Made To Build by HIA

Finding workers is one challenge. Keeping them in the industry is another.
In Part 2, we explore how the construction industry can improve retention and build a stronger workforce for the future. From apprenticeship completion rates and workplace culture to mentoring, training pathways and career progression, we examine what it will take to keep skilled workers in construction.
Featuring Brett Schimming, CEO of BuildSkills Australia, Dean O'Rourke, Executive General Manager Residential WA at ABN Group, and Jocelyn Martin, Managing Director of HIA.
Together, they discuss:
·      Why apprentices leave before completing their training
·      What employers can do to improve retention
·      Where the training system is falling short
·      Trainer shortages, alternative training models, micro-credentials, and flexible learning pathways
·      Community building, social connection and engaging workers who leave the industry
·      Industry and government solutions for a stronger and more productive workforce
Attracting workers is important but retaining them is the key to solving Australia's broader housing challenge.

Australia has set ambitious housing targets, but does the industry have the workforce to deliver them?
In this episode of Made to Build: In Focus, we examine the scale of the residential construction workforce challenge, where the pressure is being felt most and why it matters.
From trade shortages and workforce capacity constraints to skilled migration, apprenticeships and new entrants, we explore where the next generation of construction workers could come from and whether current pathways can close the gap.
Joining the discussion are Brett Schimming, CEO of BuildSkills Australia, Dean O'Rourke, Executive General Manager Residential WA at ABN Group, and Jocelyn Martin, Managing Director of HIA.
Together, they unpack:
·      Why workforce shortages are challenging home building
·      Which trades and regions are under the greatest pressure
·      Where the next generation of workers will come from
·      The role of apprentices, women, career changers, mature-age entrants and skilled migration
·      Whether attracting more workers alone will be enough
If Australia is serious about building more homes, understanding the workforce challenge is the first step.
With housing targets demanding a significant lift in home building, the question is simple: where will the workers come from?
This conversation is continued in Part 2.

When you're delivering homes hundreds of kilometres from head office, success depends on far more than construction alone. 

In this episode, Tony Harvey from Rural Building Company shares insights from building across regional Western Australia, explaining how site conditions, access, climate, earthworks and local trade capacity can influence a project long before construction starts. 

Using the 2026 HIA Australian Project Home Award-winning project as a case study, Tony explores the growing appeal of regional living, the importance of designing homes that respond to their natural environment, and the challenges of managing workforce and supply constraints in communities shaped by FIFO and mining activity. 

Connect 
https://www.ruralbuilding.com.au/ 
See more of the project: https://hia.com.au/awards-and-events/awards/australian-housing-awards/2026-australian-housing-award-winners/hia-australian-project-home/hia-australian-project-home  

Construction workers experience higher rates of anxiety, depression and burnout than the general population. This is the stress problem nobody talks about. 

In this episode, Greg Jennings discusses why builders and small business owners face unique mental health challenges, from financial pressure and long hours to the responsibility of leading a team. He explains why looking after yourself is one of the smartest business decisions you can make. 

Learn how to recognise the early warning signs of burnout, practical ways to manage stress, build healthy resilience, and create a workplace culture where people feel comfortable speaking up and supporting one another. Greg also explores the link between mental wellbeing, business performance and team culture, and shares why it's never too early to seek support or start a conversation. 

Better businesses start with better mental health. 

Free support available through Beyond Blue and NewAccess for Small Business Owners.  

Social researcher and futurist Ashley Fell explores how affordability, lifestyle shifts and changing generational values are reshaping the future of Australian housing. Drawing on her research into consumer behaviour and emerging trends, she explains how younger Australians are redefining homeownership and what they expect from the homes and communities of the future.
The conversation examines the impact of remote work, wellbeing, flexibility and affordability on housing design, while challenging common assumptions about Gen Z homeowners. Ashley also shares practical insights for builders looking to better understand future buyers and prepare for the social and demographic shifts shaping Australia's housing market.
Connect
 ashleyfell.com.au
 LinkedIn: Ashley Fell
 Instagram: @ashfell

For years, the formula for success in building was simple: be a great tradesperson, do quality work, and the jobs would keep coming. But today's most successful builders are discovering that craftsmanship alone isn't enough. 

