Tickets
White Card Replacement (2026): Lost Card Guide by State
How you get a white card replacement depends on the state that issued it. NSW cards are replaced online through SafeWork NSW for $36 ($43 by other channels). WorkSafe Victoria replaces cards by phone or online request, currently free. In Queensland, WA and SA you contact the training organisation (RTO) that issued your card.
This guide covers each state's process, how to find your card number, whether cards expire and what to do on site while you wait. Yakka Labour is the hiring marketplace, not the workwear brand with a similar name. General information, not legal advice.
How do I replace a lost white card in NSW?
SafeWork NSW issues NSW general construction induction cards, so it also replaces them. You can order a replacement online through Service NSW if your details haven't changed. Enter them exactly as they appear on the card and pay by Mastercard or Visa. The 2026–27 fee is $36 online or $43 through other channels, and the card is posted to you. If the card has errors, call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50. If your name has changed, use the change of details form first.
NSW also offers a digital white card in the Service NSW app, which is the quickest way to show proof on site once it's linked to your account. Details are on SafeWork NSW's white card page.
Worked example: lost card before a Monday start
A labourer in Liverpool loses her wallet on a Friday night and starts a new job in Parramatta on Monday. On Saturday she looks up her card on Verify NSW to confirm the number and that it's current, orders the replacement online for $36 and saves the confirmation email. She then calls the site supervisor, explains the situation and asks whether the register record, the payment receipt and her digital white card in the Service NSW app will be accepted at induction. Most supervisors will accept that combination while the plastic card is in the post, but some major projects insist on sighting the physical card, so ask early rather than finding out at the gate.
Construction induction card replacement in Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria issues Victorian construction induction cards to people who complete the training with an approved RTO. To replace a lost, stolen or damaged card you contact WorkSafe, either by calling 1800 136 089 or by submitting a request online. Unlike some other WorkSafe licences, white cards can't be reordered through myWorkSafe. WorkSafe's lost, stolen or damaged licences page says there's currently no fee for a replacement plastic card, though a fee may apply in future.
How do I replace a white card in Queensland, WA or SA?
In these states the RTO that trained you issues the card, so the RTO handles replacements.
- Queensland: contact the issuing RTO. If it has closed, contact another Queensland RTO that delivers general construction induction training. You'll need your statement of attainment for the white card unit (or the older CPCCOHS1001A) and a declaration of how the card was lost, stolen or destroyed. See WorkSafe Queensland's general construction induction page. Old Queensland blue cards can't be replaced, so you'd need to redo the course.
- Western Australia: find your card details and issuing RTO in WorkSafe WA's online licence search, then contact that RTO. If it has closed, take your statement of attainment to another RTO, which may be able to reissue the card.
- South Australia: SafeWork SA doesn't issue or replace white cards. Contact the RTO that trained you.
Each RTO sets its own replacement fee and turnaround, so ask when you call.
White card replacement by state at a glance
| State | Who replaces it | Fee (2026) | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | SafeWork NSW via Service NSW | $36 online, $43 other channels | Details exactly as on the card, Mastercard or Visa |
| VIC | WorkSafe Victoria | Currently no fee | Phone or online request with your details |
| QLD | Issuing RTO, or another QLD RTO if it closed | Set by the RTO | Statement of attainment and a declaration |
| WA | Issuing RTO | Set by the RTO | Card details from WorkSafe WA's search, or your statement of attainment |
| SA | Issuing RTO | Set by the RTO | Your training details |
How do I find my white card number?
If you've lost the card and don't remember where you trained, try these in order:
- Online registers: Verify NSW for NSW cards, WorkSafe Victoria's validation search, and WorkSafe WA's online licence search, which shows the issuing RTO.
- Your USI transcript: training completed from 1 January 2015 is recorded against your Unique Student Identifier, so the transcript shows which RTO issued the white card unit. SafeWork SA points people to this.
- Old emails and photos: RTO confirmation emails, invoices or a photo of the card on your phone often have the card number.
- Past employers: builders and labour hire companies usually keep copies of workers' tickets in their induction records.
Can white cards expire?
The card doesn't carry an expiry date, but it can stop being valid. SafeWork NSW says a NSW white card becomes void if you haven't carried out construction work for two consecutive years or more. WorkSafe WA and SafeWork SA apply the same two-year rule, and WorkSafe Queensland says blue card holders who haven't done construction work in the previous two years must retrain. If you've been out of the industry that long, redo the course rather than ordering a replacement. In 2026 the white card unit is CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry. As indicative 2026 market observations, courses cost roughly $85–150 and take a day.
Old NSW green cards are no longer valid anywhere in Australia, so holders need to complete the current course.
Can you work while you wait for a replacement?
That's up to the site. Most principal contractors need to sight a card or acceptable evidence at induction. Options that usually help:
- Show the digital white card in the Service NSW app if you hold a NSW card.
- Bring the replacement receipt plus a register printout or screenshot showing your card is current.
- Carry your statement of attainment. For new cards, NSW RTOs issue a statement valid for 60 days while the card is processed.
Call the site supervisor before your shift rather than finding out at the gate.
Keep your white card details on Yakka
Once your replacement arrives, add the card number and state to your free Yakka worker profile, along with any other tickets. Hirers can then see it before they message you, which saves time at induction. Hirers post jobs with the tickets required, suburb, start time and an AUD rate, and agree terms directly with workers. Yakka is a marketplace, not an employer. New to the industry? Read what is a white card, construction jobs with no experience and what tools a labourer needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my white card in another state?
Yes. White cards issued in one state are generally accepted in the others. SafeWork NSW accepts construction induction cards issued by other states and territories, and WorkSafe Queensland says Queensland cards are accepted throughout Australia. If you lose an interstate card, though, you must replace it through the state or RTO that issued it, not the state where you now work.
Is an online white card course valid?
It depends on the state. WorkSafe Queensland requires face-to-face training with an RTO for a Queensland card, and other states set their own delivery rules for the course to count towards a card. Before paying for an online course, check that the RTO is approved by your state regulator to deliver general construction induction training and that a card will actually be issued.
What if my white card has my old name on it?
In NSW, complete the SafeWork NSW change of details form and provide evidence such as a marriage or change of name certificate before ordering a replacement, because online replacements only work when your details match the card. In other states, contact the regulator or issuing RTO with your evidence and they will explain how to update the card.
What if the RTO that issued my card has closed?
In Queensland, contact another RTO that delivers general construction induction training and provide your statement of attainment and a declaration. In WA, take your statement of attainment to another RTO, which may be able to reissue the card. If you have no statement, check your USI transcript, or be prepared to redo the one-day course.
Do I need to redo the white card course if I lose my card?
Not usually. If you have done construction work in the last two years and your training can be verified, you can get a replacement instead of retraining. You will need to redo the course if your card has become invalid after two consecutive years out of construction work, if you hold an old NSW green card, or if no record of your training can be found.
Official sources
Award rates, licences and safety rules change. Check the official source before you hire or take on a shift.
- Safe Work AustraliaNational work health and safety framework, including high-risk work licences
- SafeWork NSWWhite cards, high-risk work licences and WHS rules in New South Wales
- WorkSafe VictoriaConstruction induction, high-risk work licences and WHS rules in Victoria
- Workplace Health and Safety QueenslandHigh-risk work licences and the Electrical Safety Office in Queensland
- WorkSafe WAHigh-risk work licences and WHS rules in Western Australia
- SafeWork SAHigh-risk work licences and WHS rules in South Australia
