Painting and Decorating is a finishing trade. Painters apply paint, varnish, wallpaper and other finishes to protect, maintain and decorate interior and exterior surfaces of domestic, commercial and industrial buildings and other structures.
Qualification
Certificate III Painting and Decorating
Sector
Residential / Commercial
What might a working day look like?
Each day can be different depending on the job, and you may be involved in:
- Sanding and preparing surfaces to be painted
- Filling any holes and cracks before priming
- Brushing, rolling or spaying substrates
- Cleaning brushes, rollers and other equipment
- Working at heights e.g., using extension ladders, elevated work platforms (scissor lifts/boom lifts) and erecting and dismantling scaffolding
- Applying decorative paint finishes such as stencils, colour glaze, wood graining and marbling
- Applying wallpaper to various substrates
- Applying protective coatings; Marine vessel, industrial coating, fireproof and fire-retardant coatings
- Working in a team or independently
Working hours
- Full-time hours per week
Conditions
- Working indoors and/or outdoors in most weather conditions
- Working at heights
Skills and personal qualities
- Work as a team or independently
- Problem solving skills and good hand eye coordination
- Enjoy practical work and have a reasonable level of physical fitness
- Creative, attention to detail and normal colour vision
- Enjoy subjects such as Visual Arts, Maths, Design and Technology
How to get started
To become a tradesperson, you will need to complete a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating apprenticeship. You can get a head start on your career by completing a pre-apprenticeship to gain a Certificate II in Building and Construction (Pathway – Trades).
Future Pathways and opportunities
- Trainer and Assessor
- Supervisor
- Business owner
- Interior Designer