This is another well needed boost for the building and construction industry.

The program will be a targeted partnership in which the Government will provide $45 million and industry $42 million to support training across Australia.

“This investment will mean more Australian plumbers, builders, engineers and electricians,” Senator Evans said.

Due to the nature of the partnership it gives industry the opportunity to ensure the training is specifically tailored to their workers and their business needs.

“Today we’ve announced that in partnership with industry more than $87 million will be provided to help skill and up-skill 23,777 workers through more than 250 industry driven projects including 33 projects with a focus on the construction sector and 51 with a focus on the aged care sector,” Senator Evans said.

“These are critical industries for our economy. They are industries facing ongoing skills shortages which require employees with high levels of specialised training.

“The funding will mean employers can recruit and train new employees for available positions, and existing workers will also be given the opportunity to upskill.”

“Today is just the first instalment of our $558 million National Workforce Development Fund partnership with Australian business. It’s an investment in the skills of Australian workers, the strength of Australian business and the national economy.

“I congratulate the businesses who have come onboard to make the investment and I encourage businesses across Australia to consider taking part in coming funding rounds through Industry Skills Councils.”

Senator Evans recently paid a visit to Ford Civil Contracting in Sydney, a successful partner for funding under the National Workforce Development Fund Government-industry partnerships. Trainees are currently working on earthmoving and excavation of the site for a multistorey construction project.

The Civil Contractors Federation NSW will receive more than $645,000 to allow more than 40 employers, including Ford Civil Contracting, to design and implement training to more than 200 workers across NSW.

Under the program Government funding is supplemented by a co-contribution from industry. Government contributes at higher levels for small businesses. Large enterprises contribute 66 per cent of the cost of training, medium enterprises 50 per cent and small enterprises 33 per cent.

More information is available at the: Australian Government Funding for Training WebPage

Once again the Federal Government has indicated that the building and construction industry remains a key target for training and skills development due to the ongoing skills shortages being felt across the country even though the industry remains subdued in terms of output.

The three criteria that are assessed, and around which the guidelines are set are:

1. Qualifications, 
2. Skills, and 
3. Experience

This article addresses the importance of number 2 – skills, and highlights how all three support each other.

Many people in the building industry gain skills across a wide range of areas, mostly through hands-on experience.

Often there are people who approach Construction Courses for assistance with obtaining the necessary qualifications to get a builders licence, but upon review what they are lacking is a proper trade qualification, even though they may have a vast amount of technical skills developed over years of experience.

Let’s use a typical example of a recent student, who we will call Michael. 

Michael wished to obtain a NSW Builders Licence and enquired about studying Certificate IV in Building and Construction. Upon discovering that Michael’s goal was to apply for a builders licence, the next obvious question was: “What trade qualifications do you currently have?”

Michael had been working in the building and construction industry for over 10 years. He had gained many years of experience as a hand-on carpenter working directly for a builder, but never held a trade licence or a formal qualification. He started out as an apprentice but never had the opportunity to complete his indentured Certificate III in Construction program. So although he was highly experienced, without that qualification he was going to face not one training program (Cert IV B&C) but two, as the NSW Office of Fair Trading would also require him to complete the Diploma of Building and Construction as well.

Unfortunately, Michael’s situation is quite common.

The best advice we could give Michael was to contact the Building Industry Skills Centre, a purpose built facility for assessment and training for the building and construction industry that provides, amongst other things, “Recognition pathways and gap training tailored to your needs for qualifications in building and construction”.

Check out the BISC Website. 

Through one of these tailored programs Michael was able to gain the appropriate and relevant qualifications for his Certificate III in Carpentry, and was therefore a qualified carpenter – a major step towards gaining a builders licence.

Michael was then able to commence the Certificate IV Building and Construction course program knowing that upon completion he would have the necessary skills, experience and qualifications to meet the builders licence requirements.

Please note that although every state has slightly different guidelines, they are very similar at the core level, so the importance of gaining certified skills and trade certificates is a valuable step towards becoming a licensed builder or site supervisor. If you are not sure what is available in your state then please email us or give us a call. Tell us what your aims are and we will more than happy to put you on the right path towards achieving your goals.

A builders licence is becoming a highly sought after asset in the building industry. Now is the time to work out a plan on how you can get yours.

All the best for now from the team at Construction Courses.

