Over the past year, I’ve had many great conversations with members and partners across the country, and one message comes through clearly: being part of AWCI Australia — and being involved in shaping the future of our industry — is deeply valued. That sense of contribution and influence sits at the heart of Mission 1000.

Members value that they are starting to see AWCI Australia achieve!

Mission 1000 is about building the scale we need to represent our industry effectively. Advocacy only works when we can clearly answer the first question governments and peak bodies ask: who do you represent, and how many? Whether we’re engaging with state governments, the Federal Government or other industry bodies, our collective strength directly determines our influence. Growing our membership strengthens our voice — and that benefits every contractor in the sector.

Your opportunity to influence the direction of the industry comes in many forms: participating in State Advisory Committees, contributing to surveys, attending events and forums, or simply picking up the phone or sending an email to share what you’re seeing on the ground. At this point in the year — fresh from the break — we actively welcome your ideas, energy and involvement. Our State Advisory Committees are strong and well supported, and there is always room for members who want to contribute.

A major focus for AWCI Australia this year is the Blue Card Registry Program, one of the most important workforce initiatives our industry has seen in years. Currently being trialled in Western Australia with a clear intent for national rollout, the Blue Card is an industry-led skills recognition and workforce validation framework. It is designed to recognise, validate and fast-track experienced workers in our industry — particularly those who have years of on-site experience but no formal trade qualification. The program assesses competency, safety awareness and practical capability, while creating a clear and credible bridge into formal qualifications through RPL and targeted gap training.

The Blue Card also aligns strongly with national initiatives such as the Advanced Entry Trades Training (AETT) Program, helping identify experienced workers, accelerate transitions into Certificate III qualifications, maintain trade integrity, and improve visibility of workforce capability for industry and regulators. Together, these pathways strengthen quality, productivity and long-term capability across our sector.

Mission 1000, the Blue Card, and our broader advocacy agenda all rely on one thing: member engagement. If you want to be part of shaping where our industry goes next, we would love to hear from you.

Regards,

Simon Tengende

Chief Executive Officer, AWCI Australia