BY TRADIES, FOR TRADIES
TRUSTED BY Trusted by tradies, employers and schools since 2004
Real Training That Gets You Job Ready
BY TRADIES, FOR TRADIES
Real Training That Gets You Job Ready.
Blue Dog Training delivers hands-on, industry-recognised courses built by tradies, for tradies. Learn from real trainers and get job ready for the construction and engineering industries.
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Gain lifesaving skills with First Aid and CPR training. Learn practical techniques to stay calm, confident, and compliant at work or home.
Supporting students and teachers to gain real skills. We work with schools across Queensland to deliver practical, job ready training.
Upskill with hands on, industry aligned training for educators across woodwork, construction, metalwork, engineering, and school technology programs.
Quick, targeted training for tradies and workplaces. Build skills, meet compliance, or refresh with practical short courses that count.
Start your carpentry career with hands on, onsite training alongside experienced tradies. Build practical skills while earning and learning on the job.
From entry-level to advanced trade skills, our engineering courses cover fabrication, fitting, and machining with real-world, workshop training.
Develop the skills to take the next step in your trade career. Train with real tradies who understand the job.
Meet one of your QBCC licence requirements with a business management course made for tradies, designed for real industry use.
Looking for more than just a job? Join the Blue Dog Training team.
Find the right apprentice for your business
Pathways to Apprenticeships (and beyond)
Your future in the trades starts here.
Thinking about a career in construction or engineering? There’s more than one way to get started, and Blue Dog Training is here to help you find your path.
Whether you're still at school, exploring your career options or ready to start an apprenticeship, our Pathways to Apprenticeships guide is designed to help you understand your options and take the next step towards a trade career.
Explore the guide below to discover how you can turn your interest in the trades into real skills, qualifications and career opportunities.
Pathways to Apprenticeships (and beyond)
Discover the different pathways into construction and engineering with our free guide.
Tap the guide to explore your options.
Meet the Trainers
Jason Gilmour
Meet the Trainer - Jason GilmourJason is a Carpentry Trainer based in Toowoomba and has been part of the Blue Dog Training team for nearly three years.After years on the tools, Jason decided it was time for a new challenge and took the opportunity to move into training.One of his favourite parts of the job is getting out on site and passing on his knowledge to apprentices. For Jason, it's not just about showing them how to do something, but helping them understand why it's done that way.Jason also enjoys the culture at Blue Dog, where the team's strong trade background and shared drive to do their best make it a great place to work.
Greg McGaw
Greg is a Trainer Assessor in the VETiS space and has spent more than two decades in carpentry, with plenty of industry experience and great mentors shaping him along the way. After running his own business and working across different areas of the trade, Greg knows how important it is to build the right skills early. Now, he gets to pass that knowledge on to high school students before they take their first steps into the workforce. He is big on honesty, punctuality, pride in your work and speaking up when something does not feel safe. For Greg, one of the best parts of training is watching students grow in confidence over time, from being a bit rough at the start to producing quality work they can be proud of.
Adam Paskins
Adam is a Carpentry Trainer with Blue Dog Training in the Wide Bay region and has been part of the team for five years. Before becoming a trainer, Adam spent more than 20 years working as a carpenter, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather who were also in the trade. After old knee injuries meant he could no longer continue on the tools full-time, Adam wanted to stay connected to the construction industry. Blue Dog Training gave him the opportunity to keep getting out on site each week while passing on his knowledge to the next generation of carpenters. For Adam, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is seeing apprentices he has trained go on to build successful carpentry businesses of their own and employ the next generation of apprentices. His advice to anyone thinking about a carpentry apprenticeship is simple: jump in, give it a go and you won’t regret it.
Kris Mee
Kris is a VETiS Trainer and Assessor at Blue Dog Training and has been with the team for just under two years. From a young age, Kris knew he wanted to be a carpenter. He would spend his weekends riding his push bike to construction sites, collecting waste materials and taking them home to practise his skills. Now, Kris gets to pass that knowledge on to the next generation of tradespeople, helping students build confidence over their two years of training. One of his most memorable moments has been returning to Ignatius Park College, the same school where his own carpentry journey first began.
Ryan McDonald
Meet Ryan, VETiS Trainer and Assessor at Blue Dog Training and a nominee for the Queensland Training Awards.With industry experience since 1998 across cabinet making, shop fitting, and fabrication, Ryan brings real world knowledge into every training session. His focus is simple, helping students build confidence, develop practical skills, and achieve what they once thought they couldn’t. For Ryan, the reward is seeing those “light bulb” moments when students realise their potential and grow through consistent effort and hard work. His message to learners is clear. Keep turning up. Stay consistent. Stay focused. We’re proud to have Ryan representing Blue Dog Training and supporting the next generation of tradies through VETiS pathways.
Brady Walker
Strong engineering outcomes start long before the weld. Brady Walker brings more than a decade of Boilermaking experience into his role as Engineering Trainer and Assessor at Blue Dog Training. His focus is simple, precision, preparation, and professional standards that reflect real industry expectations. In a trade where millimetres matter, Brady reinforces accurate marking out, correct set up, and disciplined checking before fabrication begins. These habits reduce rework, improve quality, and build apprentices who are confident and capable on site. Engineering is not just about welding. It is about planning, tolerances, sequencing, and pride in workmanship. Trainers like Brady play a critical role in strengthening the future workforce by developing apprentices who understand both the skill and the responsibility of the trade. We are proud to support industry through practical, hands on training that reflects how work is actually done.
