The Civil Contractors Federation Western Australia (CCF WA) has welcomed today’s official announcement of the new Civil Construction Pilot Program by the Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Sue Ellery.

CCF WA CEO Andy Graham said civil construction qualifications were now formally recognised as a trade, putting it on equal footing with traditional building trades, with civil construction apprentices receiving a trade certificate on completion of their Certificate III qualification.

“Together with our Civil Construction Industry Training Committee, it has taken considerable work and engagement to get to this point and is a huge step forward for the industry,” he said.

“With government investment in infrastructure at record levels and a strong pipeline of both public and private sector work, trade careers in civil construction now have the recognition they deserve. This is hugely important in attracting new people into the workforce, especially at a time of skills shortages in our industry.

“Not only is this an opportunity to increase both the number and quality of new workers entering the industry, but also to increase employer satisfaction with graduates.”

Mr Graham thanked the Construction Training Fund (CTF) for playing a vital role in helping to advance the proposal with the CTF now investing in wage gap funding to cover any wage difference between trainee and apprentice award rates, ensuring no business or apprentice will be financially worse off by transitioning to an apprenticeship.

“This will ensure the take-up of civil construction apprenticeships is strong and will help the pilot program’s success,” he said.