Latest news with #ConstructionVisaSubsidyProgram
West Australian
15-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
State Government Build a Life in WA $10,000 incentive extended to lure more tradies to Western Australia
WA is hoping to lure more tradies like New Zealand carpenter Brayden Laing to the State under an expanded program aimed at bringing in skilled construction workers to build much-needed homes. This week's State Budget will include $12.3 million to extend the Government's Build a Life in WA incentive, which offers skilled tradies from the Eastern States and New Zealand $10,000 to move here. Mr Laing, who moved to Perth from Clyde, New Zealand, started work in February with Mundaring-based builder Brendon Scott. The 25-year-old qualified carpenter quickly slotted into his new lifestyle, close to beaches, bars, restaurants and a network of fellow Kiwis. Mr Laing — who learnt about the incentive via social media — said the subsidy had helped him buy new work tools and furnishings to set up a home in Scarborough with his partner. 'It really helped us get over here,' he said. 'It's a good place to live.' He said he had told many of his mates back in New Zealand about the scheme's benefits. 'Definitely word-of-mouth gets around and New Zealand is a small place,' he said. 'We saw it as an opportunity to come over here and try to get ahead financially.' Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the scheme's expansion was part of a $37.5m investment in growing WA's construction workforce. So far, 361 people have started new construction jobs in WA, with another 658 waiting for their application to be assessed. For a third time, the Government will also extend its Construction Visa Subsidy Program, which provides incentives for employers to sponsor workers from overseas 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,' she 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.' Ms Sanderson said an advertising campaign would continue to target job-ready construction workers interstate and internationally. While around 70 per cent of applicants had come from New Zealand, she said the UK and Ireland were also key target markets. 'The key is the trades, not where they come from,' she said. Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the Government was doing everything it could to boost housing supply, including free TAFE courses and bringing in skilled labour. 'We are looking at it from every angle,' he said.
West Australian
14-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Roger Cook sets sights on more $10k tradies from across Australia and overseas
The Cook Government has extended its $10,000 offer for tradies to move west, allocating $12.3 million in the State Budget to extend the scheme as well as incentives for employers to sponsor overseas workers. The scheme, which pays tradies from the east coast and New Zealand the money to head to WA and work in the building industry has so far attracted 361 people, with another 658 applying to be part of it. But the Government is determined to get more tradies, as pressure mounts to build more homes in WA. 'My Government will never stop working toward making sure every Western Australian has a home — and that there's no better place in the world to get a quality job,' Premier Roger Cook said. 'While training local people for local jobs will always be our priority, we need skilled workers right now — and if you're an eligible building and construction worker — there's even more cash up for grabs.' The Premier said the program had enticed a variety of people with different skills to the State. 'It's great to see so many building and construction workers snapping up the job opportunities on offer in WA — including electricians, carpenters, and bricklayers — but we want even more. 'Sandgropers know the West Coast is the best coast — and while these tradies might come for the job, I'd be willing to be most of them would stay for the lifestyle. 'Beware to our east coast and Kiwi cousins — we want your tradies — and we're pulling out all the stops to bring them here.' The Government will also extend its Construction and Visa Subsidy Program, which pays businesses $10,000 to offset the costs of bringing overseas skilled migrants to WA. So far, it has attracted 849 skilled migrants to the west. 'Western Australia's economy is booming, and we need a skilled workforce to meet demand across a range of sectors including building and construction,' Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said. 'To build this workforce, we're investing in training to deliver the workforce of tomorrow while also attracting job-ready tradies for the workforce of today. 'The Construction Visa Subsidy Program and the Build a Life in WA Incentive are leveraging our State's reputation as a great place to live, helping to quickly bolster the building and construction industry's workforce to meet immediate demands.'