Chris Guilbert, Director of Tenfold Homes and winner of the 2026 HIA Australian Emerging Builder award, joins the podcast to discuss how the next generation of builders are combining construction expertise with systems, technology and operational excellence to gain a competitive edge. He shares the lessons that helped him move from builder to business owner and the mindset shifts required to build a scalable, resilient company. 

The conversation explores how Chris stopped pricing from plans, trained AI tools, set up CRM systems, value engineered client requests and uses modern construction methods such as SIPs and ICF systems.

Along the way, he explains why upfront feasibility, clear client alignment and strong processes often prevent problems before construction even begins, helping builders in a cost-sensitive market.

Connect 

 tenfoldhomes.com.au 

 Instagram: @tenfoldhomes 

Australia needs more homes. There is broad agreement that increasing housing supply is critical to improving affordability and meeting the needs of a growing population. Yet delivering more homes remains a major challenge, with regulation, planning, infrastructure, rising costs and complex approval processes continuing to create barriers across the housing pipeline.
In this episode of Made to Build In Focus, HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin joins Rob Douglas, CEO of MJH Group, and Graham Walker, Managing Director of Combined Development Group, explore what is standing in the way of delivering housing at scale.
The discussion examines the challenges facing the industry from land development and planning approvals through to construction, and the impact of increasing regulation and fragmented processes across different levels of government.
The panel also explores what could be done to create a more coordinated and efficient system that makes it easier to deliver more homes, more efficiently and in the places that Australians need them.
Connect:
Jocelyn Martin – Housing Industry Assocation
Rob Douglas – McDonald Jones Homes
Graham Walker – Combined Development Group

Why do some homes still feel right 20 years later while others feel outdated within five?

Award-winning designers from Studio Minosa, Darren Genner and Simona Castagna, explore the psychology behind great residential design and why the most successful homes aren't driven by trends but by a deep understanding of how people live. They discuss how thoughtful planning, functionality, materials and craftsmanship combine to create homes that remain relevant and enjoyable for decades. 

The conversation also covers renovation planning, reducing renovation regret, improving communication between clients and project teams.  

After visiting Salone del Mobile in Milan, Darren shares the emerging ideas, materials and lifestyle trends influencing residential design globally, and what Australian builders, designers and homeowners should be paying attention to in the years ahead.  

Connect 

 studiominosa.com.au 

 Instagram: @studio__minosa 

Australia’s residential building industry is facing significant change, with tax, regulatory and business settings influencing how businesses invest, employ and plan for the future.

Introducing a new series, Made to Build In Focus, featuring discussions alongside HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin and industry leaders, Peter Burgess - CEO, SMSF Association & Laurie Cosentino - General Manager, Domaine Homes. They explore what changing policy settings mean for business confidence, investment and housing supply.

The panel discusses recent tax, SMSF lending and business structure changes, how uncertainty affects investment and hiring, and what happens when businesses hold back on growth. They also consider what governments and industry can do to create more stable conditions that give businesses the confidence to invest, grow and help deliver Australia’s future housing needs.

Connect on LinkedIn:

- Jocelyn Martin - Managing Director, Housing Industry Association

- Peter Burgess - CEO, SMSF Association

- Laurie Cosentino - General Manager, Domaine Homes

Most people never think about how a hallway, a doorway or a light fitting can influence someone's wellbeing. But for people with higher care needs, those design decisions can make the difference between simply living in a house and truly feeling at home.

Ron Choi and Andrew Mantoufeh from Clover Homes discuss how they're delivering award-winning specialised housing that balances complex compliance requirements with thoughtful, human-centred design. Their Thornleigh Group Home for dementia patients won 2025 Specialised Home of the Year; and was carefully designed to feel warm, familiar and residential while meeting the accessibility, fire safety and operational requirements of Class 3 buildings.

They also share what every residential builder can learn from specialised housing, from designing for ageing in place and multigenerational living to creating homes that better support independence, dignity and quality of life as Australia's population continues to age.

Connect

 cloverhomes.com.au

 Instagram: @cloverhomes

 Facebook: Clover Homes