If you have any doubts about becoming an owner builder and would like to discuss with like minded people consider going along to a course. The lecturer   will emphasis all negatives and some positives but you will be pumped by the enthusiasm of the others.

A friend attended a course, said he was aware of most of the notes just from research from the web and books from the library but from a social point of view it was well worth it. His 3 square movie room he was constructing was like lego land compared to the 48 square 2 story home the couple sitting next to him where constructing. They however were under the impression that they could show there plans to the lecturer and he would scribble out a complete how to build project management for them.

The course informs you of your legal requirements , that you have to use registered trades, how to budget, that if you sell you have to have insurance etc. Its stuff you can find out from the government in your respective states. As we didn’t have to attend a course in Victoria I didn’t bother.

The “Building and Renovating, a consumers guide” put out by Consumers Affairs is well worth reading. A free copy can be obtained by ringing 1300 558181. Also the NT owner builders kit is also a good read.

Type "owner builders course" at google and you get thousands of entries. Some are listed below with some costs that I got from them after a few phone calls.

To register as an owner builder you must complete a recognized course in the follow states: NSW, QLD, ACT.

On completion of the course a certificate will be issued which you must supply a copy of  when submitting your application.The following is a list of recognized places of learning and costs.

There are many that offer online courses which can save you money and time. NSW and ACT (must have). The following link will take you to a list of approved courses for NSW and ACT. Too many to list here. Look around, they vary from online to class type from $99 to $200.00.
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/corporate/publications/ftb22ownerbuildersapprovedcourses.html

QLD (must have). The following link will direct you a list of approved courses in QLD. To many to list  here. Look around, they vary from online to class type from $99 to $200.00.
www.bsa.qld.gov.au/Home/Consumers/OwnerBuilders/ApprovedCoursesForOwnerBuilders.htm

In addition to the owner builders course you also must also obtain a Blue Card  which is issued to you once you complete an OHS course.You can do this OHS course on line at www.bluecardonline.com.au for $80 or if you prefer face to face go to www.cstc.org.au, they run courses in several cities again for $80. www.bossinstitute.com.au Located at Burleigh Heads ph 07 5507 0755 offer a two day course over two Saturdays for $420.00 also blue card for $90 

Victoria (not required)

• Chisholm Institute of Tafe (Online cost: $345.00) Peter.Woods@chisholm.vic.edu.au
• Holmesglen Institute of Tafe (Online or class cost: $420.00) www.shortcourses.holmesglen.vic.edu.au/crsbb060.html

South Australia (not required)
Cant find any listed. Please contact to update this section.

Western Australia (not required)
www.homebaseexpo.com.au/site/index.php/Courses/show/id/5
First person $132  couple $165

Northern Territory (not required)
Unable to source any info. Please contact us if you can provide any info for NT. Thanks.