The White Card: The Starting Point for Every Worker
Every person working on a construction site in Australia must hold a current White Card — formally called the General Construction Induction Training card (GCIT). It's issued after completing a one-day safety induction course covering WHS legislation, hazard identification, and site safety basics. Without it, a worker cannot legally set foot on a construction site.
When labour hire companies talk about 'verified workers', the White Card is the minimum standard. At Supreme Labour, every worker we place holds a current White Card as a non-negotiable baseline. But beyond the White Card, some roles require additional licences and tickets — and that's where 'ticketed labourers' comes in.
What Makes a Labourer 'Ticketed'?
A ticketed labourer holds one or more additional certifications beyond the White Card. These are typically required for operating specific equipment or performing higher-risk tasks. In Australia, the most common additional tickets held by labourers are:
Elevated Work Platform (EWP) ticket — required to operate boom lifts, scissor lifts, and other elevated work platforms. EWP tickets are issued after completing a nationally recognised training course and are required for anyone operating EWP equipment (as opposed to just riding as a passenger).
Traffic Controller Certificate (TCC) — required for workers who manage traffic on and around work sites. Issued by an RMS-accredited provider. Essential for civil and road construction projects and any work within or adjacent to traffic corridors.
Forklift Licence (LF) — a High Risk Work Licence issued by SafeWork NSW (or the equivalent state authority) for operating forklifts. Required for material movement on industrial and commercial sites with forklift operations.
Dogman Ticket (DG) — required for workers who direct crane lifts and attach loads. A High Risk Work Licence that's critical on sites with mobile cranes, tower cranes, or significant crane movements.
Rigger Ticket — required for workers who rig loads for lifting using cranes and hoists. Separate from the dogman ticket and covering the preparation and arrangement of loads.
Scaffolding Ticket — required for workers who erect, alter, or dismantle scaffolding. Covers basic, intermediate, and advanced scaffolding categories depending on height and complexity.
Why Ticketed Labourers Cost More
Workers with additional tickets command a higher rate than general labourers because they've invested time and money in training, and because their skills carry more responsibility on site. A dogman directing a 50-tonne crane lift is not the same as a labourer pushing a wheelbarrow — the risk profile, skill level, and site impact are entirely different.
From a labour hire perspective, ticketed workers are also harder to source at short notice because there are fewer of them. When a site manager calls at 6am needing an EWP operator or a traffic controller by 7am, that's a more specialised request that requires a deeper and more specific pool of workers.
At Supreme Labour, we maintain pools of workers with common tickets — including traffic controllers (TCC), EWP operators, and workers with dogman and rigging tickets. When you submit a request, tell us which tickets you need and we'll confirm availability.
How We Verify Tickets Before Placement
Every ticket a worker claims to hold is verified before they're placed on site. For White Cards, we check the national database. For High Risk Work Licences (EWP, dogman, rigger, scaffolding, forklift), we check the SafeWork Australia licence registry. Traffic Control Certificates are verified through the relevant state authority.
We don't take workers at their word on ticket validity. If a licence has expired or can't be verified, the worker is not placed. This protects you from the liability that comes with an unlicensed worker on your site — and it protects the worker from being asked to perform tasks they're not legally authorised to perform.
What to Ask For When You Need Ticketed Labour
When contacting a labour hire company about ticketed workers, be specific. 'I need a ticketed labourer' is too broad — every worker on a construction site is technically ticketed (they all need a White Card). Tell us what the specific task is and we'll tell you what ticket is required.
For example: 'I need someone to operate a scissor lift' → EWP ticket. 'I need a traffic controller for a night works package' → current TCC. 'I need a labourer to dog crane lifts' → current DG (dogman) ticket. Being specific gets you the right worker faster.
Supreme Labour can supply both general labourers (White Card only) and ticketed workers across Sydney and Queensland. Contact us with your requirements and we'll confirm availability and rates.