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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationHIA Apprentice Awards
HIA Apprentice Awards celebrate the achievements of our future tradespeople while encouraging continued excellence in the industry. Winners are given the chance to boost their career with industry recognition; signalling a bright future in the industry.
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Program
People & Business Awards
Contact
HIA National Awards
Entries are now closed for 2025.
This award is open to all apprentices of HIA members and apprentices can be nominated by their host, by HIA Apprentices or they can nominate themselves.
Your submission
As part of the nomination, hosts/employers provide the apprentice’s name and email, which sends the apprentice an email with the items they need to provide as part of the nomination. Apprentices will be asked to answer questions and upload documents which are listed in this checklist.
We recommend apprentices pre-prepare by writing their answers to the questions and saving the required documents ready for upload to the form. The apprentice’s answers and document upload needs to be completed in one sitting, that is, you cannot save and return to the form once you have started. If apprentices leave the form without submitting the information will not save and they will need to start the upload again.
Please allow 1 hour to upload your pre-prepared written answers and documents.
Hosts can revisit the form at any time until the close of entry date.
Judging
Judging is carried out by a panel of judges comprising of industry representatives. They will review your submission alongside all other applicants. Once finalists have been selected, HIA will contact each successful apprentice to arrange a face-to-face interview.
Here is an example of the questions the judges may ask:
- What are your thoughts on the changes within the building industry?
- Tell me about your experience of safety on site.
- Thinking about your host, how would they describe their ideal apprentice? What positive qualities do you think they are looking for in an apprentice?
- What words of advice would you give to a person who is thinking about starting an apprenticeship in the building industry?
What are we looking for?
Judges consider attitude to work, maturity, personal development and overall progress throughout the Apprenticeship. They also consider:
- Work ethic
- Communication skills and personal presentation
- Ability to follow instructions
- Trade and industry knowledge
- Understanding of Work Health & Safety
- Relationship with fellow workers, host and clients
- Academic results and awards
Promotion
Winners and finalists will be announced at Awards nights across Australia. Each state-based winner will progress as a finalist to the HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards, competing to be named the HIA Jim Brookes Australian Apprentice.
Hosts and employers are promoted alongside winning apprentices, recognising their support in training the next generation.
2025 Apprentice Awards presentation
| Region | Presentation date |
| ACT & Southern NSW | Friday 17 October |
| Hunter | Saturday 18 October |
| New South Wales | Thursday 14 August |
| North Queensland | Saturday 8 November |
| Northern Territory | Friday 17 October |
| Queensland | Friday 14 November |
| South Australia | TBC |
| Tasmania | Saturday 18 October |
| Victoria | Friday 8 August |
| Western Australia | Friday 1 August |
Essential information
Conditions of entry
Eligibility for nomination
1. To be eligible for nomination, the Apprentice must be:
a) employed as an apprentice by HIA Apprentices; or
b) employed by a financial member of HIA.
General terms of entry
2. All applicable sections of the entry form must be completed.
3. The Apprentice must be employed with a training contract registered with the relevant training authority in the region that they have been nominated.
4. If the Apprentice is being nominated for the Awards by their host or employer, they must consent to their nomination and agree to these conditions of entry.
5. For HIA regions where the apprentice competes and is judged by apprenticeship year levels, the category will be determined by the year level the apprentice is in at the close of entry date. Apprentices who become qualified within six (6) months prior to the close of entry date can compete in the fourth-year apprentice category if they have not entered the Awards in the previous year.
6. If the Apprentice is entered into a category for which they do not qualify, HIA reserves the right to move the Apprentice to an appropriate category, without prior consent from the entrant.
7. HIA reserves the right to amalgamate categories to best represent the industry if deemed appropriate.
8. Judges reserve the right to decline to present an Award in a particular category if a minimum standard of excellence has not been reached.
9. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Publicity & warranties
10. It is the responsibility of all entrants to ensure the information provided is accurate and truthful.
11. By completing the entry form and submitting a nomination for the HIA Apprentice of the Year awards, the entrant (you):
a) warrant the details provided in the entry form are correct in every respect and comply with the conditions of entry;
b) declare that the Apprentice consents to their nomination as Apprentice of the Year, is available to attend and participate in Awards events, including judging days;
c) acknowledge that all details and imagery are not subject to copyright;
d) grant to HIA an irrevocable license to use the subject matter of the entry and material included with or as part of the entry for any purpose in connection with the promotion of HIA, the Apprentice Awards and HIA’s awards programme generally;
e) agree to state the category, HIA region and the year awarded, whenever disclosing information or themselves in any communications media, as a finalist or winner in the Apprentice Awards; and
f) agrees to comply with the HIA Awards Advertising Standards, HIA Award winner’s conditions of use and HIA Award logo style guide.
12. All entries become HIA’s property.
13. HIA cannot guarantee the return of entry material supplied. All documentation will be securely stored at the completion of the awards program.
14. HIA does not guarantee that all entrants will be featured in publications or promotional events related to the HIA awards.
Client/entrant notification
15. All entrants will be advised of the judging date and time by the Housing Industry Association following the close of entries.
16. Each Apprentice will be judged by industry professionals who volunteer their time. Apprentices will be interviewed by the judges within a 100km radius of the major regional centre. Entrants outside this area may be judged by phone interview.
Disqualification
17. HIA reserve the right to disqualify a Apprentice before, during or after the contest judging, official announcement of winners and awards presentation if HIA determines:
a) that the entry, host, employer or nominated Apprentice breaches or otherwise fails to meet/observe any of the stated eligibility requirements or conditions of entry;
b) that information provided is false, misleading or deceptive;
c) the host, employer or nominated Apprentice are involved in any conduct or any activity (of both a personal or business nature) that is unlawful or may harm HIA’s name or reputation.
18. In the case of disqualification after the awards’ ceremony, the winning entrant will be required to return the award and a public announcement may be made by HIA.
Privacy & personal information
19. HIA may collect personal information (as defined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)) and other information relating to the Apprentice named in the entry form and business operations of the person submitting the entry to administer the Awards.
20. By participating in the Awards (including by submitting an entry), you consent for HIA to use and disclose any personal information
a) for the purposes set out in HIA’s Privacy Statement available at hia.com.au/privacy; and
b) to HIA’s related entities, business partners, agencies, sponsors and other third parties engaged to provide services in connection with the Awards, in order to:
i. market to the entrant, including by email, SMS/ MMS, mail, social media and telephone; and
ii. administer the Awards.
21. You agree that such consent continues unless otherwise withdrawn. To withdraw consent to receive marketing material from HIA or a third party or request that personal information not be disclosed to a third party, the entrant may:
a) Call HIA on 1300 650 620
b) Email national_events@hia.com.au
Glossary of terms
Host
The person who hires an apprentice from a Group Training Organisation (GTO).
Employer
The person or company that directly indentures the apprentice (employs and is responsible for the payment of wages, Superannuation, workcover etc).
Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
Where the apprentice or trainee does their trade qualification (eg. TAFE).
Transcript
A copy of a student’s academic record; providing details on modules and grades.
HIA Apprentices
Is a GTO (Group Training Organisation). The GTO indentures the apprentice, manages the apprenticeship and places the apprentice with a host. The GTO is the legal employer of the apprentice.
Training Plan
This is the qualification the apprentice works to, to gain their qualification. The RTO provides the training plan to the apprentice.
Indentured
When a person is signed up under a training contract (apprentice or trainee).
HIA Awards Program
HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards
Celebrate the highest level of achievement for the "best of the best" in the residential building industry for award winning designs and builds from across Australia.
Professional Builder/Renovator Awards
Highly-prized recognition within the industry for extensive business and financial management practices.
Greensmart Awards
Celebrating sustainably-built homes, new products and GreenSmart Professionals. Gain recognition for your sustainability building practices.
Apprentice Awards
HIA host the Annual Apprentice Awards to recognise and inspire the next generation of apprentices for the construction industry.
HIA Apprentice Host Trainer Award
Putting the spotlight on apprentice hosts and the important contribution they make for Australian apprentices.
People & Business Awards
Recognising businesses and stand-out individuals in the residential building industry who are pushing the boundaries with workmanship, aspirations, and superior business and customer management.