Industry News

After spending almost 15 years working in administration for her family’s wall and ceiling liner business, Kiriana Barclay wanted to challenge herself by learning a hands-on trade.  Now three years in, she’s almost completed her apprenticeship, and loves what she does.  Getting into construction  It was actually a request from her husband that encouraged Kiriana to get out from behind a desk and onto the tools.  “Our business was swamped with work, and I was surprised when my husband asked […]

Construction Training Fund (CTF) is pleased to announce that we have been recognised for our commitment to creating and advocating for inclusion and equality in the workplace at the national 2025 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Awards, held in Brisbane.  CTF is leading the charge for change and increased diversity  The ‘Diversity in Development’ Award recognises our continued efforts to enhance the representation of women, First Nations people and people from diverse backgrounds in the construction industry, and the […]

Beginning his career in IT overseas, New Zealander Joseph Fuikefu was inspired to enter the construction industry through regular chats with family members working in FIFO roles. Their stories sparked his interest, encouraging him to make the move to Perth in 2011, where he began his career in construction as a technical assistant in the mining sector.  Getting into construction  From beginning as a technical assistant in civil engineering, Joseph has embraced every opportunity for growth, moving seamlessly from one […]

Concreter Hayden Mosby talks us through his experiences as a concreter, what he’s learned about leadership from his trade and how growing up as a Torres Strait Islander shaped his desire to work in construction. Childhood dreams of the construction industry “I’m from a tiny island up in the Torres Strait, and there are limited, very limited opportunities,” says Hayden. “The tankers that take off from here [Western Australia], the LNG [liquid natural gas] ones used to sail straight past my […]

The journey from apprentice to qualified air con mechanic can be winding, although there is a lot of support on the way. Xtracool Air Conditioning owner and air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic Michael Stephenson and his apprentice, Zayde Free, share their experiences in the industry. The importance of apprentices “You couldn’t run a small business without an apprentice,” says boss Michael (Micko) Stephenson. “You find a good one and they’re worth their weight in gold.” Apprentices play a vital role […]

Are you curious about a career in Western Australia’s building and construction industry? If you’re a high school student or parent exploring construction career options for your child, the Construction Futures Centre Open Day is the perfect place to get hands-on experience and discover what the industry has to offer.

35-year-old builder Matt Vickers always knew construction was the career for him, but he had to try out a few trades before he found the right fit. Now, with 13 years of experience under his (tool) belt, he tells us why building is the job for him. Life in the fast lane as an automotive technician “The first trade I got into was mechanics, and I qualified as an automotive technician,” says Matt. ‘I’ve always been practically skilled, so a […]

The construction industry offers many rewarding career opportunities beyond working with the tools. While many people associate careers in construction with trades like carpentry, electrical work or plumbing, there are also a variety of office-based professional roles essential to keeping the Western Australian construction industry moving forward. The new industry-recognised Certificate II in Building and Construction (Pathway—Technical Support) is a great opportunity for anyone looking to enter the building industry in an administrative role.  What does the new Certificate II […]

The CTF Capital Grant Program was launched to boost the training capacity of private Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in the building and construction sector. Announced on 5 November 2023, the Capital Grants Program is fully funded by the Construction Training Fund with an allocation of $5 million to help support the building and construction industry. Applications for the 2023-24 capital grant program were open from 1 March 2024 to 22 April 2024. After a thorough evaluation process, the Grants were […]