Knauf is launching four new high-performance plasterboards in the SHEETROCK PLUS, ImpactStop, MultiStop ONE and MultiStop ONE HI, consolidating its range to reduce complexity and improve efficiency for architects, contractors and distributors across Australia. SHEETROCK PLUS: A premium residential solution offering sound, impact and water resistance for spaces such as bathrooms, home theatres, hallways, nurseries and bedrooms. ImpactStop: Provides impact, fire and acoustic resistance, deliver...| Building Connection
WorkSafe will host a series of free tradies breakfasts across the state for Health and Safety Month this October. Employers and workers are encouraged to attend the events at Wallington, Hallam, Kyneton and Horsham to grab a free feed and coffee, share stories and get the latest information on safety in the construction industry. Experts will be on hand to cover key safety topics such as fall prevention, including timber guardrails and scaffold industry standards, safe work method statements ...| Building Connection
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has raised concerns in the current approach to training, stating that it won’t get Australia to its 1.2 million housing target, after the National Centre for Vocational Education and Training (NCVER) showed a decline in construction apprentices in training. The total amount of apprentices in training has declined by 3% over the past 12 months, with the most significant falls in bricklaying, which is down by 17% and roof tiling, down by 13%. This is clo...| Building Connection
Falls from height remain one of the most serious risks on Australian worksites, with nearly 30 workers losing their lives in 2023. These incidents accounted for around 15% of all workplace fatalities, making falls the second leading cause of death at work after vehicle-related incidents. The construction sector alone accounted for 45% of these cases. In response, two key standards – AS 5532 and AS/NZS 1891.4 – have been revised to address these issues and improve safety outcomes. AS 5532 ...| Building Connection
Research by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has highlighted the unique challenges women face in frontline construction roles. The report identifies integral opportunities for the construction industry to build more inclusive and supportive workplaces. The research, Boosting Retention of Women in Construction: Improving Transitions in and out of Parental Leave, explores the experiences of women working across the sector in NSW. It was funded by the NSW Government’s ...| Building Connection
Engineers at RMIT University have developed cardboard-confined rammed earth, a building material made from cardboard, soil and water. It has roughly a quarter of the carbon footprint of concrete and is fully reusable and recyclable. “By simply using cardboard, soil and water, we can make walls robust enough to support low-rise buildings,” lead author Dr Jiaming Ma says. “This innovation could revolutionise building design and construction, using locally sourced materials that are easier...| Building Connection
Trade workforce shortages pose a major threat to meeting the Housing Accord target of 1.2 million homes by 2029 according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA). The HIA wants to promote career opportunities for skilled trade professionals. Due to several factors such as an aging workforce, infrastructure and renewable projects, the next generation of tradies hasn’t kept up to pace with the need. It’s estimated that there are approximately 277,800 skilled trade workers in the residenti...| Building Connection
October marks the beginning of National Safe Work Month, and Lung Foundation Australia is continuing to promote the threat that silica dust poses to 600,000 Australian workers. Lung Foundation Australia acting chief executive Paige Preston says that there are proactive steps workers can take to look after their health at work and protect their lungs. “The easiest way to protect yourself and your mates on site from silicosis and other occupational lung diseases is to reduce your exposure,”...| Building Connection
Australians believe that tradies deserve more recognition and support than they currently receive, according to new research commissioned by Kennards Hire ahead of National Tradie Day 2025. The survey found 93% of respondents feel tradies don’t get the recognition they deserve, while 96% say they should be regarded as essential workers alongside nurses and teachers. In addition, 90% support more initiatives that celebrate the contribution of tradies to Australia and local communities. Yet, ...| Building Connection
Completing a job hazard analysis is a requirement before entering any worksite. Casey McGuire looks at a tool under development aiming to automate the process. Flash forward to 2030, a tradie is on the site and working on a job hazard analysis (JHA). A builder arrives on site, they start to gather materials ready for the day ahead, sips on a hot cup of coffee before walking outside in the cold or heat about to get their hands dirty. It used to be dangerous and frankly a bit dumb not to begin ...| Building Connection
A Mandurah couple has been left thousands of dollars out of pocket after a neighbour falsely claimed to be a registered builder and abandoned their home renovation. At Mandurah Magistrates Court on 26 August 2025, Paul Anthony Hart was fined $14,500 for four building offences following prosecution by Building and Energy. Paul told the Dudley Park home owners that he was a registered building contractor and agreed to undertake $24,000 worth of work, including wall removals and a full bathroom ...| Building Connection
New research from the University of South Australia (UniSA) warns that stronger La Niña weather cycles are creating new risks for homeowners, builders and infrastructure planners. Published in the Journal of Environmental Management, the study shows that prolonged rainfall during La Niña is intensifying shrink–swell movements in expansive clay soils. These soils expand when saturated and contract during dry spells, destabilising house foundations, cracking pipelines and damaging pavements...| Building Connection
In this episode of the Tradie Connection podcast, Alex Dwyer of Dwyer Quality Homes discusses the lessons he learned growing up in the family business and how he’s bringing a fresh approach to leadership. Alex shares how DQH is honouring its 40-year legacy while embracing new technology, the culture that helped achieve a $50 million sales milestone and his vision for the future of home building. Listen to the podcast on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure...| Building Connection
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has published a climate map that uses geospatial data, dynamic layers and static reference maps. The ABCB collaborated with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources data strategy team and the Digital Atlas of Australia team at Geoscience Australia to create the interactive map. The data on the map covers existing NCC climate zones, local government area (LGA) boundaries, relative humidity and alpine area classifications. Key features of the ...| Building Connection
