I am pleased — and genuinely excited — to publish our Member feedback report from the recent survey for members, kicking off the year with our members’ feedback and endorsement.

This marks an important milestone for AWCI Australia. The Survey is designed to become your go-to resource for shared understanding of member value, emerging industry trends, business pressures, and the operational challenges facing wall and ceiling contractors across Australia. As such, we will continue to review our survey and encourage members and industry partners to play your part and complete the survey online to inform the next report.

While this inaugural edition reflects respondents across WA, SA, NSW, QLD, VIC and TAS, it lays the foundation for a far broader and more powerful industry dataset in future quarters.

I would like to sincerely thank the members who completed the survey. Your participation strengthens our industry voice and enhances the credibility of our advocacy.

If you would like to contribute insights to the next report, I encourage you to complete the survey online via our website. The more members who participate, the more valuable — and influential — this report becomes.

Why This Report Matters

Industry benchmarking is not simply a data exercise.

It might help members:

• Understand current market trends
• Compare business sentiment nationally
• Identify shared challenges
• Make informed commercial decisions.
• Navigate today’s economic landscape with confidence.

Over time, this report will evolve into a powerful strategic tool — enabling members to stay competitive with greater confidence and align business strategy with national industry trends.

2026 Snapshot

• Survey Period: January–February 2026
• Respondents: Members from all states
• Coverage: WA, SA, QLD, VIC, TAS, NSW
• Business Types: Contractors (Domestic & Commercial), Fire & Passive Fire Specialists, Manufacturing & Supply, Resellers, Compliance Specialists

Key Insights

Membership Value Remains Strong

73% of respondents rated their membership as Good to Excellent, confirming that AWCI Australia continues to deliver meaningful value to members.

Communications Have Significantly Improved

A clear majority rated communications as Much Improved or Excellent, reflecting our focus on clarity, relevance and consistency.

Advocacy Is the Dominant Priority

Licensing reform and industry advocacy remain the top strategic priorities. Members want AWCI Australia to lead regulatory conversations and drive structured reform.

Strong Support for the Blue Card Initiative

The Blue Card framework is viewed as very important by most respondents — reinforcing industry appetite for competency recognition and pre-registry reform.

Engagement & Accessibility

Event attendance remains modest, largely due to time pressures and geographic barriers. Members are seeking stronger state-based engagement and regional inclusion, which we are incorporating into our 2026 planning.

Business Capability Development

There is a strong appetite for professional development focused on commercial performance, leadership, and business growth.

What This Means for 2026

The message is clear:

• Members value AWCI Australia.
• They want strong, visible advocacy.
• They support industry-led reform.
• They are seeking practical business insights and development as part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Our focus in 2026 will remain disciplined and member-led:

• Advancing licensing and regulatory reform
• Rolling out the Blue Card framework responsibly
• Expanding CPD and business-focused education
• Strengthening state engagement
• Continuing to improve transparency and communication

This report will become a recurring feature of our reporting. With increased participation each quarter, it will grow in authority, depth and strategic value.

Thank you again to those who contributed.

If you would like your insights reflected in the next report, please complete the survey online via our website.

Together, we are building a stronger, more informed and more future-ready wall and ceiling industry.

Simon Tengende

Chief Executive Officer

AWCI Australi