Australia’s construction industry is at a crossroads.  The foundations for a more sustainable future are there but the challenges we face require us to push beyond our current limits – our frontiers. That’s why we set our sights high with Foundations and Frontiers, a new annual event inspired by the COP Summits and the World Economic Forum for Australia’s construction industry. The Foundations and Frontiers forum is about uniting the entire construction industry, setting targets and driving meaningful progress.

The need for the forum stems from the growing gap between the available workforce and the demand for infrastructure. In its current form, the construction industry is not able to deliver the infrastructure and projects that are needed, when they are needed and at a price that can be afforded. These challenges require a coordinated national response, which led us to design an action-oriented forum that brings together government, industry, unions and academia to address the sustainability of construction in Australia.

Our inaugural Foundations and Frontiers forum (FF24) held on 8 August in Sydney brought together 600 participants, including 100 influential leaders who took part in focused roundtable discussions. The broader plenary session welcomed input from all attendees.

To engage a wider audience, we released discussion papers before the event, inviting submissions on key topics. The feedback was shared on the FF24 website and through social media, helping to build momentum for change. Importantly, this feedback was used to guide the leader’s roundtable discussions at FF24.

Communique

In closing FF24, 75 industry leaders took an unprecedented step towards change by signing a communique. This powerful statement recognised the construction industry’s critical role in Australia’s economy, acknowledged the significant challenges the sector faces, and solidified a commitment to addressing these challenges together.

National Construction Strategy

The discussions in the roundtables at FF24 will inform the development of Australia’s first National Construction Strategy (NCS). Initially focused on Transport Infrastructure, the NCS aims to improve productivity in the sector. Coordinated by the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, the strategy will be developed in collaboration with the states and other key industry stakeholders. It will focus on four key areas:

  • Procurement
  • Workforce
  • Data
  • Innovation and modern methods of construction (MMC).

As well as informing the creation of an NCS, the FF24 roundtable discussions will also contribute to other reform initiatives, such as the Construction Industry Leadership Forum and the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce.

At its core, Foundations and Frontiers is about more than just leadership – it’s about empowering everyone in the construction industry to play a role in driving positive change. We want to motivate all stakeholders, from every level, to get involved and contribute to the industry’s future. Our vision is for Foundations and Frontiers to leave a lasting impact on Australia’s construction industry.

Visit the FF24 website for more information.