Following a pivotal meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Standards Australia has taken decisive steps to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the construction industry: Accessibility to Australian Standards. Standards Australia acknowledged that fragmented, outdated and costly access to standards is a critical issue and removing access barriers will support the timely delivery of housing and infrastructure aligned with the National Construction Code (NCC). Standards play an ...| Building Connection
Instant Products Group has designed a portable bathroom solution for regional and remote areas, like worksites, to reduce costs and issues around access to power and water. Portable bathroom facilities are often used in regional and remote areas to support events, during bushfires and natural disasters and on remote work sites. There’s been difficulties with the cost of transporting to site and ensuring adequate onsite water and power supply. The Western Australia-based company designed a t...| Building Connection
Fluke has released the SB140 Sound Beacon, a tool that can generate a clean and consistent 40kHz signal that can be detected by the Fluke ii Series Acoustic Imagers while operating in ‘Beacon Mode’. Leak detection and tightness testing happens by placing the beacon inside the vessel while using Fluke Acoustic Imagers from the outside to visually locate through weld beads, gaskets, hatches or windows. The selected ultrasound frequencies travel long distances through air with minimal signal...| Building Connection
While plug-in hybrid technology is fast becoming the preferred new-energy powertrain for utilities, in the van world it’s pure electrification that seems to be edging ahead as the propulsion tech of choice. Now, Korean automaker Kia is the latest in a long string of automakers that are banking big on a battery-electric van The PV5 is the vehicle that Kia will be pitching into this space, with the futuristically-styled midsize delivery van built atop the same all-electric platform that under...| Building Connection
The construction sector is among the highest-risk industries for mental health crises in Australia. As regulatory changes focus more on comprehensive well-being and psychological resilience, micro-builders and trade professionals must adapt and offer mental health screenings as part of their safety protocols. The state of mental health in Australian construction The Australian construction industry is in the midst of a mental health crisis. Suicide rates are 53% higher for labourers in cons...| Building Connection
The day we swapped the old hammer for a battery nail-gun, the rhythm of the job changed. Quicker, cleaner, less noise and nobody wanted to go back. Artificial intelligence has the same effect, only it hits your estimating, programmes, paperwork and cash flow. You do not need a department of technicians or a six-figure budget. As a builder or head contractor, you are already used to coordinating moving parts. Add the right digital power tool and the whole job runs straighter. Build the process...| Building Connection
Peugeot Australia has given its Expert medium van a mid-life refresh for the 2025 model year, with the range being streamlined by the elimination of all manual-transmission variants as well as the entry-grade Expert City. Now available exclusively with an automatic transmission, the 2025 Peugeot Expert range opens at $48,990 for the Expert Pro short wheelbase (a $1,000 increase over the pre-facelift van) and tops out at $54,490 for the Expert Premium long wheelbase. All variants take power fr...| Building Connection
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain the most common injury among Victorian construction workers, often caused by hazardous manual handling such as lifting, carrying and repetitive movement. Since January 2023, WorkSafe accepted more than 3,000 injury claims from construction workers due to hazardous manual handline. Out of those, 58% affected the musculoskeletal system which most resulted in back pain, muscle strains, lumbago and sciatica. WorkSafe chief health and safety officer Sam Jenk...| Building Connection
Besides announcing the expansion of the diesel-powered T9 range, JAC also confirmed the impending arrival of a souped-up version of its dual-cab ute, which combines electric and combustion power to produce power and torque numbers that easily eclipse pretty much every other body-on-frame ute currently available – and a sizable number of proper performance cars as well. To be dubbed the JAC Hunter, the plug-in hybrid pickup is essentially a T9 with the regular diesel powertrain swapped out i...| Building Connection
Milliken has partnered with saveBOARD to launch Renasci, a resilient floor made from waste materials that can be repeatedly recycled. Carpet recycling has been a tough challenge with an estimated 90,000 tonnes of carpet waste and one million tonnes of soft plastics in landfill every year. The process shreds whole carpet tiles and soft plastics like shopping bags, pressing them into flooring planks without glue or chemical adhesives. This collaboration combines saveBOARD’s material processin...| Building Connection
R U OK? is urging tradies to ask the question any day, with new research revealing a confidence gap when it comes to having meaningful conversations about mental health. Three in four Australians believe it’s important to regularly ask someone if they’re OK, but a third remain hesitant, even when they can sense that their workmate is struggling. This is because they often feel that they might say the wrong thing, invade someone’s privacy or not know how to help and support. R U OK? boar...| Building Connection
Standards Australia has met with Parliament House in Canberra to address access to Australian standards. They identified accessibility to standards being a critical issue impacting safety, productivity, workforce capability and the delivery of housing and infrastructure that underpins the National Construction Code (NCC). Standards Australia acknowledges: The role of Australian standards in delivering safer, high-quality and consistent construction outcomes The longstanding and significant co...| Building Connection
Waterproofing failure in buildings comes at a huge cost and the extent of damage is often extreme. Dimi Kyriakou speaks to members of the waterproofing industry to find out where builders are going wrong in this area and their recommendations for best practice. According to the insurance industry, waterproofing failure is one of the biggest dollar-item claims. It is also a major cause of residential building disputes due to failed or poorly installed water membranes to shower recesses, b...| Building Connection
