''It's a job that means I'm outdoors. And I enjoy seeing a sandy construction site change to a house as a result of my work'' says Dave, a Western Australian bricklayer.

In Western Australia, there are approximately 3,350 bricklayers, 80% of whom work in the metropolitan area. The remainder work mainly in the South West, but opportunities also arise in the other regions of the State.

While only 5% of bricklayers are females, this figure is slowly increasing.

Your trade qualification can be gained by undertaking an apprenticeship. In some schools, training can be started as early as Year 11 through Vocational Education and Training Programs. In 2005, approximately 70 people commenced a bricklaying apprenticeship.

Whether you need an indoor or outdoor structure built, repaired or decorated, a bricklayer can do the job for you. Using masonry materials such as bricks, tiles, concrete, mortar, cement or granite blocks, bricklayers can erect a house, wall, chimney, arch or fireplace.

Before building starts, a bricklayer has a few things to get sorted. Initially, they will consult with their client or the builder, in order to gain an understanding of their building requirements. Working plans are then drawn up from sketches or architectural drafts will be used. A bricklayer also estimates the amount of materials required and the cost of construction to the client.


Building Begins

Once building begins, a bricklayer uses various tools and machinery. A spirit level makes sure that each layer of bricks is even. A bricklayer's line, where a piece of string is run between two points, provides an even line for bricklayers to work to. Other tools such as a bolster or saw are used to cut and shape bricks to the right size. A trowel is used to lift and spread the mortar, which holds the bricks together.

There are a number of specialist areas that a bricklayer may enter into. Some of these areas involve repairing existing brickwork with problems, such as crumbling mortar, limestone repair and rising damp. Others may undertake ornamental or decorative brickwork.

Bricklaying is physically tiring work and, in many instances, heavy weights will have to be carried. If you are considering this as your occupation, you'll have to have physical strength and a high level of fitness.


Have You An Eye For Detail?

Basic mathematical skills are useful when estimating the cost and amount of materials required to complete a job. Good hand-eye coordination, with an excellent eye for detail, are necessary to ensure that each layer of bricks is even. If you finish building a brick wall only to discover it's uneven, it's back to the drawing board!

Most bricklayers work between the hours of 7am and 4pm. However, if working to a deadline, some overtime can be expected either on weekends or in the early evening. The length of each working day is dependent on weather conditions and the amount of daylight.


Safety - A Major Concern

Working conditions depend on the type of construction site being worked on, and the nature of each particular contract. Work may be in or outdoors and in some cases quite high up on scaffolding. Because of this, and the dangers associated with construction sites in general, a good knowledge of occupational health and safety is critical for bricklayers. It's important for them to keep up to date with new information and requirements, throughout their working lives.



It is recommended that students interested in becoming bricklayers try to obtain some form of work experience, as apprenticeships can be hard to come by. Work experience can be sought by contacting building companies direct. Career advisers at your school may also be aware of opportunities for structured work experience while you are still at school.

''Many of today's successful builders, construction managers and construction industry specialists learned about the industry through their apprenticeship in bricklaying,'' states Master Builders Association former Safety Manager, Peter Doherty.

There are good opportunities, for those who have completed their apprenticeship, to open their own business. There has been a trend for self-employed bricklayers to sub-contract their services to larger bricklaying or construction firms. This can allow for a steady flow of work and a higher rate of pay.

Scope for employment is strongly influenced by the overall level of building activity. Following a long boom in the construction industry in the late 1990s, activity in the area dropped. However, industry sources suggest that opportunities for employment persist, and shortages of qualified bricklayers are now being experienced throughout Western Australia thanks to a resurgence in the construction industry. The labour market picture for bricklayers, however, can change rapidly.

Those starting out in bricklaying might earn around $17,000 per year. Bricklayers with more experience can earn as much as $80,000, while those who contract their services to larger firms can earn even higher. For more information regarding salaries, you could contact a related organisation or even check out the Australian Government Workplace Authority website below.

To become a qualified bricklayer you must complete a three-year apprenticeship in Bricklaying. A two-year apprenticeship has been introduced in Bricklaying (Housing) to meet demand generated by skills shortages. For further information on obtaining an apprenticeship, please contact the Australian Apprenticeships Hotline on 13 38 73 (local call cost). Year 10 is the minimum entry requirement for an apprenticeship. Training occurs both on- and off-the-job and the length of training may be flexiblel depending on your level of competence.

You may be able to commence your vocational training in school, while you complete your secondary education. The Certificate I in General Construction can be undertaken at this level. For more information on how you can do this, contact your school's career adviser or vocational education coordinator.

The off-the-job training for apprenticeships is available through a number of TAFE Colleges and private training organisations. Check out the TAFE and NTIS sites below for further information.

A Certificate I in General Construction (Pre Apprentice Bricklaying/Blocklaying) is available through a number of TAFE Colleges. Entry into the course requires the completion of Year 10 with an average level of 3.5 in each of four Learning Areas, or equivalent.

	Other Training Providers
	National Training Information Service website.
	TAFE Colleges
	Homepage links and contact details for all TAFE Colleges in WA.
	TAFE Handbook
	An online guide to full-time TAFE courses available throughout WA.
	Universities
	Homepage links and contact details for all Universities in WA.

Master Builders Association (WA)
PO Box 167 West Perth WA 6872 Ph: (08) 9322 5133 Fax: (08) 9322 5518 Email: mba@mbawa.com URL: http://www.mbawa.com

Housing Industry Association (HIA)
PO Box 1494 Osborne Park WA 6916 Ph: (08) 9244 3222

GetAccess Links Disclaimer

All links to other sites from this service have been pre-screened and assessed for appropriate content. However, GetAccess cannot guarantee that quality content standards will be maintained at other sites. Please notify GetAccess immediately if any sites display inappropriate content.

The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax raised its fair share of concerns among small business owners. Self-employed bricklayer, Marcello Moriconi, was one of the many.

''The GST did cause a slight slump but at the moment we're quite busy. If you've got a good name in this business, you'll always have work.''

It's been more than 40 years since Marcello began work as a bricklayer, but he has as much passion for it today as he did then.

''For me it's everything, I loved it all those years ago and I love it now.''

He says working outdoors and being able to start early are additional perks. The job also offers travel opportunities. Take the 2000 Olympics when many bricklayers headed to Sydney to work on the now famous Homebush sports stadium.

And it may have been 40-odd years ago, but Marcello remembers starting out in bricklaying as if it were yesterday.

''My first couple of jobs were pretty rough but it was good experience. Back then, you didn't go to school to learn how to lay bricks. There was no apprenticeship in place and you learned on the job. I remember getting told off a few times, but that was okay because I learned how to do the job properly.''

Marcello currently employs several apprentices. He says they usually remain with their employer after completing their apprenticeship, but they have the option of starting their own business.

He says if you're interested in the occupation you need to be prepared to work hard. He lists an eye for detail, the ability to read plans, and also carry out mathematical calculations as must-have skills.

A workday for Marcello begins at around 7am, where he'll begin by preparing the mortar.

''It's best to begin work early when the temperature is cool. In summer, the mortar ingredients get too hard too quickly.''

Marcello has worked on about a thousand houses, and he describes many of them as 'pretty special'. He is currently working on a double-storey home.

'Building should be completed by Christmas.''

'We're doing the bottom storey now, but the top will be more difficult because we have to hoist about 65 bricks up at a time. But when it's done it will look great.'

What a very nice Christmas present for someone indeed.