MASTER BUILDERS Australia has welcomed the release of the long-awaited Review into the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System, a cornerstone in Australia’s recovery from the ongoing housing crisis.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the review recognised the challenges faced by employers to attract and retain apprentices, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The building and construction industry is made up of over 445,000 businesses, 98 percent of which are small in size.

“Labour shortages are currently the biggest handbrake on fixing the housing crisis,” Ms Wawn said.

“Master Builders has worked closely with Dr Iain Ross AO and Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM, who led the review, and we sincerely thank them for listening to the concerns of employers and the broader building and construction industry.” 

SMEs make up 95 percent of all businesses that hire an apprentice but only take on 60 percent of first year apprentices.

“Employing an apprentice comes at a cost,” Ms Wawn said. “Not just their wage, but the hours spent teaching them, covering their training costs, and managing the associated administration, and helping them navigate the workforce which all adds up.

“A robust incentive system must provide assurance and minimise risk. It should mean that the employer does not shoulder the entire cost burden for the 50 percent of apprentices who do not complete their studies.

“A better incentive system should free an employer to focus on training and teaching: this is especially important in the first and second years.”

Master Builders has outlined recommendations in the review that are relevant to industry employers:

• Align incentives to the government’s economic priorities and social equity objectives. Direct payments to SMEs.
• Reward employers that are doing the right thing and address the behaviour of those who are not providing an appropriate working environment for their apprentices.
• Support the use of Group Training Organisations to assist SMEs in taking on new apprentices.
• Utilise the Australian Government’s procurement policies to increase engagement of first and second year apprentices and reduce ‘apprentice poaching’ from SMEs.
• Review the apprentice data systems to make them easier for apprentices, employers and other users to use and navigate.

“Master Builders will work through the recommendations in the review and urges the Federal Government to prioritise the consultation and implementation of non-contentious recommendations as we do not have time to waste,” Ms Wawn said.

Builders applaud apprenticeship incentive boost

From July 1, 2025, eligible apprentices in the residential construction sector will receive $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages under a new Key Apprentices Program.

The new payment will be staged at 6, 12, 24, 36 months and upon completion, which is something Master Builders has long called for. 

Apprentices in the building and construction industry currently receive a $5,000 payment, which is front-loaded. This payment will remain available for apprentices who are not eligible for the Key Apprentices Program and has been extended until the end of 2025.

“Australia’s building and construction industry faces the enormous task of building enough homes, commercial premises and infrastructure to meet increasing demand and a growing population,” Ms Wawn said.

“Coupled with government funding of fee free vocational education and training, there is no better time to pick up the tools and become a tradie.

“The revised staggering of payments is something Master Builders Australia has long called for, so there is a financial incentive for apprentices to complete their training.

“Around 50 percent of all apprentices do not complete their training – the new staged payments approach will hopefully see the rate of completions increase. 

“Builders would like to see this payment expanded to other areas of the building and construction industry that are also facing chronic shortages and crying out for more apprentices. Without roads, rail, sewerage and water we can’t build more homes for Aussies,” Ms Wawn said.

“We are disappointed that the high costs associated with hiring and training and apprentices has not been recognised as yet … 98 percent of businesses in building and construction are small and they are doing it tough.

“Master Builders continues to call for a robust incentive system that supports employers and minimises the risk with taking on an apprentice who may or may not complete their training.”

Last year, Master Builders released its blueprint for increasing the attraction and retention of apprentices in the industry, which can be read here.

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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MASTER BUILDERS Australia is urging the Federal Government to wait for more data before considering legislating the Fee Free TAFE Bill 2024.

In reaction to the government’s inquiry into the Free TAFE Bill 2024, the nation’s peak building and construction industry association has cautioned against legislating the policy in the absence of data and its unintended consequences.

“Free TAFE initiatives unfairly distort the market towards TAFE-delivered courses over industry-led providers,” Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said.

“We have not seen the free TAFE policy bring more people into building and construction apprenticeships; rather, it has simply reshuffled the deck.

