The Albanese government has allocated $90.6 million in the 2024–25 Budget to grow the construction and housing workforce.
This strategic investment aims to address the critical skills shortage in the sector and expedite the construction of 1.2 million new homes, marking a significant step towards tackling Australia’s housing challenges.
The funding is designated to enhance vocational education and training, providing 20,000 additional Fee-Free TAFE and VET training places. The initiative is designed to bolster the pipeline of skilled workers crucial for the construction and housing industry.
“This budget continues the Albanese government’s work to build a stronger vocational education and training sector which is what we need to skill Australians for the future, and support more people into secure, well-paid work,” said Brendan O’Connor, minister for skills and training, in a media release.
With $26.4m allocated to pre-apprenticeship programs, the initiative aims to prepare entrants for a full apprenticeship, offering them a glimpse of industry life. This approach is expected to increase the success rates in training and fill the growing demand for skilled labour in the sector.
The budget also includes provisions for improving the process of recognising the qualifications of potential migrant workers. Approximately $1.8 million is dedicated to streamlining skills assessments for 1,900 migrants from countries with comparable qualifications, aiming to fast-track their integration into the workforce.
“Our government knows that building more homes is the best way to address Australia’s housing challenges, which is why we have an ambitious national target to build 1.2 million homes,” said Julie Collins (pictured above), minister for housing, homelessness, and small business.
The announcement has been well-received by industry leaders.
“Master Builders has long advocated that we must do more to boost our domestic capacity and make it easier for migrants to work in the industry,” said Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia. “We have worked closely with the government to make these policies a reality and thank Minister O’Connor and Minister Collins for responding to our concerns.”
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