Course Summary
Curious about a future in the building and construction industry? This Career Taster gives you the chance to get hands-on with real tools, materials and practical trade tasks to help you discover whether a pathway in construction, carpentry or plumbing is right for you. Across five action‑packed days, you’ll explore the fundamentals of the building trades, from basic carpentry and tool use to plumbing skills like pipe assembly, fittings, and water flow fundamentals. Perfect for students interested in a trade career, this taster helps you understand what it’s really like to work in construction environments and gives you the practical experience needed to make informed decisions about your next steps. By the end of the program, you’ll have developed confidence, new practical abilities, and insight into the pathways available through apprenticeships, vocational training or further study.
Requirements - To Be Eligible
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
Entry RequirementsEnrolment in this course is subject to meeting the funding eligibility criteria for Career Tasters. Please see the Fees and Scholarships tab for more information.
During your study at CQUniversity
To take part in this Career Taster, students must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while in workshops and training areas. PPE is required to help keep students safe in practical learning environments.
Students are to wear:
- Closed-in safety boots with reinforced toe cap (Approved to AS/NZS 2210.3:2019)
- Long-sleeved cotton drill/twill shirt
- Long cotton drill or denim work pants
Important information
- PPE must be worn at all times when directed by CQUniversity staff.
- Students who do not wear the required PPE will not be able to participate in practical activities
Course Details
| Course Type | Short Course (Non-accredited) |
|---|---|
| Student Availability |
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| Fees | For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees |
| Application Mode |
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| How to Apply | Please Enquire |
| Study Area |
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| Skill Area |
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Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
|---|---|
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations
Students will gain hands-on experience in core construction techniques, including timber assembly, plumbing fundamentals, and the safe use of tools and materials. While these skills are directly aligned with trades such as carpentry and plumbing, they also have surprising relevance in creative and technical fields. From building stage sets for theatre productions to constructing outdoor installations, or even custom furniture, students will learn how the practical knowledge gained in this program can be applied in both traditional and unconventional ways. This Taster encourages students to see construction not just as a trade, but as a foundation for innovation, and creativity, while offering a hands-on understanding of trade environments and supports exploration of vocational pathways, apprenticeships, or work experience in the building and construction industry.
Study Mode Definitions
- Online: Online courses provide the flexibility to study without normally requiring a student to visit a campus. Course content is studied through a number of means including the use of online discussion forums, electronic library resources, by contacting lecturers and teachers, and receiving study materials online/electronically. Work integrated learning, including placements, may be included in some courses.
- On-campus: Students studying in on-campus mode typically are expected to attend and participate in regular, structured on-campus teaching and learning activities throughout the University’s academic term. These activities may include lectures, tutorials, workshops and practice, online or other activities and normally will be timetabled at a CQUniversity campus or approved delivery site.
- Mixed Mode: Students studying in mixed mode will participate in a combination of online learning activities in addition to site-specific learning activities, which may include residential schools, co-op placements and/or work-integrated learning as a compulsory requirement of a unit. The additional site-specific learning activities are what differentiates a mixed-mode unit from an online unit.
*All study modes may include Vocational placement and/or work integrated learning.
Select a course structure below to view the delivery details, including the different study modes offered for each structure.
This non-accredited Career Taster program is delivered face-to-face over five consecutive days at your enrolled CQUniversity campus.
Get a real feel for what it’s like to work in the building and construction industry. This five‑day, hands‑on Career Taster introduces you to the core skills, tools and safety practices used across a range of construction trades. Across the week, you’ll take part in practical, guided activities that reflect real trade environments. You’ll learn how different areas of the industry work together, explore typical workplace processes, and gain an understanding of what’s involved in starting a trade pathway.
- On-campus
| Units | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUCRT278A | WHS and Introduction to Building Foundations | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| NUCRT278B | Timber Construction Techniques | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
| NUCRT278C | Pipework & Plumbing Systems | More Information | Training.gov Details | |
Unit Sequence
| Unit Code | Unit Name |
|---|---|
| NUCRT278A | WHS and Introduction to Building Foundations |
| NUCRT278B | Timber Construction Techniques |
| NUCRT278C | Pipework & Plumbing Systems |
Students will gain exposure to the core practical skills used across the building and construction industry, helping them understand the expectations, opportunities and pathways available in the trades. Potential future career pathways include carpentry apprentice, construction labourer, plumbing apprentice and trade assistant.
Upon completion of this non‑accredited course, students will receive a Statement of Participation acknowledging their engagement and the skills areas covered.