Desperate Aussie state is now offering workers $10K to move there - here's how you can cash in
The WA Government released its State Budget this week and extended its Build a Life in WA scheme.
The incentive offers tradies from around Australia and New Zealand $10,000 to relocate in the west.
Kiwi carpenter Brayden Laing was one of the tradies to take advantage of the program in February.
The 25-year-old relocated from his home in Clyde, New Zealand, to Perth and was employed by Mundaring-based builder Brendon Scott.
Mr Laign had heard about the incentive via social media and used the funds to help move and settle in Scarborough with his partner.
'It really helped us get over here. It's a good place to live,' he told The West.
'Definitely word-of-mouth gets around and New Zealand is a small place.
'We saw it as an opportunity to come over here and try to get ahead financially.'
More than 360 people have started new construction jobs in WA under the scheme with 658 currently being assessed for eligibility.
Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson claimed the extension of the incentive was part of a wider $37.5million investment in WA's construction ability.
The WA Government also extended its Construction Visa Subsidy Program for a third time, encouraging employers to sponsor overseas tradies to move to WA.
'This investment will fund an additional 1100 workers to come in from other areas, other countries, other states, and settle in WA,' Ms Sanderson said.
'To date, this program has supported 849 skilled workers into the construction sector and supported businesses to bring them in to build our houses.'
Advertising for the incentive will focus on job-ready construction workers living interstate and internationally.
While the program has been successful in New Zealand, Ms Sanderson said the UK and Ireland are also a targeted job market.
It's understood 70 per cent of existing applicants were from New Zealand.
'The key is the trades, not where they come from,' Ms Sanderson said.
Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the government is aiming to boost housing supply.
As part of its effort, it will also offer free TAFE courses to train its existing workforce.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Dining across the divide: ‘He talked about cancel culture going too far – Gregg Wallace came up'
Occupation Sustainability lead in the construction industry Voting record Labour in the last election, but feels more aligned with the Green party Amuse bouche Ben was a Pampers baby model. 'I think my mum was paid for it, and got a healthy supply of nappies' Occupation Retired from a career in aviation Voting record Conservative in the last election. Previously either Conservative or Lib Dem Amuse bouche Neil likes to write, and has a computer full of unfinished novels. 'I'm good at beginnings, middles and ends, but I can't make any match' Neil I was expecting a rabid Marxist, but my first impressions of Ben were that he was a really charming chap, and so he proved to be. He's married with four children. I'm also married with four children, but I also have grandchildren. I had crispy squid with a mango, chilli and lime salsa to begin with, then a lemon sole. Ben We were both wearing tan chinos and a blue shirt. We were a guarded to begin with, sounding each other out. I also had the calamari, then a sea bass with new potatoes and a white creamy sauce. The food was phenomenal. Neil Woke is a word I struggle to use. We need to get back to the old 'sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me'. You shouldn't go around saying stuff that is clearly offensive, or not true, and, if someone does, you've got every right to say, 'Don't speak to me like that', but don't completely rip them apart. Ben I think young people are far more aware of their mental health, of the impact of trauma, of wanting to be able to live their lives in a certain way. For me, that's what we mean when we talk about woke culture, and it's a positive thing. I think Neil feels it has all gone too far, and he talked about cancel culture. Gregg Wallace came up. Neil If it was just for saying something a bit stupid, which I'm sure we've all done, Gregg shouldn't have lost his livelihood. It should have been: look, Gregg, you're being an idiot, don't say stuff like that, it's not appropriate. And that's it, walk away. But some parts of the media have ripped him apart. If it transpires he's done something worse, any physical contact, that's a different story – then you're on your own, mate. Ben I agree that you have to be really careful with cancel culture. I'm also OK accepting apologies from people. I do, however, believe there are people in the public domain who need to be able to stand up and be counted. If someone has been found to have made inappropriate sexual comments, then absolutely I don't think that person should be working in that industry or sector again. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Neil I've never voted Labour, but in my view Tony Blair was the best Conservative prime minister we've had in decades! Starmer's heart's in the right place, but he could do with exhibiting a little bit more charisma. Come on, Keir, a little bit more pizzazz. Ben I grew up in a very Tory household, and became more progressive. I do agree with sensible conservative values, but I haven't ever seen those in place. I'm not a staunch Labour voter, either; I'm a tactical voter. Neil Three of my grandchildren live in Cornwall, and in the next 10 years they may be looking to buy somewhere. I wouldn't like to think they'll be priced out by people with second homes, but by the same token I'm not going to deny the right of somebody to do what they want with their money. An act of government that says you can only ever own one home wouldn't be appropriate; it's like a tax on being wealthy, and there are other taxes on being wealthy. Ben I am quite happy with a local authority saying we don't have enough housing for people, so we're going to ban Airbnb, or double the council tax on them, or whatever. Their job is to make sure local people can thrive. Ben Social media algorithms pitch people against each other. Sitting down with someone, having a discussion, is a very human way of being able to resolve some challenges. Neil It was a case of good old-fashioned British compromise. We weren't shouty – no shaking of fists or banging the drum like you might see from our colleagues across the Atlantic. Ben gave me a lift home. Charming chap. Additional reporting: Kitty Drake Ben and Neil ate at The Wimborne Pig in Dorset Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
Everyone else is scaling back green targets – why can't we?
The Netherlands won't be building as many wind turbines in the North Sea as it had first planned. New Zealand has started issuing licences for developing new offshore gas fields again. Even Canada, under one of the champions of the green energy transition Mark Carney, has upped the production of fossil fuels. Right across the developed world, with the one significant exception of China, governments are scaling back their green targets, recognising that they are too expensive, too poorly planned and won't deliver the power needed at the right price to keep a modern economy functioning. But hold on. If the rest of the world is ripping up the plan, why can't Britain as well? Because we need cheaper, reliable energy more than any of our major industrial rivals. It has proved yet another week of setbacks for cheerleaders of the green energy transition. The Dutch government had set a target of 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy – more than enough to supply the entire country's energy needs, currently around 24GW – by 2040, but has now lowered it. The reason? It is costing more than it expected – surprise, surprise – as well as generating more power than the country actually needs. Back in May, New Zealand, under a new Right-of-centre government, reversed the ban on new offshore oil and gas fields and is now actively encouraging fresh investment in fossil fuels. We might have expected Mark Carney to take office as the prime minister of Canada to accelerate the shift to renewable energy given his record at the Bank of England. But no. Instead, he is allowing the country's huge oil and gas industry to start expanding again.
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- The Guardian
Afghan nationals: have you arrived in the UK under the Afghanistan Response Route?
Thousands of Afghans have been relocated to the UK under a secret government scheme following a data leak. Personal information about more than 33,000 Afghans seeking relocation to the UK after the Taliban takeover was released in error by a defence official. Fears that the individuals named would be at risk from reprisals from the Taliban led the last government to set up a secret relocation scheme, the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR), involving 20,000 people. The secret scheme, which can only now be reported after a High Court judge lifted a superinjunction on Tuesday, was first obtained by the MoD in August 2023. The scheme is closing down but the government has said it will honour any outstanding offers. Have you been affected by the MoD leak? Have you arrived in the UK under the ARR? We will not publish your response without contacting you first. We would like to hear from any Afghans who have arrived in the UK under the ARR scheme or are due to come. You can share anonymously if you prefer Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first. Contact us on Signal at +447766780300. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service instead. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.