Why? It’s all about liability and risk. Government bureaucracies do not like being exposed to any possible risk, and the building industry is a playground for it. Therefore the government is overly cautious about issuing builders licences.

Here’s some things that might shed some light on the challenges:

The issuing of a domestic builders licence, for example, is all about 3 things:

1. Trade Skills/Qualifications,
2. Relevant Industry Experience, and
3. Business Qualifications.

People who want a domestic or residential builders licence generally fall into two categories:

1. Those who want a builders licence so they can undertake and manage their own building projects above and beyond the limitations of being an owner builder.
2. Those who want a builders licence so that they can enter into contracts with consumers and build domestic housing/renovations, etc. for which they require a licence.

Government Departments do not differentiate between people seeking a builders licence to do their own projects and those seeking a builders licence to contract out to the consumer. The exception is the owner builder process (which is again slightly different in each state). So if it’s a one off dream building excercise then you have the right to build your own home. If you then decide you want to make a living out of it, then you must be prepared to match the same skills developed over a 5-7 year period by a trade qualified carpenter or bricklayer. These are the two most recognised trades as being the foundation for a builders licence.

For those who have the right experience and trade qualifications there is a clear path towards achieving their builders licence. For everyone else there needs to be a process of:

• assessment,
• direction,
• work at developing skills,
• getting experience, and
• obtaining qualifications that will assist your application.

It may seem a challenge now, but remember you are working towards an asset for your future.

Builders are becoming increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the recovery in the industry as the government winds down the stimilus program. In particular, the Building Education Revolution Funding will soon peter out and whether you supported it or not, this will certainly impact.

Sources whisper that since the ending of the first home buyers scheme there has been a dramatic slowdown in residential housing – but all areas seem to have contracted over the last 4-6 months.

The Survey’s summary states that financial constraints remains a key issue for many builders. Nearly 30% of respondents in the survey were concerned that availability of finance was having a large or constraining effect on their business.

Building volume is expected to be lower in the Jul-Dec 2010 period than that for the Jan-Jun 2010 period.

An interesting point made in the report however is that although presssures relating to finding skilled labour fell back across most categories, builders are still experiencing some difficulty finding certain categories of contractors/employees; particularly
project managers, site managers and foremen/supervisors.

There in lies your opportunity. At ConstructionCourses.com.au a whole range of skill development areas and courses can be identified to suit market needs. By clicking on the link you can access a full copy of the report: National Survey for June 2010.

If you have any enquiries about courses and training for the building and construction industry please feel free to contact us at any time.

It’s always good to know what’s going on in the mind of your customer. If you are a licensed builder or are thinking about getting a Builders Licence then this should make good reading.

As a point of reference this article is based on the NSW Department of Fair Trading Website which hosts the online public register of Builders Licences in NSW. Each state has their own system but most are similar depending on which governing body is regulating the industry in that state.

Here are the links for NSW, Qld, Victoria, SA and Tasmania:

NSW – Fair Trading NSW

QLD – BSA QLD

VIC – Consumer Affairs VIC

SA – OCBA SA

TAS – Consumer Affairs Tas

Basically these government websites are encouraging the consumer to research and check their builder out thoroughly prior to entering into a contract. That only makes sense. This is why we stress the importance of training for builders and trades, as well as compliance and proper licensing.

Here is the type of thing you can expect your customer to request if you are a building or trade contractor:

• Provide a copy of your current licence. (This can now be checked against online databases)
• Provide details of any other or previous licences held. You may actually be asked this question by a customer and you are compelled by law to comply.

The consumer can then use this information to go online and check a contractor’s history of disciplinary action, insurance claims, and Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Orders not complied with.

This is a quote from the NSW Fair Trading Website when advising consumers:
“You should always do a licence check before entering into a contract with a builder or tradesperson and you should only deal with a licensed builder. Any person who carries out residential building work worth over $1,000 in labour and materials content without an appropriate licence is breaking the law and could be prosecuted.”

The internet is a source of information for consumers to do sound research on you, so get trained, be compliant, ensure you are properly licensed and know the rights of your customers.

At Construction Courses we strive to bring the Building and Construction Industry the best information and training available to ensure you get ahead. Call us any time on 1300 855 713 to find out how we can assist you.

An extra $100 million will be invested by the Australian Government in a new Apprentice Kickstart program to support up to 21,000 young Australians entering traditional trades this summer. That’s good news for the building and construction industry as it means more trained and skilled workers who are very much in need.

