Any thoughts on how we fix Australia’s housing crisis and the tradie shortage? We’ve talked about a few things here on The Good Builder, but it turns out the answer might fit inside a small bus.

Last Friday, 13 young apprentices, all part of a training partnership between HIA and Homes NSW, pulled up to a building site in Wallsend, just outside of Newcastle. The site wasn’t just any old development. It was a social and affordable housing project, nearing completion, and soon to provide homes for people who need them most. For these apprentices on board, it was a chance to see the future they’re helping to build… literally.

The site visit was part of a broader program that HIA has been running for a few years now, with strong support from Homes NSW. The idea is simple: give young people real support, real training, and real work in the residential building industry.

And it’s working. So far, 80 apprentices and trainees have already completed their formal training through the program, with plenty more coming through the pipeline.

“This project, being built by HIA members Graph Building, was a great chance for the apprentices to see affordable and accessible housing in action,” said HIA Hunter Executive Director Craig Jennion.

They also met Rebecca Pinkstone, CEO of Homes NSW, and members of her development team, which was a rare chance to connect the dots between public policy and what it looks like on the ground.

Why it matters

It’s no secret the industry’s hurting for workers. The Government’s 1.2 million homes target over the next five years sounds good on paper, but the HIA estimates we’ll need an extra 83,000 skilled tradies to make it happen.

Programs like this don’t just train workers. They train the right workers who are young, eager, and supported from day one.

And the momentum is building. Last week, the Australian construction industry, including Master Builders Australia (MBA), the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF), and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), welcomed the Coalition’s election pledge to invest $500 million into new apprenticeships and prioritise construction skills across the board.

It’s a move that responds directly to calls from the industry to put civil trades on equal footing with other construction pathways. Under the plan, critical occupations like concreters, plasterers, excavator and grader operators, and mobile plant operators will be added to the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List.

It’s a welcome boost for a sector that’s been calling for serious investment in its future workforce and recognition that every trade plays a role in building homes and communities.

As Jennion put it, “80 is a great start, but it’s just a drop in the bucket.”

“We need government, industry, and the community to back these kinds of programs if we want to meet future housing needs.”

A bus today, a movement tomorrow?

This site visit is part of a bigger push from HIA’s 2025 federal election campaign, Let’s Build, calling for more financial backing for apprentices and their employers, better promotion of trades, stronger mentoring, and smarter skilled migration policies.

However, while policy moves slowly, apprentices move fast and make decisions on the future of their industry career at a lightning pace. It’s easy to talk about building capacity and investing in the next generation of trades, but laying the foundations is harder.

But maybe it doesn’t have to be so complicated.

Start with a site. Fill a bus. Introduce young people to the work that matters and the people it matters to.

Author: The Good Builder

The Good Builder is a media platform that provides news and insights for Australia’s home building industry. From exclusive stories and curated insights to bold industry perspectives, we deliver the news and updates that keep builders, suppliers, and the entire home building industry inspired and ahead of the curve.