Trades
Gain hands-on experience, learn the tricks of the trade, develop lifelong skills and earn qualifications to get your foot in the door across a wide range of industries when you do a trades course with TAFE Queensland.
Show me study areas for
Air-conditioning and refrigeration
Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics install and repair industrial, commercial, and domestic air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Employment opportunities in refrigeration and air-conditioning maintenance are expected to remain solid with up to 25,000 jobs available over the next five years.
What will I be able to do
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration manager
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanic
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration supervisor
- Split air-conditioning and heat pump installer
Electrotechnology
The electrotechnology industry incorporates a range of smaller fields. We offer a comprehensive range of courses with specialisations available in automation, instrumentation, renewable energy, security, and telecommunications.
What will I be able to do
- Electrician
- Appliance service repair technician
- Instrumentation and control technician
- Renewable energy technical officer
- Telecommunications technician
Bricklaying and stonemasonry
TAFE Queensland offers courses entry-level courses in both stonemasonry and bricklaying/blocklaying. As a fully-qualified brick or blocklayer you'll also have the opportunity to continue your training to becoming a registered builder, opening up opportunities to work as a sub-contractor or sole trader.
What will I be able to do
- Bricklayer
- Stonemason (monumental)
- Stonemason (restoration)
Building design
Help shape the future of Australia's infrastructure with a career in civil engineering. Or develop skills in computer-aided design to produce drawings and models for residential and small-scale commercial projects as a building designer.
What will I be able to do
- Building designer
- Design drafter
- Draftsperson
- Engineering surveyor
- Site supervisor
Carpentry and joinery
Our woodworking courses cover a number of trades including carpentry, furniture making, joinery, and shopfitting. Learn how to construct frames for walls and ceilings, make timber joints, assemble furniture components, or construct and install shopfronts.
What will I be able to do
- Cabinet maker
- Carpenter
- Joiner
- Shopfitter
Civil construction
We offer civil construction courses with specialisations in pipe laying, plant operations, and road construction and maintenance. Gain fundamental civil construction skills in manual excavation, concreting, and trench work or learn how to manage civil works.
What will I be able to do
- Civil construction supervisor
- Pipe layer
- Plant operator
- Road construction worker
Building and construction
Learn hands-on with one of our generalist building and construction courses or choose to specialise in waterproofing or estimating. We also offer advanced courses that will allow you to supervise on-site construction and apply for your builders licence in Queensland.
What will I be able to do
- Builder
- Construction manager
- Estimator
- Site supervisor
- Waterproofer
Painting and decorating
Open up career opportunities in both commercial and residential settings as a qualified painter and decorator. Learn how to prepare surfaces, match paint colours, and apply paint, wallpaper and other coatings to decorate interior and exterior surfaces.
What will I be able to do
- Painter and decorator
- Painting trades worker
Plumbing
Our plumbing courses cover a number of specialisations including roof plumbing, gasfitting, drainage, and hydraulic services design. You can also choose to complete a number of industry licences in drainage, gas work and plumbing.
What will I be able to do
- Drainer
- Gas fitter
- Hydraulic design consultant
- Plumber
- Roof plumber
Tiling, plastering and flooring
Flooring, plastering and tiling are hands-on trades in the building and construction industry that work on in both commercial and residential projects. Whether you're looking to work as a floor finisher, plasterer or wall and floor tiler we have the training you need to launch your trades career.
What will I be able to do
- Carpet layer
- Floor finisher
- Plasterer
- Roof tiler
- Wall and floor tiler
Engineering
Engineer your future for a hands-on career. From boiler making to welding, and fabrication to machining, choose to specialise your engineering skills across a range of areas.
What will I be able to do
- Boilermaker
- Caster/moulder
- Diesel fitter
- Draftsperson
- Fitter and turner
- Locksmith
- Machinist
- Patternmaker
- Sheetmetal worker
- Welder
- Engineering associate
Manufacturing and Design
Combine your love of design with hands-on, practical work. Jump into a variety of industry areas including jewellery manufacturing, cabinet or furniture making, or glass and glazing.
What will I be able to do
- Cabinet maker
- CAD operator
- Furniture maker
- Furnishing worker
- Glazier
- Interior designer
- Jeweller
- Jewellery designer
- Machining technician
- Upholsterer
- Wood machinist
Printing
The printing industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries in Australia. Worth over $23 billion and employing more than 115,000 people, there are a range of different career opportunities available within the printing industry including pre-press technician, print machinist, and screen printer.
What will I be able to do
- Desktop publisher
- Digital print manager
- Pre-press technician
- Print finisher
- Print machinist
- Screen printer
Automotive electrical technology
A career in automotive electrical technology will provide you with the skills to maintain, test, diagnose and repair automotive electrical components and systems.
