White Card (General Construction Induction)
The White Card is the non-negotiable baseline for every person on a construction site in Australia. Formally known as the General Construction Induction Training card (GCIT), it's issued after completing a one-day nationally accredited safety course (unit of competency: CPCCWHS1001).
Who issues it: Any registered training organisation (RTO) accredited to deliver CPCCWHS1001. Costs typically $80–$150 and can be completed in person or online through an approved provider.
Who needs it: Everyone who performs construction work — labourers, trades, supervisors, and site managers. Workers from other states must have their home-state card recognised or obtain a NSW/QLD card.
Validity: Indefinite (no expiry), but some principal contractors require refresher training every 5 years as a site-specific requirement.
High Risk Work Licences (HRWL)
High Risk Work Licences are issued by SafeWork NSW (or WorkSafe QLD in Queensland) and are required for operating specific types of plant and equipment. Unlike the White Card, HRWLs have an expiry date (typically 5 years) and must be renewed.
The most common HRWLs on construction sites are:
EWP — Elevated Work Platform. Required to operate boom lifts, scissor lifts, and cherry pickers. Two categories: EWP < 11m (basic) and EWP > 11m (full). Workers riding in a platform but not operating it do not need this licence.
DG — Dogman. Required to direct crane and hoist lifts and attach loads to lifting devices. Critical on sites with crane operations. A dogman is responsible for the safe attachment and movement of loads — a highly skilled role.
RB, RI, RA — Rigger (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced). Covers the preparation and rigging of loads for lifting. Different levels cover different rigging complexity. Riggers and dogmen often work together on crane lift operations.
SB, SI, SA — Scaffolder (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced). Required to erect, alter, and dismantle scaffolding. Basic covers standard scaffolding to 4m; Intermediate and Advanced cover larger and more complex systems.
LF — Forklift Operator. Required to operate any forklift. Widely required on industrial, warehouse, and commercial construction sites where forklifts are used for material handling.
CN — Tower Crane Operator. Required to operate tower cranes — the tall cranes seen on high-rise construction sites. One of the more specialised licences in construction.
Traffic Controller Certificate (TCC)
The Traffic Control Certificate is issued by an RMS-accredited provider and is required for workers who control traffic on and around worksites — including stop/slow bat work on roads, traffic management in construction zones, and pedestrian management.
In NSW, traffic controllers must hold a current TCC from an approved RMS provider. The certificate must be renewed every 3 years. Traffic controllers on live roads also often hold a 'Traffic Control at Worksites' (TCAWS) certification.
Traffic controllers are essential on civil and road construction projects, any works adjacent to traffic, and projects requiring lane closures or traffic management plans.
Confined Space Entry Certificate
Working in confined spaces (tanks, sewers, manholes, tunnels, enclosed pipe runs) requires specific training under the nationally accredited unit MSMWHS217 — Enter and Work in Confined Spaces. This is separate from a White Card and must be held by any worker entering a confined space.
Confined space work also requires a Confined Space Entry Permit, a standby person, rescue procedures, and atmospheric testing. The certificate covers the training; the permit covers the specific entry event.
Common on civil projects involving drainage, stormwater, water mains, and underground utilities.
First Aid Certificate
HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) is the standard first aid certificate. While not always mandatory for every worker, WHS legislation requires that first aiders are available on construction sites — and principal contractors often require a minimum number of first-aid-trained personnel on larger sites.
First aid certificates are valid for 3 years (CPR component must be renewed annually). They're a valued add-on for labourers looking to increase their employability on higher-tier sites.
Working at Heights (WAH) Training
RIIWHS204E (Work Safely at Heights) or CPCCWHS3001 (Identify and Implement Work Health and Safety Procedures and Practices for Heights) is required for workers performing tasks at heights above 2m where there is a risk of falling.
Not all sites require a formal WAH ticket — the White Card covers basic height awareness — but principal contractors and tier-1/2 builders increasingly require a separate heights ticket for any elevated work. It's a one-day course available through most RTOs.
How Labour Hire Companies Verify Tickets
Reputable labour hire companies verify every ticket a worker claims to hold before placing them on site. For High Risk Work Licences, this means checking the SafeWork Australia HRWL register. White Cards are checked against the national GCIT database. TCCs are checked with the relevant RMS-accredited provider.
At Supreme Labour, no worker is placed on site with an unverified or expired ticket. If you request a worker with a specific ticket — EWP, dogman, traffic controller — we confirm the licence is current before confirming the placement. You receive a verified worker, not just a worker's claim.
If you're unsure what ticket a task requires, call us. We work with construction sites daily and can tell you quickly what's needed for the specific role.