Youth Build

The Housing Industry

The housing industry is one of the most dynamic and diverse industries in Australia, offering a wealth of opportunities for young people to earn high incomes and to enjoy a satisfying career.

In the modern housing industry there are many exciting career paths – sales and marketing, IT, design, estimating, trades, law and landscaping to name just a few. Qualified people in the industry can work anywhere in Australia, and indeed, almost anywhere in the world.

There has never been a better time to consider a career in the industry. The demand for skilled tradespeople is unprecedented. The industry’s need for young talent is escalating. Over the next two years the industry will need an additional 55,000 skilled people.

The Housing Industry Association (HIA), is Australia’s largest industry group representing the residential building industry. With approximately 40,000 members HIA includes large and small builders and contractors, developers, architects, manufacturers and suppliers, the HIA is committed to creating more opportunities for young people to succeed in the industry. Through the Youthbuild Foundation, Australia’s leading builders, developers and manufacturers of building products and material support schools adopting an innovative ‘work at school’ approach.

HIA's Youthbuild in action

Andrew Clark teaches the VET course in construction at Sarah Redfern High School. He has been teaching the course for the last 4 years and was a carpenter for 23 years before getting into teaching. He has done work experience kids with him when he was a carpenter – but nothing quite like this! Andrew is even increasing his own skills base, he is doing a cabinet making course at TAFE to help him with the Year 12 major projects. He takes the kids out of school to build things for the school such as concrete paths and retaining walls. They have beautified the whole front of the school, pathways, a new water feature and are now working on a veggie garden. The course is beneficial because if students choose to aim for an apprenticeship and go to TAFE they are have the advantage of a good base of technical skills and a better understanding of potential career paths. Students, Kenape and Patrick enjoy the chance to learn new skills that will stand them in good stead for their future careers and are hoping to get into carpentry and bricklaying respectively.