Apprentice Awards

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.

Nominations close

Western Australia and Victorian nominations must be submitted by 5pm Friday 2 May 2025. 

All other nominations must be submitted by 5pm Friday 13 June 2025. 

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.