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$10,000 cash boost announced for workers to move to Aussie state
Western Australia is extending its $10,000 cash boost for tradespeople willing to move interstate or overseas to boost the state's building and construction industries. The Australian state has seen a massive surge in home building in recent months, and it has already managed to lure hundreds of tradies so far with the program.
WA revealed on Monday it had allocated $12.3 million in its state budget to ensure the initiative can continue. Since its inception, 361 have signed up for the $10,000 cash boost, and a further 658 are waiting to be approved.
WA is also continuing its Construction Visa Subsidy Program, which provides incentives for local employers to go through the usually costly process of sponsoring overseas workers.
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This is the third time the program has received an extension and it's already led to nearly 850 people from places like the UK and Ireland being granted the right to work in the state.
'This investment will fund an additional 1,100 workers to come in from other areas, other countries, other states, and settle in WA,' Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.
'The key is the trades, not where they come from."It comes as every state and territory aims to do their bit to help Australia reach the government's goal of having 1.2 million homes built by 2029.
At the moment, the country is falling well below target.
A raft of issues has been plaguing the twin industries; however, one that has been repeatedly called out is the trade skills shortage.
Industry experts are worried that hundreds of apprentices aren't completing their training as ageing tradies hang up the tools for good.
That's one of the big reasons why WA introduced its Build a Life in WA program so it could pinch workers from the east coast and New Zealand.
Western Australia completed 20,639 homes last year, which is the highest level in more than seven years and an 18.2 per cent boost from 2023.
It was the strongest growth of completions across every state and territory and was well above the national average growth of 1.5 per cent.
However, the state needs to be building 26,000 homes per year to meet its share of the national target.
Nationally, there needs to be 240,000 new homes built each year.
In the first year of the initiative, only 171,394 were built.
But WA is well ahead of the national average for the year-on-year rate of building approvals at 1.6 per cent in April 2025, compared to 0.4 per cent.
Now with an additional $12.3 million in its pocket, the Build a Life in WA program intends to launch an advertising blitz to ensure every tradie across the country and the Tasman knows that $10,000 could be in their pockets if they're willing to move west.
If you're eligible for the program, you'll get an initial $5,000 when you secure a job with a WA employer.
That's followed by a $5,000 top-up after completing six months in the industry.
To be eligible, you have to:
Hold a trade certificate or qualification in an approved occupation, or hold the required tickets or high-risk licence required to work in WA
Have entered into an employment contract with an employer who is working in the building and construction sector in WA on or after January 1, 2025, and have been employed in an approved occupation
Agree to the Build a Life in WA – Terms and Conditions
Provide bank details to enable the payment of an eligible claim
You can find the full list of desired occupations and trades in to access your portfolio
