Concreters place, spread, compact, finish and cure concrete for buildings, roads, tunnels, bridges and marine structures using hand tools, vibrators, pumps, trowelling machinery and other power tools. For most jobs, concrete is mixed at a pre-mix concrete supplier’s factory and delivered to the site in a pre-mix concrete truck. There is a growing industry in pre-cast concrete, where concrete elements are cast and cured in factories and then transported to the site for erection.
Qualification
Certificate III in Concreting
Sector
Residential / Civil / Commercial
What might a working day look like?
Each day can be different depending on the job, and you may be involved in:
- Mixing cement, gravel, sand and water to make concrete on site
- Moving pre-mixed concrete into position using concrete pumps
- Spreading and levelling concrete into formwork
- Using trowelling machines to float, trowel and polish concrete surfaces
- Pouring and erecting precast concrete panels on site
- Reading plans and calculating quantities
- Creating different surface textures by tamping, smoothing and shaping the concrete surface with a variety of hand tools
- Mixing and applying pigments when a coloured surface is required
- Digging foundation trenches if working on residential or small commercial projects
Working hours
- Full-time hours per week
Conditions
- Working indoors and/or outdoors in most weather conditions
Skills and personal qualities
- Work as a team or independently
- Enjoy practical work and have a reasonable level of physical fitness
- Time management, reading, writing skills and problem-solving skills
How to get started
To become a tradesperson, you will need to complete a Certificate III in Concreting apprenticeship. To get a head start on your career you can complete a pre-apprenticeship to gain a Certificate II in Building and Construction (Pathway – Trades).
Future Pathways and opportunities
- Formworker, Scaffolder, Surveying, Steelfixer
- Business owner
- Sub-contractor
- Complete further studies to become a Site Supervisor, Construction Manager or Registered Builder