“The proposed Bill is anti-competitive and creates a market distortion and should not be committed to legislation. If the government does seek to pass the Bill, it must be amended to include not-for-profit industry-run RTOs,” Ms Wawn said. 

Ms Wawn said Australia’s building and construction industry faces the enormous task of building enough homes, commercial premises and infrastructure to meet increasing demand and a growing population.

Labour shortages are the biggest source of pressure to deliver these goals, she said.

While Master Builders Australia is supportive in principle of fee-free vocational education courses – “and the Albanese Government’s skills and training agenda in general,” Ms Wawn said – the legislation of free TAFE is unnecessary and will have unintended impacts on highly successful not-for-profit, private registered training organisations (RTOs).

Ms Wawn said as yet, there was no adequate data to show that the Free TAFE initiative has worked, “as it is still too early in the piece”.

“This Federal Election, we are looking at all parties for practical and evidence-based solutions to labour shortages in the industry which is crucial to addressing the housing crisis,” Ms Wawn said. 

Master Builders released its blueprint for increasing the attraction and retention of apprentices in the industry, which can be read here.

More information is available in the Master Builders submission:  MBA Submission_Free TAFE.pdf  

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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FOR MANY Australians, the early days of 2025 represent a time to reassess goals and take steps toward fulfilling work – and making work more fulfilling.

But for those facing barriers such as long-term unemployment, health challenges, or limited skills, the journey to meaningful employment can feel daunting.

The numbers tell a striking story: only 56% of people with disability aged 15–64 are employed, compared with 82% of those without disability, and 93% of unemployed people with disability report difficulties finding a suitable job. 

Additionally, nearly one in four long-term unemployed individuals face hurdles such as health issues, caregiving responsibilities, or age discrimination, while many Workforce Australia participants grapple with financial hardship or a lack of recent work experience.

Despite these challenges, organisations like AimBig Employment are offering hope by providing free, personalised support to help jobseekers overcome obstacles and thrive in the workplace.

Helping workers to thrive in workplace

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to find meaningful work,” AimBig Employment CEO Greg Luck said. “The journey may look different for each person, but with the right guidance and support, it’s possible to build a fulfilling career.”

Whether navigating disability, mental health challenges, or other personal barriers, AimBig Employment works with a diverse range of jobseekers to help them identify strengths, develop skills, and connect with opportunities.

Mr Luck has provided a range of practical steps jobseekers can take in 2025, guided by expert advice from the AimBig team:

Start with small steps and build momentum

The job search can feel overwhelming, especially after a period away from work or with limited experience. AimBig advises breaking down the process into small, manageable actions that build confidence and keep things moving forward.

“Even small actions—like updating your resume, practising interview skills, or setting weekly goals—create a sense of momentum,” AimBig job coach Ross Rosenblum said. “Each step adds up, and small wins can create a positive shift in mindset that keeps jobseekers going.”

Recognise your strengths and progress

Jobseekers often struggle with self-doubt, particularly if they’ve faced barriers or rejections in the past. AimBig coaches work with individuals to identify and build on their unique skills, turning these into strengths in the job market.

“We encourage our clients to focus on their personal strengths and progress, without comparing themselves to others,” Mr Rosenblum said. “Every person has something valuable to offer, and our role is to help them recognise that.”

Focus on what you can do today

Rather than dwelling on factors outside their control, jobseekers are encouraged to set their sights on achievable actions within their reach.

“When people focus on what they can do now, it puts them in a proactive mindset,” Greg Luck said.

AimBig’s free services include guidance on practical actions, such as connecting jobseekers with upskilling courses, identifying accessible career paths, and developing key skills for the workplace. Each step taken helps reinforce the sense of ownership jobseekers feel over their own progress.

Start with a strong support system

Having the right support system is essential, especially when beginning a job search journey, Mr Luck said.

