Discover the latest updates and essential insights in the building and construction industry. For all significant news and developments, this is your go-to source.
Updates to the Asbestos Product Guide
To date, the Asbestos Product Guide has received a total of over 25,000 views since launching in September.
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency are continuously reviewing and updating the Guide, with many of the original pages now containing additional images and information. Further product information pages have also been added...
Free mental health training and coaching
Creating a mentally healthy workplace is the responsibility of all employers, leaders and workers in NSW.
SafeWork NSW offers free mental health training and coaching programs to support small businesses with fewer than 200 employees and not-for-profits of any size.
Find out more here
SafeWork $1,000 small business rebate
SafeWork NSW offers a $1,000 rebate to small businesses and sole traders who are registered and/or operating in NSW.
The rebate can be used to help purchase items to improve work health and safety for workers.
To qualify you must:
- hold a current ABN (held for at least 6 months)
- provide...
Albanese announces $10,000 bonuses for housing apprentices
The Albanese government is offering $10,000 bonuses to apprentices in the residential housing sector as part of a $626 million initiative to reach the target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029.
Key points:
- Bonuses paid in $2,000 instalments throughout a four-year apprenticeship, starting July 1.
- $4 billion in incentives...
Builders respond to long-awaited apprenticeship incentive system review
Master Builders Australia has welcomed the release of the long-awaited Review into the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System.
The review recognises the challenges faced by employers to attract and retain apprentices, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The building and construction industry is made up of over 445,000...
$10,000 for apprentices
Key points:
- Apprentices in residential construction can receive $10,000 over their training period, paid in five $2,000 instalments.
- The government has budgeted $626.9 million for the initiative, aiming to support over 60,000 apprentices.
- This move is part of efforts to meet the goal of 1.2 million new homes in five...
Apprentice training reform: finding balance between TAFE and private RTOs
The Albanese Government’s bill to make the Free TAFE initiative permanent is sparking debate. While the goal of addressing the skills shortage is widely supported, Master Builders Australia has raised concerns about the unintended consequences for private registered training organisations (RTOs).
Industry-led RTOs are vital to training apprentices, but the...
Positive signs in new home construction but still a long way to go
In the first three months of the National Housing Accord, Australia commenced construction on 43,247 new homes according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
This is 4.6 per cent higher than the June 2024 quarter and 13.9 per cent higher than the same quarter in 2023.
The strongest growth was...
Set yourself up for success
Start the new year strong with support from the NSW Government. Explore a range of programs designed to help your business grow in 2025, including:
- Financial incentives to hire an apprentice or a trainee.
- Help to set your business up to export products and services internationally
- Fee-free short courses in...
Engineering construction keeps the economy moving
There was a 3.3 per cent increase in the volume of engineering construction work done during the September 2024 quarter, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
This was predominately driven by a strong 5.5 per cent expansion in public sector projects.
However, private sector engineering construction...