Australia’s got a plan to tackle the tradie shortage head-on as we race against the clock to meet some pretty ambitious housing targets. With the government slinging a cool $90 million into training, we’re talking about gearing up an extra 20,000 tradies, including bricklayers and plumbers, to get cracking on homes for our growing population.
Starting January 1, these funds will unlock 15,000 fee-free TAFE and VET spots, plus another 5,000 in pre-apprenticeship programs. And there’s more on the menu—about $1.8 million is earmarked to speed up skills assessments for nearly 1,900 potential migrant workers rocking construction chops.
Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor is buzzing about this move, seeing it as a win-win to boost our residential construction muscle while easing up living costs with more affordable housing. And with a hefty goal of 1.2 million new homes in the next five years, every hand on deck is crucial.
Despite the enthusiasm, challenges loom large, like skill shortages and builder bankruptcies that could throw a spanner in the works. Housing Minister Julie Collins is rallying everyone to get behind this mega goal, stressing that it’s all hands on deck from government to industry.
The vibe from the union front is positive, with the CFMEU and folks like Master Builders Australia and the Business Council giving the thumbs up. They’re all about building capacity and making sure we’ve got enough skilled hands to turn blueprints into buildings.
Even the Housing Industry Association is chiming in, pushing for incentives to get more apprentices on board because, let’s face it, without employers, apprenticeships just aren’t going to happen.
For more details on how Australia plans to combat the tradie shortage and ramp up housing construction, check out the full story here.
