The Office of the Victorian Skills Commissioner (OVSC), in partnership with the Industry Workforce Development Group (IWDG), is seeking input from all businesses engaged with the Victorian building, construction and civil sector. The IWDG consists of representatives from the Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contractors’ Association, Civil Contractors Federation, Construction Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union, Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union, Master Builders Association of Victoria, Master Plumbers Australia and the National Electrical and Communications Association. The survey will help to ... more

On 1 December 2019, new laws to improve child safety in and around pools and spas came into effect in Victoria. Drowning is one of the leading causes of preventable death in young children aged 0 to 5 years, and in Victoria, 40 per cent of drowning incidents in this age group occur in home swimming pools. The new laws introduce new registration, inspection, maintenance and compliance requirements for property owners. As of Sunday, 1 December 2019: It is now mandatory for owners of land where a swimming pool or spa is located to register their pool or spa with the relevant council. This must be don... more

The stars have aligned for property investors in Sydney and Melbourne who now have a rare opportunity to time the market. With two capital cities projected to reach new peaks by the end of 2020, RiskWise Property Research CEO, Doron Peleg, says now is the time for investors to act. According to Mr Peleg, a combination of ultra-low interest rates for a sustained period (the most recent one in October 2019 with the possibility of a further one in December or the first half of 2020), some loosening of credit restrictions, improved serviceability, increasing investor finance and greater competition between the... more

Peak construction training body, Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), has responded to claims of a skills crisis and massive decline in trade apprenticeships in the construction industry. Following the recent release of its Apprentice Annual report, CSQ celebrated findings of a healthy apprentice pipeline for Queensland’s current and projected construction needs. CSQ CEO, Brett Schimming, said while there had been declines in non-construction apprentices and trainees, especially in manufacturing and retail, the opposite was true of construction trainees. “Reports of dramatic losses in apprentice nu... more

The winners of the 2019 National Retirement Living Awards have been revealed at a Gala Dinner on the Gold Coast, on 21 November. According to a report by the Property Council of Australia (PCA), approximately 184,000 Australians currently live in retirement villages, or 5.7 per cent of the over 65 population. This penetration rate is projected to increase to 7.5 per cent in 2025, which means that the need for comfortable, affordable and supportive retirement living options is on the rise. The National Retirement Living Awards aim to recognise high achievement across all areas of the retirement living s... more

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released ‘Green Star: A year in focus’, its first annual report measuring the impact of Green Star. Green Star has played a pivotal role in transforming Australia’s built environment since it was launched by the GBCA in 2003. It is Australia’s only national, voluntary and independently certified rating system for buildings and communities. According to the report, as at the end of June 2019, more than 2,350 Green Star certifications have been issued across close to 2000 assets in Australia. These certifications come in all shapes and sizes, ... more

The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, has announced the Western Australian economy will receive a $940 million boost in additional infrastructure funding over the next four years. The $868 million injection of Federal funding will increase total federal infrastructure investment in WA from roughly $4.5 billion to approximately $5.4 billion over the next four years. In addition, the Commonwealth and WA Governments have announced a new round of road and METRONET projects in Perth and surrounds to further bust congestion, boost jobs and improve safety. More than $200 million in Federal and State... more