{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location {{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationMember and guest login
Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Forgotten password
Need some help?
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If the email address you have entered is registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
Become part of the HIA community
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Create a guest account
Enter your details below and create a login
Build the homes Australia needs
The Federal Government, through Housing Australia, is offering substantial funding to support the residential building industry help meet the Government's commitment to build 1.2 million homes over the next 5 years through the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF).
Here's how to get involved in building affordable and social housing and how HIA can help you gain the WHS accreditation you need to participate.
How it works
Generally, applications to the HAFF are made by community housing providers (CHPs).
If you are interested in accessing this funding, reach out to a CHP in your state or territory.
What you need to get involved
In some cases, accreditation under the Federal Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme (WHS Scheme) through the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) is required to be eligible to carry out this building work.
Low-value building work and the construction of single-dwelling houses, such as Class 1 buildings, including town houses and row houses, are excluded from the WHS Scheme. Find out if the type of building work you do requires accreditation under the WHS Scheme.
Accreditation under the WHS Scheme requires a builder to satisfy the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) that they have and are implementing appropriate work health and safety policies, procedures and safe work practices. This requires a builder to:
- have a documented work health and safety management system.
- have experience in managing construction hazards and high-risk activities.
- have a positive workplace safety record with low rates of injury, particularly serious injuries.
- demonstrate through an audit that the head contractor builder’s documented work health and safety management system complies with the WHS Accreditation Scheme Audit Criteria: Residential Builders’ Guide and is being implemented on a live construction project.
- declare they are complying, and will comply with, the performance requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) that relate to building materials, as specifically required by the Scheme.
How HIA can help
The WHS Scheme is a safety accreditation required to be held by a head contractor builder engaged to undertake building work funded by the Federal Government. HIA has received government funding to support members get accredited. HIA can:
- Connect you with community housing providers looking for accredited builders.
- Assess your current safety systems and what you need to do to get accredited.
- Support your business in updating your safety system and working with the OFSC during the accreditation process.
- Provide information, advice and one-on-one mentoring to ensure continued implementation of your safety system.
Federal WHS Scheme questions
The OFSC is the Federal Government regulator that administers the WHS Scheme.
The OFSC has dedicated Safety Officers that can help support builders through the accreditation process. They provide up to 40 hours of assistance to all Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF)-related residential builders working towards accreditation.
No. WHS Scheme accreditation is generally required on larger projects that exceed certain contract values.
Generally low-value building work and the construction of single-dwelling houses, such as Class 1 buildings (including town houses and row houses) are excluded from the WHS Scheme.
HIA has developed information to assist in determining whether the WHS Scheme applies to your building project.
The OFSC has also developed information to assist in determining if the WHS Scheme applies.
Accreditation under the Scheme requires a builder to satisfy the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) that they have and are implementing appropriate work health and safety policies, procedures and safe work practices. This requires a builder to:
- have a documented work health and safety management system.
- have experience in managing construction hazards and high-risk activities.
- have a positive workplace safety record with low rates of injury, particularly serious injuries.
- demonstrate through an audit that the head contractor builder’s documented work health and safety management system complies with the WHS Accreditation Scheme Audit Criteria: Residential Builders’ Guide and is being implemented on a live construction project.
- declare they are complying, and will comply with, the performance requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) that relate to building materials, as specifically required by the Scheme.
The OFSC has published an overview of the process to get accredited under the Scheme.
Three years.
There are no fees to apply for accreditation or to maintain accreditation.
- At all times have and implement appropriate work health and safety policies procedures and safe work practices;
- Undergo regular audits to confirm ongoing compliance with the Federal Safety Commissioner’s Residential Builder Audit Criteria (audits are typically every 6-12 months);
- Report to the Federal Safety Commissioner:
- every six months on the builders’ safety performance and contracted works by submitting a Scheme Biannual Report on FSC Online, that covers a range of project data and WHS performance indicators (such as workers compensation premium rates and claim incident rates);
- notifiable safety incidents that occur on their projects involving their own employees and subcontractors.
- Comply with the performance requirements of the National Construction Code relating to building materials.
Yes, once you are accredited under the Scheme, your Scheme safety management system must be implemented on all of your building sites. We understand that the OFSC will take a phased approach to the implementation of a safety management system accredited under the Scheme.
- You can be awarded Federal Government funded building projects. Given the current Federal Government commitments under the Housing Australia Future Fund, this could represent a significant pipeline of work over the next five years.
- You will automatically be prequalified to work on state and territory funded government building projects.
- Attract and retain skilled trades who you can look to guarantee ongoing work on safe work sites.
Work Health & Safety resources
Residential Builder Safety Management System
HIA’s safety management system for builders includes a comprehensive library of policies, management plans, Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specifically designed for residential building businesses. This system was developed by our industry experts to help you manage risk and protect your workers.
If you operate in the residential building industry, you know how crucial effective work health and safety systems are to minimise the risk of injury and address hazards on the job. We've done the hard work for you so you can ensure your business has all the essential documentation you need.