ACA update

As we enter the final quarter of 2024, the Australian Constructors Association is energised by the opportunities that lie ahead.

National forum

The Australian Government recently announced the reconvening of the National Construction Industry Forum (NCIF), with the addition of our peers Master Builders Australia and the Civil Contractors Federation. As a founding member, this is an opportunity to reshape the construction industry by aligning the goals of government, industry and unions.

As well as dealing with the grave allegations of historical misconduct in the industry, we need to create a future industry that is fair for all and welcomes all and a suitably expanded National Construction Industry Forum (NCIF) is a ready made vehicle to achieve this.

For too long, these relationships have been strained, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. But by working together, we can achieve safe jobs, efficient projects, and fair profits. The ACA looks forward to actively participating when the forum reconvenes in October.

FF24 kicks off National Construction Strategy

It’s been nearly two months since the Foundations and Frontiers (FF24) forum, but the impact is still fresh. The roundtable discussions from FF24 will help shape Australia’s first National Construction Strategy (NCS), starting with transport infrastructure. The NCS focuses on four key areas

  • Procurement – harmonising procurement practices to improve productivity and deliver better value outcomes.
  • Workforce – identifying new skills to increase productivity and strategies to attract and retain the future workforce.
  • Data – determining the data needed to measure productivity improvements, and developing methods for its collection, anonymisation and sharing.
  • Innovation and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) – identifying current best practices, exploring ways to increase their adoption, and addressing barriers to innovations and MMC.

The NCS is the beginning of something transformative. Driven by industry efforts and supported by government collaboration, this strategy has the potential to extend beyond transport infrastructure and fundamentally reshape the sector.

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.

The FF24 website has been updated to include the event communiqué, and ongoing reform ideas can be submitted. Thank you to our FF24 sponsors: KPMG, Creg Australia, Autodesk, Pinsent Masons, Select, InEight, Cbus, and Visibuild.

MMC and innovation

ACA is leading the innovation and MMC stream under the NCS. MMC involves constructing more of Australia’s projects in factories than on-site. This can take the form of standard components all the way through to completed project sections and modules. This form of construction is far more productive as it is standardised, takes place in controlled environments and is not subject to site-based risks such as inclement weather. It creates more opportunities for skilled workers in safer environments with increased opportunities for flexible work hours.

Over the coming year, the ACA will collaborate with key industry stakeholders and state and federal governments to develop a strategy focused on increasing innovation and the adoption of MMC. This process will include a thorough review of relevant literature and a mapping of existing initiatives to identify best practices and areas for improvement.

Culture

Supported by the NSW Government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program, ACA is launching an Attract Initiative to bring mid-career women into construction. This includes site visits and a public awareness campaign to highlight transferable skills and opportunities in the industry.

The Attract initiative is part of a broader pledge by member companies to drive cultural change within the industry. In addition to attracting a new wave of talent, efforts to establish workplace flexibility policies and achieve the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation are well underway. Already, four ACA member companies have achieved this citation, demonstrating significant progress toward the ACA’s pledge to create a more inclusive industry from the ground up.

View the culture pledge video.

ACAA winner

The Rookwood Weir Project by Sunwater, GHD, ACCIONA and McCosker Contracting won the 2024 Australian Construction Achievement Award (ACAA), recognised for its construction excellence and practices that lead to a more sustainable industry.

Constructed on the Fitzroy River, the second largest seaward catchment in Australia, the project was a highly complex build with significant risks. These risks were minimised thanks to the exemplary collaboration of the alliance.

The project excelled in lifting the skills base within this sector, exceeding its training targets by achieving 106.9% for ‘New Entrant’ training hours and 209.8% for ‘Other Workforce’ training hours. The project also significantly surpassed its Indigenous employment targets, engaging 81 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personnel, far exceeding goals.

Thanks to all the partners who helped make this year’s award possible, including Caterpillar, Cbus, Gallagher, InEight, and InfraBuild.

Find out more.

Literacy for Life Foundation

There are roles for everybody in construction and we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can succeed.

This year, we supported the Literacy for Life Foundation (LFLF) through FF24. LFLF, an Aboriginal-run charity, is working to improve literacy in Aboriginal communities, which is crucial for closing the gap in education and opportunities.

Check out the incredible work they’re doing and please consider supporting this life-changing cause.

View the video

Visit the website