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In this episode, Ben Bardon, CEO of the National Australian Apprenticeships Association (NAAA), shares his journey from working as a painter and decorator to becoming one of Australia's leading voices on apprenticeships, skills development, and workforce planning. The conversation explores the challenges facing the construction industry, including labour shortages, apprenticeship completion rates, skills pathways, and the growing demand for qualified tradespeople needed to meet Australia's housing and infrastructure targets. 

The discussion dives into the realities of the apprenticeship system, examining how young people enter the trades, the role of schools and vocational education, and the barriers preventing more Australians from pursuing construction careers. Ben also unpacks the impact of migration, government incentives, workforce participation, and industry culture, while highlighting practical solutions to improve apprenticeship outcomes, attract more women into the trades, and build a stronger, more sustainable construction workforce for the future.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

•  Ben's journey from tradesperson and educator to CEO of the National Australian Apprenticeships Association 
•  The state of apprenticeships and workforce shortages in the Australian construction industry 
•  Why apprenticeship commencements and completions are struggling to keep pace with demand 
•  School pathways, vocational education, and helping young people discover careers in the trades 
•  The role of migration, government incentives, and workforce planning in addressing skills shortages 
•  Supporting apprentices through training, mentoring, and industry pathways 
•  Increasing female participation and creating more inclusive construction workplaces 
•  The future of Australia's construction workforce and the challenge of delivering enough skilled tradespeople

LEARN MORE

NAAA: https://www.naaa.com.au/about-us
Sustainable Builders Alliance (SBA): https://www.thesba.com.au

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The Sustainable Builders Alliance