High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)
LicenceIssued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Forklift operator
Drive a forklift to load, unload and move stock in warehouses, factories, timber yards and shipping terminals.
What you do
You use a forklift to load and unload trucks and move pallets around the site. You check the forklift before each shift and report faults. You work carefully around other people and follow the site's traffic rules.
SourceLast checked 10 Oct 2026
Licences and tickets
New South Wales
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Victoria
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
- High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)Licence
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Queensland
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
- High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)Licence
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Western Australia
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
- High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)Licence
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
South Australia
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
- High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)Licence
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Tasmania
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
- High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)Licence
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Australian Capital Territory
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
- High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)Licence
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Northern Territory
Required by lawYou cannot legally do this work without it.
- High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF)Licence
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Helps you stand outNot required, but it can help you get hired.
- White Card (general construction induction)Card
Issued by Your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW)
Related jobs
Common questions
- What licences or tickets do you need to work as a Forklift operator?
- In every state the law requires: High risk work licence: forklift truck (LF). Pick your state on this page to see who issues each one and how to get it.
- What is the minimum pay for a Forklift operator?
- Minimum casual rate (adult, Storeworker grade 2): $34.96 an hour. Under the Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020 (MA000084), from 1 July 2026. Last checked 10 Oct 2026.
- What are median earnings for a Forklift operator?
- Median earnings: $1,340 a week before tax (full-time workers, all experience levels, national; may cover a wider occupation group).