Federal, State and Territory Skills and Training Ministers have agreed that delivering housing supply will be added to the national priorities identified in the National Skills Agreement.
Skills Ministers recognised that focused effort is required to address skills and workforce shortages to deliver National Cabinet’s target to build 1.2 million new homes over five years from 1 July 2024, along with State and Territory housing plans.
Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP said addressing workforce shortages in planning and construction is critical as we work together to deliver 1.2 million new homes over the next five years.
“Genuine collaboration between the Albanese Labor Government and all States and Territories is essential as we shape a stronger, more dynamic VET sector and respond to skills shortages across the economy,” he said.
The Honourable Iain Ross AO and Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM are conducting a strategic review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System on behalf of the government.
The review will investigate the support available to help more people start and complete apprenticeships and traineeships and will assist the government to implement a more effective, sustainable and long-term incentive system.
It comes after the establishment of BuildSkills Australia, which aims to tackle skills shortage in the built environment sector.
BuildSkills Australia is preparing the country’s first workforce plan for the sector and will become a “strategic voice” of the construction, property and water industries.
Co-Chair of the Board of BuildSkills Australia Paula Masters said the entity would provide leadership, innovation and a level of research and insight not previously available to industry.
“Our priority now is to develop the first ever national workforce plan for the construction, property and water industries and this work is already well underway,” Ms Masters said.
“The comprehensive plan will support Federal Government policy making and support skills and training needs across the sector.”
Ms Masters said training tomorrow’s workforce was a key part of BuildSkills Australia’s mandate.
“BuildSkills’ workforce plan will place a priority on ensuring the skills and training of today meet the needs of the future,” she said.
Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas welcomed the launch of BuildSkills.
“Creating a training system that matches our growing national needs and has the golden thread of industry diversity at its heart is vitally important,” he said.
And yet we have to be realistic. The government’s laudable and substantial investment in training programs and TAFE initiatives will not bridge the gap to our national housing goals, once in a generation state government infrastructure projects and the escalating demand for green energy infrastructure.
New construction workers have historically made up just 1.8 per cent of our migrant intake and this is simply not enough.
While we intelligently manage down the overall intake of migrants, there is a pressing need to prioritise skilled workers with construction qualifications to bolster our workforce.
Australia must become a competitive destination for global construction skills.”