Greater Sydney
LEAP Labour
Construction and warehouse registration route. Explain your duties, experience and travel limits.
AUSTRALIA · JOB GUIDE
General construction labourer jobs in Australia
You help keep a building site moving: unload deliveries, move materials to the right place, clear waste and help tradespeople with tasks you have been shown. Some days are repetitive. Doing the simple jobs properly matters when several crews are sharing a small site.
Illustrative photo
This could suit you if…
You prefer hands-on work and want to learn site routines while supporting a building crew.
The trade-offs
Early starts, lifting and changing sites can be demanding. A White Card does not qualify you for every tool or specialist task.
What does the work involve?
Expect a morning briefing, moving materials where trades need them, clearing walkways and sorting waste. You may work beside several trades without doing their specialist tasks.
Good beginners ask where materials belong, check before moving unfamiliar equipment and finish a task properly before looking for the next one.
Will it fit my trip?
Confirm the site entrance and reporting contact the afternoon before. Construction sites can have several gates, and a nearby train station may still leave a long walk.
Keep your own record of start times, breaks and the supervisor who approves your hours. Registration with an agency does not reserve work for the following week.
What do I need before applying?
A White Card is needed for construction work. You also need the site induction and the specified boots, clothing and protective equipment.
Some assignments take beginners; skilled-labourer adverts may expect tool experience. Tell the supervisor what you have not done before.
Which training is worth doing?
Construction induction / White Card
For construction duties, use your state regulator’s approved training route. The NSW page explains its process; other jurisdictions have their own delivery rules.
TCP Training — White Card in Sydney
TCP’s published NSW White Card price is $119 (15 October 2026). Classroom courses run in Sydney and surrounding suburbs. A USI and original identification are required; session times appear in the booking calendar.
View course and booking details
TCP Training — White Card in Melbourne or Perth
TCP’s published White Card prices are $129 in Melbourne and $95 in Perth (15 October 2026). These are separate state course listings; the booking calendar supplies each venue and session.
Companies and application routes
Find employers and recruitment contacts below.
Australia-wide; filter by location
Hays Trades & Labour
Use the job-title and location filters to find suitable labouring or assistant work. Check the individual assignment and employment term.
AWX
Civil and construction recruitment, including general labouring, landscaping and concreting. Choose the local branch and role; experienced plant positions sit alongside labouring work.
Buildability Group
Search general and skilled labouring or parks and gardens roles. The board includes Sydney construction and council maintenance recruitment.
How do I put together a good application?
Search general labourer, site labourer and construction labourer. Give your suburb, earliest arrival time, available days and expected stay.
Use examples from warehouse, farm, removals or outdoor work to show reliability and teamwork. Include a referee who can confirm those examples.
How much does it pay?
On-site construction pay combines a classification rate with the allowances and loading that apply to the job. The current award classification rates start as follows.
Advertised labouring pay: two actual examples
Checked 19 October 2026. These are particular contract roles, not a national beginner rate. Neither advert confirms working-holiday acceptance or a separate casual-loading and super breakdown.
- Dandenong road maintenance: $37–$40/hour. Victorian driver licence and White Card required. MR/HR and traffic qualifications can be completed after starting; civil qualifications are desirable. Closes 12 November 2026.
- Canberra civil labourer: $38/hour. A skilled civil role involving excavation, trenching, pipe work and tools. Contract; closes 8 November 2026.
At $38/hour, 38 paid hours would be $1,444 before tax. That is an illustration of the hourly rate, not guaranteed weekly hours or an overtime calculation.
Calculate tax and overtime for your own roster
| Role / shift | Hourly pay |
|---|---|
| CW/ECW 1(a) — classification base | $26.67 |
| CW/ECW 1(d) — classification base | $28.05 |
| CW/ECW 2 — classification base | $28.62 |
Building and Construction General On-site Award, clause 19, effective 1 July 2026. These are adult base classification rates before industry and other applicable allowances, casual loading, overtime and super; they are not complete casual pay offers.
General labouring and skilled assistance can be paid at different levels. Use the award classification for the actual tasks, rather than treating every construction job as an entry-level role.
Sources and further reading
Hays Trades & Labour recruitment
Construction induction / White Card
Fair Work: find the applicable award
TCP Training — White Card in Sydney
TCP Training — White Card in Melbourne or Perth
Sources checked 17 October 2026.