HIA Apprentices visit Hunter social housing site

A bus load of 13 HIA Apprentices completed a site visit last Friday at a social and affordable housing project at Wallsend.

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“The Homes NSW project, which will see the construction of a residential flat building containing nine dwellings, is being built by HIA members Graph Building," said Craig Jennion, HIA Executive Director, Hunter.

“The soon to be completed project provided an opportunity to show the apprentices an affordable and accessible housing project and the chance to meet Rebecca Pinkstone CEO, Homes NSW and members of her development team.

All 13 apprentices are members of an important industry-focused apprentice and trainee program that HIA has partnered with Housing NSW to provide.

“Launched in April 2021, the intent is to help young people get into a career in the residential building industry with the holistic support of HIA as the Group Training Organisation.

“HIA has long recognised that for school leavers and young workers, beginning a career path is challenging. Pleasingly the initiative has already seen 80 apprentices and trainees complete their formal training, with more to complete in the coming 12 months.

“Whilst significant, this 80 is just a drop in the bucket of what we need to address the industries chronic skills shortages. To deliver the Australian Government’s commitment of 1.2 million homes over five years, HIA estimates we need 83,000 additional skilled workers in the residential construction industry.

“HIA’s 2025 federal election campaign titled Let’s Build goes to the heart of this issue.

“It advocates for increased financial support for employers and apprentices, greater promotion of trades as a career, enhanced mentoring programs and reforms to the skilled migration system to address the decades long workforce issues," concluded Mr Jennion.