasons, Carpenter and Joiners are set to grow strongly in the next five years. (Job Outlook).

Dynamic learning

Our state-of-the-art technology allows students to participate in simulation learning in the classroom so they can practice their skills in a safe environment.

Nationally recognised training

This course is nationally recognised training.

Course structure

To be awarded the 22338VIC Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship, a student must successfully complete the following:

  • ten (10) core units, and;
  • all the elective units from one trade stream.

This qualification has been developed to enable participants to achieve the underpinning skills, knowledge and ability to meet AQF Level 2 requirements and to provide them with a solid foundation from which to undertake future apprenticeship training at the Certificate III level. The course outcomes of the 22338VIC Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship are consistent with the distinguishing features of the learning outcomes specified in the Australian Qualifications Framework. 

This qualification forms part of the credit suite specified by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and may contribute towards the satisfactory completion of the Victoria Certificate of Education (VCE) or the Victoria Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type: VET

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full-fee paying place.

If you enrol in a:

  • Government subsidised place, you’ll pay a VET tuition fee and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee and course materials contribution.
  • full-fee paying place, you’ll pay the full-fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).

Calculate your course fees.

Find out:

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course.

Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Entry requirements

Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
VETiS: The literacy and numeracy levels of applicants will be assessed through consultation with the relevant secondary school.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.

How to apply

Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.

Before you apply

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

  • Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
  • Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.

Apply direct to VU

Apply direct to VU using our admission centre submit applications for one or more courses, track and save your progress and upload additional information. Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

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Contact VU Polytechnic

Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.