He said AimBig Employment offered free, end-to-end assistance, guiding individuals through every stage—from resume writing and interview coaching to helping secure workplace adjustments or connecting clients with tailored training opportunities. If AimBig’s services don’t fit a client’s specific needs, they help connect jobseekers to other resources and organisations, he said.

“Our goal is to be that guiding hand, pointing people in the right direction and making sure they feel supported every step of the way,” Mr Luck said.

Building employer relationships to open doors

Alongside its work with jobseekers, AimBig partners with employers to foster inclusive hiring practices and create more accessible workplaces. Through consultations and support, they educate employers on the benefits of hiring diverse candidates, from increased team diversity to gaining employees with unique skills and perspectives.

“Our partnerships with employers are vital in helping them see the real value people from all backgrounds bring to their workforce,” Mr Luck said. “This collaboration makes the workplace more inclusive and leads to sustainable job opportunities for our clients.”

By partnering with organisations across various sectors, AimBig is helping to create a more inclusive job market where all jobseekers, including those facing barriers, have access to meaningful, long-term roles.

As Australians step into 2025, organisations like AimBig Employment are there to support, guide, and empower them, according to Mr Luck. With a focus on individual strengths, practical steps, and genuine employer partnerships, AimBig is opening doors and helping people thrive in the workforce.

www.aimbigemployment.com.au

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By Leon Gettler, Talking Business >>

IF YOU happen to be a business needing a coach for your teams, there’s one particular application you can use: Neo Coach.

Neo Coach has a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that may redefine how organisations engage, train, and communicate with their frontline teams.

According to Stephanie Walker, a product owner at NMS Productions – or New Media Services, which offers Global Corporate Outsourcing and Custom Business Solutions – manages ‘communications and content of consumers through SMS, instant messaging (IM), e-mail and voice solutions. It does the trick with stress management in her line of work.

Ms Walker, who came from Melbourne and who now works in Amsterdam, was assigned the Neo Coach tool by her boss.

She said she hasn’t looked back.

A business app to have ready on your phone

Although it can be used on a laptop, the app sits on her phone – which makes more sense, because she is on it all the time. She uses it anywhere. She might use it on a tram, or when she’s lying in bed.

“It’s an AI-powered conversational platform,” Ms Walker told Talking Business.

“I know the AI was built with coaching models behind it. So it’s not like your typical Chat GPT, or one of those types of tools, where it’s just gathering information from the internet to respond to you.

“When I speak to it and tell it my current problems, whether they’re at work or whether they’re personal, it actually comes back to me with suggestions and proper advice and helps me work through it,” Ms Walker said.

“Obviously you are talking to an AI platform, so a lot of it is self-driven by those prompts and by those conversations, but it is essentially a tool for me.

“My workplace gave it to me so the idea behind it is, obviously, to help me with the workplace. It’s to help with reducing stress, to help with productivity, Whatever issues you have.”

On call help 24/7?

Ms Walker said the beauty of the app was she could use it 24 hours a day. Sometimes, she uses it at 3am, the time when one doesn’t usually call a coach for help,

“It was build by neuroscientists and coaches. So I ask it a question, I talk to it and you get a response literally in seconds,” she said.

“Because it’s an app on your phone, literally any time you can open it.”

Ms Walker said Neo Coach reduces the cost of “seeing psychologists when no one can afford that”.

Because it’s just an app, there is a limit to the kinds of answers it can give. If one asks it about clinical conditions, it will respond by saying, “I understand this is what you want to talk about. I am an AI powered app. This is not a space I can help you with. Now you need to see this type of practitioner.”

Everything on it is confidential.

Ms Walker said she had triple-checked that this was the case. It left her feeling a lot safer using it.

“Given my workplace pays for it, I was not interested in any of that going through to my manager,” she said.

www.newmediaservices.com.au

www.leongettler.com

Hear the complete interview and catch up with other topical business news on Leon Gettler’s Talking Business podcast, released every Friday at www.acast.com/talkingbusiness

https://shows.acast.com/talkingbusiness/episodes/talking-business41-interview-with-stephanie-walker-from-nms-

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