A Harrington man who swapped trucks for bricks is urging young locals to consider a career in bricklaying as the industry faces an ongoing skills shortage.
Joey Sanbrook, 23, pursued his passion for vehicles through an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic after leaving school, but was soon drawn to the opportunities available in bricklaying.
The call comes as the Housing Industry Association’s (HIA) Trades Availability Index ranked bricklaying as the trade facing the most acute shortage in Australia.
The shortage is pushing up wages, with metropolitan bricklayers earning up to $5 a brick. Experienced bricklayers can lay as many as 500 bricks a day.
The son of a bricklayer, Sanbrook spent his school holidays helping his father on worksites, sparking his interest in the trade.
“I always liked the physicality of the job, it makes the days go quickly and there’s no need to go to the gym,” Sanbrook said.
“If you’ve got the right work ethic, you can really make a killing as a bricklayer and your work is a legacy that will last generations.”
Sanbrook said his Certificate III in Bricklaying at TAFE NSW Newcastle had helped him develop his skills and knowledge.
“TAFE NSW is such an adult working environment and all the teachers have worked extensively in the industry, some of them on major projects,” he said.
Sanbrook is a third-year apprentice working alongside his father, Andrew Sanbrook, and hopes to eventually take over the business.
TAFE NSW Newcastle head teacher of bricklaying David Lange-Smith said the opportunities for apprentices were “boundless”.
“There is still a huge shortage of quality bricklayers and this generation of apprentices has the opportunity to build a very lucrative career,” he said.
“There’s a lot of new technology coming online and by studying a Certificate IV in Residential Building on top of their bricklaying qualification, students can earn a builder’s licence.
“And by attending TAFE NSW Newcastle, they will get the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to thrive in the industry.”
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