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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationGeraldton hosts First Bricklaying Job Ready Program
Geraldton hosts First Bricklaying Job Ready Program
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Seventeen students enrolled in the three-week program that provides students with a White Card and a basic understanding of the skills necessary to start an apprenticeship as a bricklayer. Ten students have completed the three weeks and will now commence a four-day on-site work trial before potentially gaining an apprenticeship with a local bricklaying team.
HIA WA Executive Director Michael McGowan said when we started thinking about regions that needed the Bricklaying Job Ready program, Geraldton stood out as an obvious choice as there has been limited opportunity for bricklaying apprentices in the region for the last 10 years.
“Skilled labour continues to be one of the biggest challenges in the Mid West region. Whether it is building a new home or supporting renovation or home maintenance projects in the local community, it is pretty hard to get a bricklayer, carpenter, plumber or an electrician.
“As a result of the Job Ready program we now have local workers who are qualified to work on construction sites and potential bricklaying apprentices that can learn from some of the best bricklaying teams in Geraldton,” said Mr McGowan.
“HIA members continue to provide feedback that skilled labour is one of the biggest challenges in the region. With positive potential economic and development growth we need more trades to help make this growth a reality.
“This starts at the very foundation which is providing more people with the opportunity to live in Geraldton by building more housing and creating more opportunities for potential apprentice bricklayers.
“Programs like Bricklaying Job Ready are not only critical to growing the supply of skilled trades, but also developing the potential of having a bricklaying course at Geraldton TAFE instead of students having to travel to Perth to complete their studies.
The bricklaying Job Ready program has provided more than 500 students across the state with the chance to experience the construction industry and learn life skills that will prove valuable for the rest of their life. We are excited to bring the program to Geraldton and look forward to offering it again in Semester 1, 2025,” said Mr McGowan.
Detached house approvals picking up
“There were 9,490 detached homes approved in the month of April 2025, up by 3.3 per cent compared to the previous month,” stated HIA Senior Economist Maurice Tapang.
State Budget is a missed opportunity to stimulate housing
The Treasurer has handed down the 2025/26 Tasmanian Budget. The Budget focuses on alleviating cost of living pressures, health, education and infrastructure, while mapping out a path to a fiscal balance surplus in 2032/2033.
HIA supports bipartisan approach to planning reform NSW
“The NSW planning system has failed to deliver the number of homes we desperately need and we fully support removing the politics from housing, to address this growing crisis,” said Brad Armitage, HIA Executive Director NSW.
Opposition pledge to remove stamp duty for first home buyers welcomed (Vic)
The Victorian Opposition’s announcement that it would remove stamp duty for first-home buyers spending up to $1 million on a new or existing home if elected at next year’s state election, is a positive step towards improving home affordability,” says Steven Wojtkiw, HIA Victoria Deputy Executive Director.