The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) welcomes the Government’s commitment to boosting Vocational Education Training (VET) and addressing skills shortages through the Free TAFE Bill 2024 but cautions that private RTOs – which play a crucial role in civil construction training – should not be disadvantaged.

CCF warns that a focus on TAFEs, to the exclusion of other VET providers, could exacerbate issues such as the lack of recognition and support for civil construction skills and the unique needs of contractors delivering housing-and energy enabling infrastructure.

CCF CEO Nicholas Proud said private Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) were often the only viable option for contractors seeking skilled workers to meet the demands of vital infrastructure projects.

"We urge the Commonwealth to broaden its focus and take further steps to support RTOs that specialise in civil skills training," Mr Proud said.

"Relying solely on TAFE risks overlooking the specific, industry-led training solutions that private providers offer, which are crucial for equipping workers with the specialised skills needed in our sector.”

In response to these challenges, the CCF is also calling on the Commonwealth Government to formally recognise the vital role of apprenticeships and trades within the civil sector, by funding civil construction apprenticeships through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System

"As a country we are waking up to the urgent skills shortfalls we need to address to deliver the housing-enabling infrastructure and renewable energy projects Australia urgently needs. We need to focus every strategy and dollar to tackle this crisis.

“This means not only prioritising support for the private RTOs that are training the skilled workforce to make it happen, but also addressing the current unfair funding policies that severely disadvantage civil construction apprentices compared to nearly all other construction trades

Without equal support for private sector training providers, and fair funding for civil construction apprentices, we risk falling short on the infrastructure and energy goals that underpin our nation’s future."

The CCF remains committed to working alongside the Government, training providers, and other industry stakeholders to develop a robust skills pipeline that supports the nation’s infrastructure goals.