BuildConnect

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:39): I rise today to speak about the Master Builders Association and its BuildConnect program. To demonstrate how important the building industry is, I would like to highlight some statistics. In May 2024, approximately 1.37 million people were employed in Australia's building and construction industry. Master Builders recently released 'Future-proofing construction: a workforce blueprint', which outlines the future jobs and skills needed in our industry. It is estimated that by November 2026, South Australia will need an additional 31,149 people to meet demand, including 14,685 tradies, roughly half the overall labour requirement.

It is clear that there is a significant shortage of skilled workers in the building and construction industry. The war for talent remains a real factor in recruiting skilled workers, with South Australia having to compete against significant financial incentives offered by other states. To help address this problem, Master Builders instigated BuildConnect as a pilot program with some support from the Department of State Development.

The aim of BuildConnect is to encourage skilled migrants, including people who might already be living here but not working in their chosen profession, as well as overseas residents who might be thinking about relocating to South Australia. Currently, more than 60 trades and construction-related professions are eligible for the BuildConnect program, including everything from architects, engineers, carpenters, tilers, plumbers and project managers, just to name a few. Recently, I had the privilege to meet with the program director, Delinda Kalic, and discuss the benefits and goals of this initiative.

Delinda informed me that one of the key objectives of BuildConnect is creating a platform that can match suitably qualified migrants with complementary roles in an industry desperately seeking skilled workers. Both workers and employers will be offered comprehensive recruitment support and industry networking events as part of this pilot program. As a member of parliament who has worked in the multicultural affairs portfolio for 15 years, I support Master Builders' initiative and recognise the fact that there is an untapped skilled migrant labour force already in South Australia, with people having slipped through the cracks, not working in their chosen careers.

I know firsthand that it can be incredibly difficult for new migrants to navigate Australia's complicated immigration system and find employment opportunities in an industry where they may have no contacts or local experience. This means that there are many skilled migrants currently driving Ubers or working in jobs that are underutilising their qualifications or skills. These individuals may possess the expertise and experience that the building and construction industry desperately needs to deliver critical housing and public infrastructure projects.

Another area of opportunity that BuildConnect has identified is the substantial number of international students already residing in Australia who can be integrated into the construction industry. As of November 2024, there were approximately 2,500 international students enrolled in building and construction courses in South Australia. Many of these students have adapted to our Australian ways of life and are eager to contribute to our economy. If there is a pathway that can integrate them into our workforce, we can leverage their skill to address immediate workforce shortages and can significantly contribute to the industry's growth and success.

I am passionate about economic development and workforce planning for South Australia and would like to acknowledge Master Builders for such a fantastic initiative. While recognising that the BuildConnect pilot program is moving in the right direction, further action will be required to help achieve its full potential. I join Master Builders SA to call on the state and federal government to fully support the BuildConnect initiative by providing the necessary funding, additional resources and policy support.

For instance, government can support Master Builders further by providing accurate data for state nomination visa candidates in a timely fashion and making the information fully accessible to Master Builders SA. This will ensure that the skilled migrants arriving in our state under the 190 permanent resident visa are placed in jobs relevant to their background and qualifications rather than ending up in part-time and gig jobs due to difficulties navigating the system or systemic failures upon their arrival. I commend Master Builders SA for developing this innovative pilot program and supporting the growth of our vital construction and building industry.