The new program was announced recently by the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and has been welcomed by industry groups such as the Housing Industry Association (HIA), Australian Constructors Association (ACA) and Master Builders.

For more details and comments there is a good article at the Qld Business Review site.

In summary, the investment has come about from the Keep Australia Working Report, which revealed the number of people starting trade apprenticeships has declined by more than 20 percent during the past twelve months compared to the same period last year. Clearly the economic conditions have taken their toll.

“The Government’s Apprentice Kickstart will more than triple the first year bonus paid to employers who take on traditional trades apprentices this summer,” Gillard says.

“We’re boosting the commencement bonus from $1,500 to $2,350 and then following up with another $2,500 at nine months which means employers will now receive $4,850 in the first year for taking on a traditional trade apprentice over the summer,” she says.

Apprentice Kickstart will be paid for as part of funding secured by both the Greens and Senator Fielding as part of the Government’s economic stimulus package.

There is a bonus program available to employers when the place apprentices who are hired between December 1 and February 28, 2010, or until the 21,000 target for apprentices have commenced in traditional trades that have been hard hit by skills shortages identified on the National Skills Needs List.

This includes trades such as butchers, bakers, bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, hairdressers and pastry cooks.

The importance of ongoing training and skills development in the building and construction industry cannot be understated and it is paramount that the government put mechanisms in place that allow for this ongoing development.

NSW Productivity Places Program (PPP) Now Available

Back to Basics Training has been appointed as one of the registered training organisations to deliver training courses under the PPP in NSW. So it’s possible you might be eligible for government funding for your construction course.

There is a limited allocation of subsidised places available for the following builders courses:

• CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
• CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

FAQ’s on the PPP:
 
What is the Productivity Places Program (PPP)?

The Productivity Places Program is part of a National Agreement between the Federal Government and the State Governments. NSW has a state specific agreement with the Commonwealth.
 
The Program is designed to support employment in New South Wales by funding an additional 175,000 qualifications for existing workers and job seekers through till June 2012.

The qualifications can range from a Certificate II right through to Advanced Diploma and cover a mix of pathways including traineeships and classroom based delivery.

The Program is managed through the NSW Training Market.

How do I apply for these new qualifications in the Building and Construction Industry under the PPP?

Back to Basics subsidised programs are restricted in the building and construction industry, only available in NSW and only applicable to existing workers (definition can be clarified upon enquiry).

If you want training in the industry for licencing purposes or to improve your skills then contact us now to discuss your needs. There has never been a better time to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire these valuable qualifications.

What are the student fees?

Participants undertaking training will pay a student administration fee upon enrolment. The fees are subject to change and have to be aligned with NSW TAFE fees.

Specifically the cost of the two available programs are:

• CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building). Normal Cost $2800
  You’ll invest $912 per year as a Student Admin Fee. The Government Subsidy takes care of the rest.
• CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building). Normal Cost $3960
  You’ll invest $1214 per year as a Student Admin Fee. The Government Subsidy takes care of the rest.

When do I need to enrol?

Soon. By the end of this calendar year the program will be re-assessed. A limited number of RTO’s have been allocated to provide a limited number of places in these courses by year end. 

Find out more today by phoning 1300 855 713 or contact us.

So what’s the problem? The biggest problem is a lack of time and energy to keep up with the constant changes going on in the building and construction industry. It can be a challenge, but you have to do your best to keep your knowledge, skills and currency for your trade profession.

The end customer, whether it’s a residential customer, a builder, commercial contractor or a project manager, all have the same goals. One of those goals is ensuring that the builder or tradesman they use for their project (no matter how big or small) has the current knowledge, qualifications and licence requirements to take on the job and complete it to a high level of quality.

Trade professionals in the construction industry need to keep up to date and can do so in a number of ways. You can:

• do construction training courses: short or long.
• subscribe to trade magazines that provide good up to date information.
• attend supplier functions that have an education/information goal.

The most important thing to do is stay ahead… It’s a bit like the old story of two mates walking through the forest together when they see a huge bear coming after them. One mate says to the other: “Gee I’m worried mate, I’m not sure we will be able to outrun the bear!” To which the other friend replies: “I don’t have to worry about outrunning the bear, I only have to outrun you!” 

Moral to this story? You are competing with your fellow trades. The building and construction industry is becoming increasingly competitive and regulated. Doing the courses, subscribing to trade publications, and attending supplier functions will help you outrun the bear!