Opportunity Rules, From Apprenticeships To Degrees, At The Building Careers Expo

The Age

Saturday May 22, 2004

By Brian Welch, Executive director of the Master Builders Association of VIctoria.

A bricklayer earning $100,000 a year; a medium-volume house builder making $200,000 profit? Not a problem. Not if they are properly trained professionals, says the Master Builders Association of Victoria, which is about to stage its annual building industry careers expo, expected to attract up to 4000 curious school-leavers and parents interested in one of the state's fastest-growing industries.

Building, both domestic and commercial, has been thriving for more than a century in Victoria, never more so than in the past five years. But all is not rosy. Despite the abundance of work and its solid long-term career potential, the building industry is suffering a skills shortage.

In 1975, building apprenticeship numbers made up 22.3 per cent of total apprentices in training. Today this is estimated to have fallen to 10 per cent. It could be image problem, or rather, a mistaken perception of the image of a building worker. The Building Practitioners Board now encourages all tradespeople to undergo a minimum program of training, with ``training points" accrued each year. This means the school-leaver should be able to see the potential for a structured career.

The Hard Yakka Building Industry Careers Expo, at the Caulfield racecourse on Wednesday and Thursday, will showcase every aspect of careers in building.

The expo is aimed at students interested in apprenticeships, associate diplomas, and university degrees in the housing and commercial building sectors.

There will be working displays by TAFE colleges in bricklaying, carpentry, painting and decorating, plumbing, roof tiling, wall and floor tiling, cabinet-making and welding.

There will also be 40 information stands including displays from universities and TAFEs, and manufacturers' trade displays.

Expo hours are 9.30am-9pm on Wednesday, May 26, and 9.30am-3.30pm on Thursday, May 27, and entry is free.

For inquiries contact the Master Builders Association of Victoria on 9411 4555.