Blog entries - March 2012

Bricklayer Employer Bonus to Boost Apprentice Sign-ups

Geoff Noble — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0100

Concerns have emerged that recent falls in Apprenticeship commencements across Australia will lead to a shortage of qualified bricklayers, in three to four years. The Industry has responded quickly with a “Brickstart Bonus’ incentive to encourage bricklayers to put on bricklaying apprentices in the immediate future. $1000 is being offered to each employer who takes on a new apprentice between 2 January and 30 April this year to help encourage sign-ups. So far, interest...

Let’s focus on keeping the apprentices we have

Stacey Rimene — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0100

As Membership Chair of QLD National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and General Manager of a residential building company I’m an avid promoter of bringing new blood into the construction trade. With the downturn of the industry last year and the slow climb out, it’s n...

Girls in Hard Hats Try a Trade

Stacey Rimene — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0100

Within the Education & Mentoring Committee of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) we are focusing on high school students in their early years of high school – sowing the seed of interest in trades, for when they leave school.

Last week in Queensland, I was honoured to be a guest on the Women in Industry p...

Valuable Training Off-the-Job

Geoff Noble — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0100

We are getting feedback from industry on the benefits of training off the job.

We have seen a more flexible approach to training in recent years with a better blend of on-site and off-site training and assessment. This has been welcomed as skills gained in a building and construction environment can be recognised by assessors on-site and therefore reduce the time an apprentice spends off the job.