Bricklayers lay bricks, pre-cut stone and other types of building blocks in mortar to construct and repair walls, partitions, arches and other structures. Registration or licensing may be required.

Skill Level

3

Alternative Titles

• Blocklayer

Specialisations

• Chimney Builder
• Refractory Bricklayer
• Retort Setter (Bricklaying)
• Tuckpointer

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Bricklayer is Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Must have successfully completed an AQF Qualification either a Certificate III in Bricklaying/Blocklaying or formal training that is comparable
• Must possess skills that are current to Australian industry standards demonstrated by 12 months full time employment or equivalent part-time in the occupation in the previous three years
• If you have obtained a qualification internationally or an Australian qualification that was not through the Australian Recognition of Learning process, you are required to demonstrate 3 years full time or equivalent post-qualification experience
• If you have obtained an Australian qualification issued through the Australian Recognition of Learning process, you are required to demonstrate 3 years full-time or equivalent post-qualification experience OR 6 years full-time or equivalent experience which can be either pre- or post-qualification

Lay bricks, pre-cut stones and other types of building blocks in mortar to construct and repair walls, partitions, arches and other structures, and cut and shape hard and soft stone blocks and masonry slabs for the construction and renovation of stone structures and monumental masonry.

Tasks

• Studying plans and specifications to determine materials required, dimensions and installation procedures
• Erecting and dismantling restricted height scaffolding
• Sealing foundations with damp-resistant materials and spreading layers of mortar to serve as base and binder for blocks using trowels
• Laying bricks in rows, designs and shapes, and spreading mortar between joints
• Embedding blocks in mortar and removing excess mortar
• Checking vertical and horizontal alignment
• Cutting, shaping and polishing stones and bricks using machines and hand tools, and shaping bricks to fit irregular spaces
• Repairing and maintaining bricks, cement blocks and related structures
• Designing and cutting monumental masonry and lettering
• Constructing walls using stone slabs and large masonry slab blocks

Skill Level

In Australia and New Zealand:

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the following qualifications and experience:

• Australia (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)
  • AQF Certificate III + 2 years on-the-job training; or
  • AQF Certificate IV
• New Zealand (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)
  • NSQF Level 4 qualification

Please note: at least three years of relevant experience may be a substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances, relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. This occupation may require registration or licensing.

Occupations in this Group

• 331111 Bricklayer
• 331112 Stonemason