The Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation

Objectives

The Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation Ltd (ABBTF) represents clay brick and concrete masonry manufacturers. It was created to address the critical shortage of skilled bricklayers. The purpose is to ensure there is an adequate and competent bricklaying and blocklaying workforce to support the demand for bricks and blocks as a construction material and improve the standing of bricklayers and blocklayers within the building industry.

The ABBTF is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Annual Reports are available to download. Click Here

Funding

To address these issues ABBTF have implemented an apprenticeship scheme which is jointly funded by an industry contribution of $2 per thousand clay bricks or 10 cents per square meter in the wall for concrete masonry and a matching contribution from brick and block manufacturers. The scheme applies across the following states: Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. The scheme has been approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

How We Plan to Further Increase Numbers of Apprentices and Bricklayers

The strategies implemented to increase the number of apprentices and bricklayers include:

•    Promotion of the trade through schools and the community by presentations and visits to career teacher groups and careers events. Direct promotional support for TAFE’s and training organisations to increase training enrolments.
•    Provide Step Out Programs to secondary school students. This 40 hour program provides students with hands on experience in bricklaying to enable young people to make an informed choice to commence an apprenticeship.
•    Support for students completing pre-apprenticeship training by fee payment or incentives on starting an apprenticeship.
•    Subsidise the cost of apprentice employment to bricklayers and builders.
•    Employer incentive payment for their apprentice achieving year level competencies to reduce attrition levels.
•    Mature age financial support is provided to employers or apprentices in some states.
•    Support up-skilling of existing bricklayers to gain skills and qualifications.

Each State has seen an increase in numbers entering pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training since the scheme commenced.
The scheme aims to achieve an increase in competent, skilled bricklayers which will reduce delays in building and construction and increase employment of young people in a skilled trade.

For further information Contact Us or call the ABBTF 1300 66 44 96

Download the information on this page

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QLD
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NSW
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WA
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SA
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ACT
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TAS
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