Question 1

What units does Queensland require to supervise demolition work?

Accepted Answer

WHSQ Information Paper D2 lists six units for a nominated competent person:
• CPCCWHS2001 Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry (or CPCCOHS2001A)
• CPCCDE3027 Read and interpret demolition site plans and drawings (or CPCCOM2001 / CPCCCM2001A)
• CPCCDE3016 Identify hazards on demolition sites and apply risk management strategies (or CPCCDE3016A) — CPCCDE3030 is the current equivalent pathway
• CPCCDE3017 Select and use hand tools and equipment for demolition tasks
• CPCCDE3018 Select and use small plant and equipment for demolition tasks
• CPCCDE3019 Demolish small buildings and structures using hand tools and small plant and equipment
D2 also allows a relevant qualification such as a degree in construction management or a diploma in building.

Question 2

CPCCDE3016 or CPCCDE3030 — which hazard unit do I need?

Accepted Answer

They are the equivalent hazard-identification pathway. CPCCDE3030 is the current unit; CPCCDE3016 is the superseded unit named in the D2 paper. We are advising WHSQ that the D2 paper still names the superseded unit. If WHSQ insists on CPCCDE3016, OnShift can still issue it, so you are covered either way.

Question 3

Is training on its own enough to be approved as a nominated competent person?

Accepted Answer

No. D2 requires the units plus evidence of identity (18+), a statutory declaration covering working knowledge of the WHS Act, WHS Regulation and the applicant's safety management system, and relevant industry experience: three successfully completed major demolition projects, at least 36 months of supervisory experience from the start of the first to the end of the third, all within the last 10 years, with two in the last five. Each project needs an employer letter, onsite documentation naming you as supervisor, and referee contact details.

Question 4

Which additional units are included in the OnShift Queensland program?

Accepted Answer

Beyond the D2 units we include supervisor and planning units that support AS 2601-aligned practice:
• CPCCDE3020 Select and use tools and equipment for hot work in the demolition industry
• CPCCDE4001 Plan and prepare for activities on demolition sites
• CPCCDE4002 Plan demolition work to minimise risk to health, safety and environment
• CPCCDE4003 Supervise operational activities on demolition sites
• CPCCBC4002 Manage work health and safety in the building and construction workplace
• CPCCDE4005 Apply structural principles to the planning of the demolition of a structure
These are contextualised around demolition planning, structural integrity, sequencing, risk management, environmental and public safety controls, site supervision, SWMS and workplace documentation.

Question 5

Will I complete every unit listed?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. The final unit matrix is confirmed for each participant after reviewing existing Statements of Attainment and workplace evidence. Where existing units or equivalent evidence can be verified, they are reviewed before the final enrolment and assessment plan is confirmed.

Question 6

Who holds the demolition licence in Queensland — me or my employer?

Accepted Answer

The licence is held by the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), not the individual supervisor. Information Paper D1 sets out the criteria: legal entity and ASIC details, workers' compensation and public liability insurance with 'demolition' in scope, one or more nominated competent persons, a template demolition work plan, and a safety management system certified to AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 by a JAS-ANZ accredited body or Exemplar Global certified auditor. Demolition licences are valid for two years.

Question 7

Does completing this program guarantee a Queensland demolition supervisor approval?

Accepted Answer

No. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland assesses and approves nominated competent persons and issues demolition work licences, not OnShift. This program builds the nationally recognised training and workplace evidence a D2 submission typically requires. Confirm current requirements with WHSQ Licensing before enrolling.

Question 8

Can experience gained as a trainee supervisor count?

Accepted Answer

D2 allows it. Supervisory experience acquired under the direction of a nominated competent person is recognised where the trainee has enough relevant industry experience to meet the three-year minimum at the completion of those projects. Evidence of a training plan, including logbook entries and project details, is required for assessment.

Question 9

Do I need to be working in demolition already?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This is an experienced-worker program. Practical workplace evidence is a core part of assessment, so ongoing access to real demolition work is expected.

Question 10

Can I use prior learning or existing tickets?

Accepted Answer

Where you have genuine, current evidence of competency we consider it under standard RPL and credit transfer rules. We review your Statements of Attainment and workplace evidence before confirming the enrolment and assessment plan. We do not advertise easy, instant or automatic RPL.

Question 11

Do you need a demolition licence in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Queensland regulates demolition through two channels. The QBCC issues contractor licences that cover demolition as a class of building work, while Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WorkSafe Queensland) regulates how high-risk demolition work is carried out and who is competent to supervise it. Which approvals you need depends on the structure, the value of the work and how it is being taken down. Requirements change, so confirm the current criteria with the regulator before you enrol.

Question 12

How do you get a QBCC demolition licence?

Accepted Answer

The QBCC assesses technical qualifications, relevant industry experience and financial requirements for a contractor licence. The technical qualification component is where nationally recognised training applies. OnShift delivers the supervisor competency units; the QBCC then assesses your full application including experience and financial capacity.

Question 13

Can a licensed builder do demolition work in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the class of licence held and the type of demolition. Some builder licence classes permit demolition incidental to building work, while standalone demolition contracting typically requires the appropriate licence class. Confirm scope directly with the QBCC for the specific work you plan to carry out.

Question 14

What is the difference between QBCC and WorkSafe Queensland for demolition?

Accepted Answer

QBCC is the licensing body — it decides who may contract to carry out demolition building work. WorkSafe Queensland (Workplace Health and Safety Queensland) is the safety regulator — it enforces how the work is planned and performed, including high-risk work requirements, demolition notification and asbestos rules. Most demolition businesses in Queensland deal with both.

