Apprentice Bricklayer

Five hundred face bricks a day. That is the working rhythm of an experienced Australian bricklayer. By year three of the apprenticeship, the rhythm becomes muscle memory. The Certificate Three in Bricklaying and Blocklaying is twenty eight units. Twenty core and eight elective. The apprenticeship runs three years. About twenty one hours of training a week is delivered through TAFE in block release. The other hours are on a working site under a qualified bricklayer. Year one is setting out the first course of bricks to a stringline pinned at each corner. Mixing fresh mortar in a barrow at the standard one to five ratio. Spreading a clean one inch bed joint with a trowel. Bedding face bricks one by one and tapping each one level with the trowel handle. By year three the work is faster, straighter, and more pieceworked.