Jess Zwart
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating women who are building real careers in the trades and shaping the future of industry. Meet Jess Zwart, Blue Dog Training trainer, mechanical fitter, and light vehicle mechanic. Jess followed her passion for hands on work and now helps the next generation of tradies experience their own “light bulb” moments in training. Her message is simple. If you’re passionate, back yourself. Take every opportunity. Seeing is believing. There has never been a better time for women to step into the trades, build real skills, and create real impact. At Blue Dog Training, we are proud to support and champion women in trades, because strong industries are built by diverse voices, skills, and perspectives.
Chris Maude
The quality of a build is only as strong as the trade that frames it. Chris Maude has spent over 25 years in carpentry and now channels that experience into shaping the next generation of apprentices at Blue Dog Training. His focus is on developing tradespeople who understand structure, sequencing, and site responsibility. From correct layout through to final fit off, carpentry influences every stage of construction. Getting it right early protects time, budget, and reputation. Chris works closely with employers to ensure apprentices are building practical capability, not just ticking units off. Clear communication, safe practices, and attention to detail are reinforced consistently so apprentices are ready to contribute on site with confidence. Strong trades are built on strong training.
Shane Watson
Next in our Meet the Trainer series is Shane Watson. Shane brings a steady and supportive style to every VETiS Student he works with and is known for his calm way of breaking down real work tasks, so they feel achievable on site. Shane’s background includes hands on building experience and years spent helping students navigate the skills that matter in real workplaces. He understands how important confidence is on the tools and he focuses on building that through clear guidance, practical steps and genuine support. What Shane enjoys most is working with students in real settings where learning feels natural. He values the moment when an apprentice figures something out for themselves and realises they can take on more than they thought. His message stays consistent. Ask questions, stay focused and build your skills with purpose. Every step forward counts.
Tyrone Adams
From apprentice to mentor, Tyrone knows what it takes to get through your time and come out the other side ready to lead. For him, it is never just about doing the task. It is about understanding the why behind it. That is where confidence is built and where good tradies become great ones. At Blue Dog Training, Tyrone loves having the freedom to train in a way that works. Structured where it needs to be, flexible where it matters, and always tailored to the apprentice, the employer, and the realities of site life. By tradies, for tradies. Real support. Real outcomes.
Damon Mattingly
Ready to see real safety training in action? Damon from Blue Dog Training spent the day on site with Tully from Ryan McDonald Building, stepping through SWMS requirements, checking safe work habits and talking through the do and do not points that keep apprentices sharp on site.This is how WHS learning lands in the real world. Clear conversations, hands on checks and steady guidance that helps apprentices recognise risks and build safe habits for every job. Big shout out to Damon, Tully and the crew at Ryan McDonald Building for letting us capture this session. If you would like more behind the scenes training moments, let us know.
Garrick Dillon
We are launching our Meet the Trainer series and kicking things off with a legend in the Blue Dog team, Garrick Dillon. Garrick has been training with us for more than ten years. He has worked across motor bodybuilding, carpentry, electrical and coaching, with a teaching degree on top. He knows the trade world and brings that real experience into every school he visits. Garrick enjoys working with hands on learners who come alive when they pick up tools and try something new. He loves watching students grow in confidence and learn how to handle themselves on a job site, not just how to use equipment. His message to every student is simple. Keep showing up, keep learning and take pride in your work. We are proud to start our series with Garrick. A genuine bloke who makes a real difference for young people stepping into the trade world.
Who we are.
Blue Dog Training is a proudly Queensland-owned Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that has been delivering nationally recognised training to the construction and engineering industries since 2004. With offices located in Milton, the Gold Coast and Ipswich, we deliver courses across Queensland - from border to border - for individuals, employers, apprentices and schools.
Why Blue Dog?
Our trainers are tradespeople first - they've worked in the industries they teach. That means training grounded in real-world experience, not just textbooks. With flexible course dates, online booking, and a commitment to giving back to our community, we're the training partner Queensland workers and businesses trust.
What we offer.
Whether you need a First Aid or CPR certification, a White Card to get onto a construction site, or a full apprenticeship in carpentry or engineering, Blue Dog Training has you covered. Our courses include:
- •First Aid & CPR - nationally recognised workplace certifications including Provide First Aid and Provide CPR
- •White Cards - construction industry safety induction for workers in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania
- •Carpentry Apprenticeships - trade qualifications for aspiring carpenters across Queensland
- •Engineering Apprenticeships - fabrication, fitting, machining, boilermaking, welding and diesel fitting trades
- •VET in Schools - construction and engineering pathways for Queensland high school students
- •Builder licence pathways - CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction and the QBCC Managerial Course. Other QBCC eligibility requirements apply.
- •Short Courses - accredited and non-accredited short courses to help you upskill.
By Tradies, For our Community
Blue Dog Training is committed to giving back to the community.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a White Card cost with Blue Dog Training?
Our Queensland White Card starts from $89, the Western Australia White Card is $89 and the Tasmania White Card is $59. Choose your state on our White Card pages to see delivery options and book.
Is Blue Dog Training a registered training organisation?
Yes. Blue Dog Training is a Queensland-owned Registered Training Organisation (RTO 31193) that has been training tradies since 2004. Most of our courses are nationally recognised, and we also offer some non-accredited short courses.
Where are your offices?
We have offices in Milton (Brisbane), Ipswich and Arundel (Gold Coast), and we deliver training across Queensland for individuals, employers, apprentices and schools.
Do you offer apprenticeships?
Yes. We deliver carpentry and engineering apprenticeships across Queensland, including CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry and a range of engineering trade qualifications. Our trainers visit apprentices on the job, so training fits around work on site.
How can my school offer VET in Schools with Blue Dog Training?
We deliver CPC20220 Certificate II in Construction Pathways, MEM20422 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways and VETiS White Cards in Queensland schools, during the regular school timetable. Visit our For Schools page or call our VETiS team on (07) 3331 6004.
News from the Kennel
What’s new at Blue Dog: training updates, success stories, and industry know-how.