Summary:

WA is investing $100 million in vocational training, freezing TAFE fees and expanding fee-free construction courses. For builders and business owners, this means more young people on pathways into construction, and a stronger pipeline of future trades. Here’s what’s coming and how it could impact your workforce.

As the construction sector across Australia wrestles with skills shortages, the WA Government has taken a big step to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline, with an emphasis on trades that matter to builders.

In the 2025-26 WA State Budget, the government announced a $100 million package to freeze TAFE course fees in 2026 and expand the number of fee-free building and construction courses.

This move supports the government’s broader Made in WA plan to grow key sectors like construction, housing, renewables, and advanced manufacturing.

For builders on the ground, this is good news: more opportunities for young Western Australians to enter construction, and more affordable training pathways to get them job-ready.

The key announcements; What builders need to know

• TAFE fees frozen at 2025 levels in 2026 for both fee-free and low-fee courses
  
• An additional $21.9 million investment to expand access to fee-free construction training
  
• Seven new fee-free construction courses from 2026:
  
  • Certificate III in Plumbing
    
  • Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining
    
  • Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
    
  • Certificate III in Solid Plastering
    
  • Certificate III in Civil Construction
    
  • Certificate II in Construction
    
  • Certificate II in Construction Pathways
    

By the end of April 2025, WA had already seen 28,464 enrolments in fee-free qualifications and 35,010 enrolments in Lower fees, Local skills courses, this is a clear sign that demand for affordable training is strong.

Why this matters for builders

Across WA and the rest of Australia, construction businesses are feeling the pressure of an ageing workforce and growing demand for new housing and infrastructure.

Building a stronger talent pipeline is critical, and that starts with accessible training that sets young people on the path to becoming skilled tradespeople.

This investment offers builders:

A stronger pool of job-ready apprentices and trades entering the market over the next 1–3 years

More young people considering construction careers through targeted TAFE support

Potential to collaborate with TAFEs and attract future talent into your business

As Premier Roger Cook said: “We recognise that TAFEs play a vital part in growing our state’s workforce, ensuring they are well-skilled for the jobs of tomorrow.”

And as Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson added: “By adding more building and construction courses to the fee-free list, we’re giving more young Western Australians an opportunity to take up a trade and learn skills that will set them up for success.”

Builders’ role; get involved early

At The Good Builder, we see this as an opportunity for builders and trades to lean in and engage with the next generation of workers.

We encourage WA builders to:

Connect with local TAFEs and be visible as an employer of choice

Offer site visits, mentoring, and work experience placements where possible

Support apprentices through quality training, culture, and leadership

The earlier young people connect with good builders, the more likely they are to stay in the industry and thrive.

The Good Builder’s commitment

We’ll be talking to builders, trades, training providers, and government leaders to track how this funding translates into outcomes on the ground.

In upcoming articles and podcasts, we’ll explore:

What are WA builders seeing in apprentice readiness?

How are fee-free courses impacting workforce quality and retention?

Where can builders work with government to keep improving the system?

If you’d like to share your experiences or get involved in the conversation, reach out to The Good Builder team, we’d love to feature your insights.

Together, we can help ensure this investment delivers real value, for builders, for young tradespeople, and for the future of the WA construction industry.

Author: TGB Editorial