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Study Cabinet Making

Industry Overview

The construction industry is a significant driver of economic activity in Australia and is projected to grow by 2.4% in the next 5 years. It employs close to 1.2 million people and has the largest number of small businesses in Australia. Construction workers are employed in both residential and commercial sectors, and are involved in site preparation, building installation and structure services. The majority of workers in the sector are employed as carpenters and joiners, followed by construction managers and plumbers (Source: IBISWorld)

Course Overview


Cabinet makers fabricate or repair wooden furniture and fit and assemble prepared wooden parts to make furniture. Studies in cabinet making will teach you how to hand make timber joints, operate drilling and sawing machines, produce production drawings, fabricate custom furniture, construct jogs and fixtures and much more.

Insights

Average weekly earnings:  $1,050 per week

Mode of work: Most work full-time (89%)

Hours per week: full-time workers spend around 44 hours/ week at work.

Age: the average age is 36 years. Many workers are under 25 years.

Gender: 2% workers are female

(Source: Job Outlook, historical figures)

Qualification Needed

Workers usually need a certificate III in cabinet or furniture making. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.

Course Requirements

Most institutions require completion of Australian Year 11 or 12 (or equivalent), as well as a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score less than 5.

Costs


A 2-year packaged trade course costs between $12,000 and $19,000 per year, depending on the institution.

Career Outcomes and PR Prospects

Cabinet Maker

Studying Cabinet Making in Australia: What the Course Covers

Cabinet making courses train you to design, make and install kitchens, bathroom vanities, wardrobes, built in furniture and freestanding furniture. You learn to read and produce production drawings, measure and set out, use hand tools, power tools and static machinery, work with timber and manufactured boards, construct joints and carcasses, use computer numerical control (CNC) machines, apply finishes, install cabinets and benchtops, and work safely with machinery and dust.

Qualifications and AQF Levels

Qualification AQF level What it prepares you for
Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology AQF 3 Qualified cabinetmaker; the core trade qualification
Certificate III in Furniture Making AQF 3 Furniture making and restoration roles
Certificate IV in Building and Construction or Furniture Design AQF 4 Supervisor, design and small business roles

Study Pathways

Most international students complete the Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology, sometimes with a Certificate IV in a related field. Specialising in kitchens, CNC machining or furniture design can help you stand out. A TRA skills assessment generally needs paid work experience in the trade as well as a qualification.

Related Occupations and Visa Pathways (as at October 2026)

Occupation ANZSCO CSOL (482 and 186) Skilled lists (189, 190, 491, 485)
Cabinetmaker 394111 Yes MLTSSL
Furniture Finisher 394211 Yes STSOL
Wood Machinist 394213 Yes STSOL

Our Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) guide explains which visas use each list and what that means for cabinetmakers. In the CSOL instrument, Cabinetmaker appears under the updated code 394112.

Career Outlook

Cabinetmakers work for kitchen and joinery manufacturers, shopfitters, furniture makers and building companies, and many run their own businesses. Demand is linked to housing construction and renovation activity, and workers with CNC and design software skills are particularly valued.

What You Do in a Cabinet Making Course

Cabinet making courses are taught in workshops set up like a kitchen or furniture factory. Typical units include:

  • Drawings and planning: reading plans, producing cutting lists and using design software for kitchens and furniture.
  • Machinery: panel saws, edge banders, drills and routers, and how to set them up safely.
  • CNC production: preparing files and running computer numerical control machines that cut and drill board.
  • Construction: building carcasses, drawers and doors, and installing hinges, runners and hardware.
  • Solid timber work: hand joints, veneering and furniture making.
  • Finishing: sanding, staining and spray finishing.
  • Installation: measuring sites and fitting kitchens, vanities and wardrobes.

Working as a Cabinetmaker

Most cabinetmakers work for kitchen, bathroom and wardrobe manufacturers, shopfitters or commercial joinery companies. Some specialise in furniture making or restoration. Workshop roles combine machine operation with assembly, while installers spend more time on site, so you will need a White Card if you install on construction sites.

Applying for a Student Visa to Study Cabinet Making

Explain any woodworking, furniture or kitchen manufacturing work you have done and the kind of cabinet making you want to do, for example kitchens, furniture or CNC production. Our Student visa (subclass 500) page has the current English, financial and work conditions.

Cabinet Making Study FAQs

Yes. As at October 2026, Cabinetmaker is on both the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the MLTSSL. Kitchen and joinery manufacturers are the most common employers, and qualified cabinetmakers with CNC skills are in particular demand.

It can. Cabinetmaker is on the MLTSSL, so the Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology can support the 485 Post-Vocational Education Work stream (generally 18 months) if you hold a TRA skills assessment for Cabinetmaker, usually beginning with a Provisional Skills Assessment, and meet the age and English rules.

Yes, for kitchen work. Since 1 July 2024 the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs has been banned in Australia because of the risk of silicosis. Cabinetmakers who fit kitchens now work with alternatives such as natural stone, laminate, timber and other surfaces.

They are related but different trades. Cabinetmakers mainly make kitchens, cabinets and furniture, while joiners mainly make building components such as doors, windows and stairs.

Related guides

Am I eligible for a Student visa? Student Visa Funds Calculator Study a Trade Course Assessment Study a Uni Course Assessment

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