Question 15

What qualifications does a demolition supervisor need in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Queensland expects a supervisor to hold competency in demolition planning, work health and safety, risk control and site supervision, drawn from the construction training package. OnShift delivers those nationally recognised units through an Experienced Worker Program. The regulator makes the final decision on whether your qualifications and experience satisfy the licence class you apply for.

Question 16

Do I need to notify WorkSafe Queensland before demolition work?

Accepted Answer

Certain demolition work must be notified to the regulator before it starts — for example work involving structures above a specified height, or demolition involving asbestos or explosives. The notification thresholds are set in the Queensland WHS Regulation. Check the current thresholds with WorkSafe Queensland for your specific job.

Question 17

What does a demolition supervisor actually do?

Accepted Answer

A demolition supervisor plans the sequence of removal, verifies the structure has been surveyed for hazardous materials and services, prepares or approves the demolition plan and SWMS, controls exclusion zones, supervises the crew and plant, and stops work when conditions change. The competency units mirror those duties.

Question 18

Can I be a nominated supervisor for more than one company?

Accepted Answer

Regulators generally expect a nominated supervisor to be able to genuinely supervise the work being carried out under the licence, which limits how thinly you can spread the role. The rules differ between SafeWork NSW and the QBCC — confirm with the relevant regulator before nominating.

Question 19

Do I need a Certificate IV to supervise demolition?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily a full qualification. Both NSW and Queensland typically specify a defined subset of units rather than the whole certificate. OnShift delivers the required subset so you are not paying for units the regulator has not asked for — and you receive a nationally recognised statement of attainment for the units you complete.

Question 20

What is RPL and is it a real qualification?

Accepted Answer

Recognition of Prior Learning is a formal assessment process, and the qualification or statement of attainment it produces is exactly the same nationally recognised document as one earned by classroom study. What changes is how evidence is gathered — through your work history rather than through repeat training. The standard you must meet does not change.

Question 21

What qualifications can I get through RPL in demolition and civil?

Accepted Answer

OnShift Education (RTO 41304) delivers demolition and civil construction qualifications and units on its scope, including the supervisor competency subset of CPC30426 and CPC41020 and CPCCDE3030 Dismantle structures. RPL applies to the units on our scope — nothing outside it.

Question 22

Is RPL guaranteed if I have twenty years on the tools?

Accepted Answer

No. Experience is not automatically evidence. If your evidence does not cover every element of a unit, you complete targeted gap training for that unit only. Any provider promising a guaranteed qualification based on years alone is not operating within the VET Quality Framework.

Question 23

What evidence do I need for an RPL application?

Accepted Answer

Typically a résumé with dates, employers and the tasks you personally performed; employer references, supervisor sign-off or statutory declarations; dated photos and video of you doing the work; existing tickets, licences and statements of attainment; and workplace documents such as SWMS, JSAs, plant pre-start checklists and demolition plans. A competency conversation or workplace observation usually completes the file.

Question 24

How long does RPL take?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on evidence quality. Well-documented applicants move quickly; incomplete files take longer because gaps must be closed. An adviser reviews your background before you commit and gives you a realistic timeframe rather than a marketing promise.

Question 25

Does RPL cost less than the full course?

Accepted Answer

Usually, because you spend less time in training and assessment. The exact fee depends on the units involved and how much gap training remains, so we quote against your evidence rather than publishing a number that will not apply to you.

Question 26

How much does demolition supervisor training cost?

Accepted Answer

Fees depend on the units you actually need, which depends on what your evidence already covers. That is why we assess eligibility first and quote against your situation rather than advertising a headline price that changes at enrolment.

Question 27

Is government funding or a payment plan available?

Accepted Answer

Funding eligibility varies by state, qualification and your personal circumstances, and it changes over time. Ask an adviser and we will tell you plainly what applies to you, including whether staged payment is an option.

Question 28

Will completing this training get me the licence?

Accepted Answer

No provider can promise that. Training satisfies the competency component. The regulator separately assesses experience, insurance, financial and identity requirements, and makes the licensing decision. We are clear about that up front, before you enrol.

Question 29

Is the training recognised in other states?

Accepted Answer

The units and qualifications are nationally recognised, so the statement of attainment is valid Australia-wide. Licensing, however, is state-based — each regulator decides how it recognises your qualification and experience within its own scheme.

Question 30

Can I do the training while working full time?

Accepted Answer

The Experienced Worker Program is built around working crews — evidence comes from work you are already doing, and assessment is scheduled around site commitments wherever practical. Talk to an adviser about how your roster fits.

QLD Demolition Supervisor Training — WHSQ Information Paper D2 Units

Check your eligibility

Evidence & sources

Key facts at a glance

Units included (13)

What units does Queensland require to supervise demolition work?

CPCCDE3016 or CPCCDE3030 — which hazard unit do I need?

Is training on its own enough to be approved as a nominated competent person?

Related OnShift pages

Who this is for

Delivery and assessment pathway

Entry expectations

Assessment

Workplace evidence

Certification issued on successful completion

High-touch support and what makes OnShift different

How it works

Eligibility check

Readiness and enrolment

Classroom, evidence and completion

Frequently asked

People also ask

Queensland demolition licensing — QBCC and WorkSafe Queensland

The supervisor role in practice

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for experienced workers

Cost, timing and what happens after training

What happens next

Unit code	Unit title	Status
CPCCWHS2001	Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry	D2 competency requirement
CPCCDE3027	Read and interpret demolition site plans and drawings	D2 competency requirement
CPCCDE3030	Identify hazards on demolition sites and apply risk management strategies	D2 requirement — current unit (equivalent pathway to CPCCDE3016)
CPCCDE3016	Identify hazards on demolition sites and apply risk management strategies	Superseded unit named in D2 — issued if WHSQ requires it