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.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Enter your details below and create a login
Reed McLean, a cabinet making apprentice with Melbourne-based H&H Cabinets, has won the 2022 HIA Alec Fuller Victorian Apprentice of the Year award.
The result was announced at the 2022 HIA-Stratco Victorian Apprentice Awards, held in Melbourne on Friday 14 October.
HIA’s judges recognised Reed for his attention to details, his outstanding attitude, his passion for learning, and his enthusiasm for aiding and training others.
“Reed is an exceptional and dedicated apprentice,” says Fiona Nield, HIA Regional Executive Director. “He has proven his commitment to both learning and doing work of the highest quality. There is no doubt he has a very bright future in our industry.”
“The HIA-Stratco Victorian Apprentice Awards are a showcase of the absolutely excellent quality of work done by HIA members and apprentices,” says Ms Nield. “With outstanding apprentices like the ones recognised at these awards, the future of the residential building industry is in very good hands. HIA congratulates all of the winners and finalists.”
The full list of winners and finalists:
Category | Winner | Finalists |
Alec Fuller Victorian Apprentice of the Year | Reed McLean (H&H Cabinets) | Alex Forbes (Norton Builders), Natarsha Wollensack (Eric Jones Stair Building Group), Patrick Middelkoop (Lifestyle Builders Geelong), Peter Harrison (Evolv Homes), Tom Harms (Beach House Constructions) |
Judges Rising Star | Harry Waterfall (HIA Apprentices hosted by Geoff Taylor Constructions) | |
Fourth Year Carpentry | Patrick Middelkoop (Lifestyle Builders Geelong) | Tye Burns (Ecoliv Buildings, judges commendation) |
Fourth Year Cabinet Making | Reed McLean (H&H Cabinets) | |
Third Year Carpentry | Alex Forbes (Norton Builders) | Alexander Tsebelis (HIA Apprentices hosted by Baycity Carpentry), Jack Kelsey (HIA Apprentices hosted by Jake Feenstra), Kyle Griffin (Beach House Constructions) |
Second Year Carpentry | Peter Harrison (Evolv Homes) | Angela Towse (HIA Apprentices hosted by Chip- N-Away Carpentry), Harry Waterfall (HIA Apprentices hosted by Geoff Taylor Constructions), Keegan Archer (Garraway Developments) |
First Year Carpentry | Tom Harms (Beach House Constructions) | |
First Year Joinery | Natarsha Wollensack (Eric Jones Stair Building Group) | |
Apprentice Host Trainer | Langmaid Builders |
October is National Safe Work Month, which is an important time for both employers and workers to focus on, and commit to, promoting safe and healthy workplaces, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Chief Executive – Industry & Policy Simon Croft.
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that while new home building approvals in the ACT have lifted slightly in 2025, the pace of growth remains far too slow to meet the territory’s housing needs.
HIA have been lobbying for changes to streamline the process which will allow certifiers to issue Certificates of Occupancy (CoO).
“The positive impact of a decline in the cash rate hasn’t been sufficient to drive a genuine recovery in home building,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.