HIA Chief Executive Industry and Policy, Simon Croft, said vocational education and trade training can only succeed if there are enough qualified trainers available to teach the next generation of tradespeople.

"There is no substitute for learning from someone who has spent years working on building sites, solving problems, managing projects and developing the practical skills that can only come from firsthand experience," Mr Croft said.

"The best trade teachers are often the people who have lived and breathed the industry and want to pass that knowledge on to the next generation."

Mr Croft said while much of the discussion around skills shortages focuses on attracting more apprentices, a critical and often overlooked challenge is ensuring there are enough trainers and assessors available to teach them.

"Vocational education and trade training only works if we have people available to train the next generation.

"For many years, industry and training providers have struggled to attract and retain suitably qualified trade trainers. If we are serious about increasing apprenticeship numbers and growing the construction workforce, we also need to grow the training workforce."

Having previously worked in trade training himself, Mr Croft said the pathway from industry into vocational education delivers significant benefits for students, employers and the broader industry.

"My own experience in trade training showed how valuable it is when industry knowledge is transferred directly from experienced tradespeople to those entering the industry. It helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the realities of working on a building site."

Mr Croft said the challenge is particularly acute in regional Australia, where securing qualified trade trainers is becoming increasingly difficult.

"Regional communities often face the greatest workforce shortages, but also some of the biggest challenges in attracting and retaining trade trainers.

"Without local trainers, it becomes harder for people in regional areas to access training, complete qualifications and ultimately enter the workforce these communities desperately need."

The initiative will support experienced tradespeople to obtain a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment while providing mentoring, induction support and practical teaching experience.

"Support for attaining training and assessment qualifications, coupled with mentoring and practical teaching experience, will help remove barriers that may otherwise discourage experienced tradespeople from entering teaching roles.

"Targeted initiatives like this are the type of practical workforce policies needed to strengthen training capacity, support more apprentices and ultimately help deliver the skilled workforce required to meet Australia's housing ambitions,” concluded Mr Croft.

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