What will I be able to do
- Accessory fitter
- Automotive air conditioning serviceperson
- Automotive electrical technician
- Automotive electrician
Heavy automotive industries
Open up a range of career options in the heavy automotive industry with practical, hands-on training. Choose from a range of specialisations including diesel fitting, mobile plant technology, and cylinder head reconditioning.
What will I be able to do
- Cylinder head reconditioner
- Diesel mechanic
- Drivetrain repair technician
- Mobile plant technician
Light automotive
TAFE Queensland offers a comprehensive range of light automotive courses, from pre-apprenticeship programs through to apprenticeship and post-trade specialisations.
What will I be able to do
- Cylinder head reconditioner
- Light vehicle mechanic
- Underbody serviceperson
- Vehicle serviceperson
Motorbike and bicycle mechanics
Turn your love of motorcycles into a rewarding career or start an exciting career traveling around the world as part of the road crew for a top cyclist.
What will I be able to do
- Bicycle assembler
- Bicycle mechanic
- Race team mechanic
- Motorcycle mechanic
Safety
Develop or add to your existing skill set in electrotechnology and utilities with our range of safety related courses. Get the qualifications you need to work as a safety observer, install security equipment, or work in hazardous areas in the mining industry.
What will I be able to do
- Electronic equipment technician (special class)
- Safety observer
- Security equipment tradesperson
- Security equipment installation technician
- Security equipment installation tradesperson
Bricklaying and stonemasonry
TAFE Queensland offers courses entry-level courses in both stonemasonry and bricklaying/blocklaying. As a fully-qualified brick or blocklayer you'll also have the opportunity to continue your training to becoming a registered builder, opening up opportunities to work as a sub-contractor or sole trader.
What will I be able to do
- Bricklayer
- Stonemason (monumental)
- Stonemason (restoration)
Building design
Help shape the future of Australia's infrastructure with a career in civil engineering. Or develop skills in computer-aided design to produce drawings and models for residential and small-scale commercial projects as a building designer.
What will I be able to do
- Building designer
- Design drafter
- Draftsperson
- Engineering surveyor
- Site supervisor
Carpentry and joinery
Our woodworking courses cover a number of trades including carpentry, furniture making, joinery, and shopfitting. Learn how to construct frames for walls and ceilings, make timber joints, assemble furniture components, or construct and install shopfronts.
What will I be able to do
- Cabinet maker
- Carpenter
- Joiner
- Shopfitter
Civil construction
We offer civil construction courses with specialisations in pipe laying, plant operations, and road construction and maintenance. Gain fundamental civil construction skills in manual excavation, concreting, and trench work or learn how to manage civil works.
What will I be able to do
- Civil construction supervisor
- Pipe layer
- Plant operator
- Road construction worker
Building and construction
Learn hands-on with one of our generalist building and construction courses or choose to specialise in waterproofing or estimating. We also offer advanced courses that will allow you to supervise on-site construction and apply for your builders licence in Queensland.
What will I be able to do
- Builder
- Construction manager
- Estimator
- Site supervisor
- Waterproofer
Painting and decorating
Open up career opportunities in both commercial and residential settings as a qualified painter and decorator. Learn how to prepare surfaces, match paint colours, and apply paint, wallpaper and other coatings to decorate interior and exterior surfaces.
What will I be able to do
- Painter and decorator
- Painting trades worker
Plumbing
Our plumbing courses cover a number of specialisations including roof plumbing, gasfitting, drainage, and hydraulic services design. You can also choose to complete a number of industry licences in drainage, gas work and plumbing.
What will I be able to do
- Drainer
- Gas fitter
- Hydraulic design consultant
- Plumber
- Roof plumber
Tiling, plastering and flooring
Flooring, plastering and tiling are hands-on trades in the building and construction industry that work on in both commercial and residential projects. Whether you're looking to work as a floor finisher, plasterer or wall and floor tiler we have the training you need to launch your trades career.
What will I be able to do
- Carpet layer
- Floor finisher
- Plasterer
- Roof tiler
- Wall and floor tiler
Safety
Develop or add to your existing skill set in electrotechnology and utilities with our range of safety related courses. Get the qualifications you need to work as a safety observer, install security equipment, or work in hazardous areas in the mining industry.
What will I be able to do
- Electronic equipment technician (special class)
- Safety observer
- Security equipment tradesperson
- Security equipment installation technician
- Security equipment installation tradesperson
Engineering
Engineer your future for a hands-on career. From boiler making to welding, and fabrication to machining, choose to specialise your engineering skills across a range of areas.
