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You have the opportunity to build affordable and social housing funded by the Federal Government's Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). This initiative is designed to boost affordable housing supply across Australia.
Builders need accreditation through the Federal Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme (WHS Scheme) to participate in this critical initiative.
HIA can guide you through the process of gaining your WHS credentials so you can tender for this government-funded work and contribute to the Housing Accord's goal of 1.2 million homes over the next five years.
How it works
Federal Government funding
Commonwealth funds are allocated to Community Housing Providers (CHPs).
Community Housing Providers
CHPs use funding to scope affordable housing projects and partner with accredited builders.
Builders
Builders tender for the work. Some projects may require WHS accreditation – that's where HIA can help.
Why get WHS accreditation?
- Tender for commonwealth-funded building projects.
- Zero cost for builder to obtain accreditation.
- Safer sites mean accredited builders consistently outperform their peers.
- Reduce costs over time through lower workers’ compensation premiums.
- Demonstrate to clients and industry that you operate with best practice WHS systems.
How HIA can help
When you need accreditation
If you plan to act a head contractor on federally funded projects thorugh CHPs with thresholds over $4 million for residential construction or Class 2 and above builds, you’ll need to be accredited.
If you’re unsure, HIA can help you check whether your project falls under the Scheme.
What you need to do
Accreditation under the WHS Scheme requires a builder to satify the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) that they have and are implementing appropriate work health and safety policies, procedures and safe work practices. This requires the builder to:
- have a documented work health and safety management system.
- have experience in managing construction hazards and high risk activities.
- declare they are complying with and will continue to comply with the performance requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) that relate to building materials as specifically required by the Scheme.
- have the time and resources to work through the FSC Accreditation process.
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.
Contact HIA today
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.