Latest news with #ConstructionTrainingFund
West Australian
08-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Celebrating WA's best in property development
Nominations are now open for the 2025 UDIA WA Awards for Excellence, offering a chance to spotlight the best in Western Australia's urban development sector. These prestigious awards honour standout projects, teams and individuals who are shaping the future of our communities through innovation, sustainability and thoughtful design. For homebuyers, the awards are a helpful guide to high-quality residential developments, helping you to find a home suiting your needs in a thriving community. The program is widely recognised as the industry's top accolade, making it easier to identify outstanding housing options across Perth, the Peel region and regional WA. The awards feature categories reflecting the full range of lifestyle and location choices available to WA buyers. From masterplanned communities and new residential subdivisions to medium-density townhouses and high-rise apartment living in established suburbs, the program highlights excellence at every scale. These are projects which go beyond the basics and deliver exceptional community facilities, social infrastructure and sustainable design. The program's highest honour is the Russel Perry Award for Urban Development Excellence. In 2024, this award went to Curtin Heritage Living for its Cottesloe redevelopment. This winning project includes Marine Views Cottesloe, which comprises a 128-suite state-of-the-art aged care home with world-class design and technology, as well as Waterfront Cottesloe featuring 76 luxury independent living apartments and beautifully curated shared spaces. Award winners at the state level have the opportunity to go on to represent WA nationally, where they have consistently shone. At the 2025 UDIA National Awards for Excellence held earlier this year, Curtin Heritage Living again took top honours in the Seniors Living category. WA also saw strong individual recognition, with the Department of Treasury – Housing Supply Unit Director Emma Colombera receiving the Women in Leadership Award. Construction Training Fund, under the leadership of Construction Training Fund CEO Tiffany Allen, was honoured with the Diversity in Development Award for the organisation's strong commitment to inclusion in the industry. Nominations for this year's UDIA WA Awards for Excellence close at the end of June. A Nominated Projects booklet will be released shortly after, showcasing all entries. Winners will be announced at the gala dinner in September, where the awards program will celebrate its 30-year anniversary in WA. Homebuyers are encouraged to explore past award-winning projects on the UDIA WA website for insights into some of our state's most inspiring developments.
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Set up for success: Chad's advice for starting your apprenticeship
Starting a trade apprenticeship is an exciting first step toward building a rewarding and hands-on career in construction. We've partnered with the team at Construction Training Fund to give new apprentices, or anyone considering becoming an apprentice, a real-world insight into tradie life. Chad Vanburgel is a third-year apprentice in wall and floor tiling at Balga TAFE, WorldSkills WA silver medallist, and a rising star in the industry. From his biggest challenges to his goals for the future, Chad shared his advice for anyone just starting out. How it began For Chad, the path to tiling started during a school workplace training program. 'I completed about a month's worth of workplace training with a tiler, which was pretty enjoyable,' he said. 'I thought tiling was neat because it required a bit of creativity, and the work had to be perfect. It was so satisfying to complete.' After leaving school, Chad jumped straight into an apprenticeship, drawn to a trade that combined creativity, skill and hands-on problem solving. The first weeks: expect a strong learning curve Reflecting on his early days on-site, Chad said the biggest challenges were simply getting up to speed and adjusting to the fast-paced environment. Like many apprentices, he had to learn quickly how to manage expectations, stay organised and keep up with the experienced tradies around him. One key piece of advice? Be prepared, physically and mentally. 'Commit to your job 100 per cent, be respectful, show interest in your work and be keen to learn from the people committing to teaching you,' Chad said. The importance of good mentors A huge part of Chad's journey has been learning from those around him, especially his boss, who he describes as both easy going and exceptionally skilled. 'He's always keen to teach me something new,' Chad said. Having a mentor in construction who's patient and passionate about passing on their knowledge has been a game-changer. It's something Chad recommends to every new apprentice: build strong relationships with your mentors, and don't be afraid to ask questions. 'It shows your boss you care about what they're doing and shows your interest in learning and improving your work,' he said. Setting yourself up for success One thing Chad wants others to know is how important it is to invest in good tools, and how programs like the Apprentice Tool Allowance can make a real difference with up to $2,000 cash back on eligible tools and safety equipment. 'The tool allowance was super helpful,' Chad said. 'It encouraged me to buy some tools and then use them for small jobs, which gave me both experience and a bit of cash.' Whether you're just starting out or a few years in, having the right equipment can boost your confidence and your opportunities. Rising to the challenge Chad's hard work and dedication recently saw him take out second place in the WA WorldSkills competition, an achievement he's incredibly proud of. 'It was such a cool event, and it really challenged me to show what I was capable of,' he said. Competing at this level not only built his skills and confidence but also opened doors for the future. After completing his apprenticeship, Chad hopes to launch his own tiling business and maybe even train apprentices of his own one day. Final words of advice For anyone stepping onto site for the first time, Chad's message is simple: 'Commit fully, respect the people around you and show a real interest in learning.' And don't be afraid to back yourself. As Chad's story shows, a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and the right support can take you a long way. Construction Training Fund supports Western Australia's construction industry by providing funding, resources and support to apprentices, trainees and workers build successful, rewarding careers. Visit the website to find out more.