What will I be able to do
- Boilermaker
- Caster/moulder
- Diesel fitter
- Draftsperson
- Fitter and turner
- Locksmith
- Machinist
- Patternmaker
- Sheetmetal worker
- Welder
- Engineering associate
Manufacturing and Design
Combine your love of design with hands-on, practical work. Jump into a variety of industry areas including jewellery manufacturing, cabinet or furniture making, or glass and glazing.
What will I be able to do
- Cabinet maker
- CAD operator
- Furniture maker
- Furnishing worker
- Glazier
- Interior designer
- Jeweller
- Jewellery designer
- Machining technician
- Upholsterer
- Wood machinist
Printing
The printing industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries in Australia. Worth over $23 billion and employing more than 115,000 people, there are a range of different career opportunities available within the printing industry including pre-press technician, print machinist, and screen printer.
What will I be able to do
- Desktop publisher
- Digital print manager
- Pre-press technician
- Print finisher
- Print machinist
- Screen printer
Air-conditioning and refrigeration
Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics install and repair industrial, commercial, and domestic air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Employment opportunities in refrigeration and air-conditioning maintenance are expected to remain solid with up to 25,000 jobs available over the next five years.
What will I be able to do
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration manager
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanic
- Air-conditioning and refrigeration supervisor
- Split air-conditioning and heat pump installer
Electrotechnology
The electrotechnology industry incorporates a range of smaller fields. We offer a comprehensive range of courses with specialisations available in automation, instrumentation, renewable energy, security, and telecommunications.
What will I be able to do
- Electrician
- Appliance service repair technician
- Instrumentation and control technician
- Renewable energy technical officer
- Telecommunications technician
Automotive electrical technology
A career in automotive electrical technology will provide you with the skills to maintain, test, diagnose and repair automotive electrical components and systems.
What will I be able to do
- Accessory fitter
- Automotive air conditioning serviceperson
- Automotive electrical technician
- Automotive electrician
Heavy automotive industries
Open up a range of career options in the heavy automotive industry with practical, hands-on training. Choose from a range of specialisations including diesel fitting, mobile plant technology, and cylinder head reconditioning.
What will I be able to do
- Cylinder head reconditioner
- Diesel mechanic
- Drivetrain repair technician
- Mobile plant technician
Light automotive
TAFE Queensland offers a comprehensive range of light automotive courses, from pre-apprenticeship programs through to apprenticeship and post-trade specialisations.
What will I be able to do
- Cylinder head reconditioner
- Light vehicle mechanic
- Underbody serviceperson
- Vehicle serviceperson
About Trades
As a TAFE Queensland student, you'll develop practical skills to work across a range of specialisations including electrotechnology, air conditioning and refrigeration, safety or water operations.
Are you interested in building and construction? Take the next step in your career and learn the tools of the trade. Whether you want to develop or enhance your skills in building, construction, hydraulic services design or engineering drafting, we have a course to suit your needs.
Looking for an employer?
If you're interested in starting an apprenticeship the first step is to find an employer. TAFE Queensland can help connect you with an employer in your chosen industry.
Information for employers
Find out more about why apprenticeships and traineeships are a smart way to recruit and train employees to meet the current and future needs of your business.
As TAFE Queensland marks a momentous milestone this year, 140 years of vocational education and training, we're excited to invite the Class of 2022 to a special graduation ceremony.
As TAFE Queensland marks a momentous milestone this year, 140 years of vocational education and training, we're excited to invite the Class of 2022 to a special graduation ceremony.
Orientation information for TAFE Queensland Gold Coast enrolled students on where to attend their orientation sessions.
The TAFE Queensland Graduation Ceremonies are a platform to celebrate and recognise the dedication and efforts of Diploma graduates who have committed to their chosen field of study. The Graduation ceremonies are held every year for students who have completed their studies.
As TAFE Queensland marks a momentous milestone this year, 140 years of vocational education and training, we're excited to invite the Class of 2022 to a special graduation ceremony.
As TAFE Queensland marks a momentous milestone this year, 140 years of vocational education and training, we're excited to invite the Class of 2022 to a special graduation ceremony.
As TAFE Queensland marks a momentous milestone this year, 140 years of vocational education and training, we're excited to invite the Class of 2022 to a special graduation ceremony.
The TAFE Queensland 2022 Apprentice Celebration and Awards Evening provides a platform to celebrate and recognise the education and efforts of apprentices, our future industry leaders, as well as the contribution of employers.
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A number of female apprentices were recognised as one of the top students in their trade at the 2022 TAFE Queensland - SkillsTech Apprentice Awards on 10 November.
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A life-long interest in beauty encouraged single mother-of-one, Summer North to pursue a career helping others look and feel beautiful.
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