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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationThe Painter
The Painter
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Painters are responsible for all the painted elements of a home. This includes interiors, exteriors and everything in between. The scale of each job can vary.
A painter needs to be visual, creative and hands-on. They need to be able to quickly learn new skills and painting techniques on the job and work well as part of a team.
Meet the painter: Sophie Gardner
Sophie Gardner is a residential painter and HIA apprentice who does all the preparation work and painting of interior walls, exterior walls and different surface materials.
‘I love my job. It allows me to use my creativity while getting the job done,’ Sophie says. ‘It gives me a huge sense of satisfaction seeing my hard work come together and the project completed.’
‘I was drawn to the building industry as I've always been fascinated with the process of building a house and seeing all trades come together to do the job,’ Sophie explains. It was her artistic side that made painting the right choice for her. ‘I was drawn to it as I've always been creative and enjoyed art,’ she adds.
‘It can be daunting getting into the industry as a female, but the hardest part is getting started,’ she says. ‘Just do it. If you have the passion and work ethic you can do it just as well as a man can, if not better.’
Sophie's top 3 tips
Organisation is key
Always have the tools you need for the job.
Network
Speak to other painters and ask questions if you need to. Always offer a helping hand to others if needed. It always helps to have connections in the industry.
Patience and practice
No one expects you to get everything right or know everything instantly. Just keep practicing and you'll get the hang of certain techniques, etc.
Painters in Australia: key statistics
Employed
41,191Median age
41Female share
5.8%What a painter does
Works with clients to determine colour schemes and finishes as well as material and labour costs.
Interprets plans and instructions to assess surface materials and style preferences.
Prepares surfaces to be painted by smoothing and sanding.
Applies decorative finishes like stenciling, lettering and glazing.
Performs quality assurance at the completion of the job.
How to get qualified
You can begin working for a painter without formal training. However, completing a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (typically undertaken as an apprenticeship) will set you up for success. The Certificate III qualification is also a requirement for licensing/registration in the states where licensing systems operate.
