Building Futures in Bricklaying
Helping young Australians start strong in a skilled trade that shapes our communities.
2003
Addressing a Skills Shortage
Victorian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation Ltd (VBBTF) was established in June 2003 following a request from the Clay Brick & Paver Association of Victoria, representing brick and block manufacturers, for a levy funded scheme to be put in place to address the shortage of competent bricklayers in Victoria.
2006
Becoming ABBTF
In January 2006, the name was changed to Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation Ltd (ABBTF). A new Board was appointed and the Victorian business model was rolled out to all States as ABBTF, starting with the consolidation of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. In 2007 Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania were added to the group and operations commenced nationally.
2006 - Present Day
A Unified Voice
In April 2022, the company adopted a new trading name – Brick and Block Careers. By providing support in key areas, including apprentice retention and mentoring support for both the employer and the apprentice, Brick and Block Careers assists industry in preparing for current and future demand for quality bricklaying tradesmen and women. Brick and Block Careers is governed by a Board of Directors who represent the clay brick and block manufacturers, builders, a Registered Training Organisation, the Housing Industry Association and the Master Builders Association. The structure of the Board is to ensure all relevant parties in the building and construction industry are represented.
National
BRICKLAYER CONNECTION AUSTRALIA
VIC – ROOF TILE CAREERS
Victoria
New South Wales
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
- $1.50 per thousand bricks delivered
- $3.00 per thousand on double-height bricks delivered
- 7.5 cents per square metre in the wall
- Includes all fractions
- Pavers
- Landscape products
- Clay special shapes
- Export sales
- Inter-company yard transfers
- Sales to participating companies
Funds collected in each state are applied to programs to address the skill shortage in the state.
FUNDING
Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation Ltd (ABBTF) Funding
ABBTF programs to address the skill shortages in brick and blocklaying are funded by a small levy on the sale of clay bricks and concrete masonry, along with a matching contribution from participating brick and block manufacturers.
The levy represents an average cost of $16 to a new house build, and up to $40 in Western Australia where double brick construction in prominent.
ACCC Authorisation Press Release
ACCC reauthorises brick levy to help with bricklayer shortage
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted a 10-year authorisation to the Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation (ABBTF), Think Brick Australia, and the Concrete Masonry Association of Australia.
This authorisation, effective from April 11, 2024, until April 11, 2034, permits these organisations and their members to continue imposing a levy on specific building products.
The funds will be used for programs to address the skill shortage in bricklaying and to support programmes to address shortages of trained bricklayers by promoting bricklaying apprenticeships to school leavers and job seekers; and assisting apprentices to complete their training.
The levy is capped at up to $2 per 1,000 clay bricks and 10 cents per square meter on concrete masonry walling products. Funds raised will be dedicated to programs designed to address the persistent skill shortage within the bricklaying industry.
Authorisation provides statutory protection from court action for conduct that might otherwise raise concerns under the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Broadly, the ACCC may grant an authorisation when it is satisfied that the public benefit from the conduct outweighs any public detriment.
Relating register records –
Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation Ltd The ACCC’s determination application is available from the ACCC website.
ABBTF Member Companies
| Company | Phone | Website | States/Territories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adbri Masonry | 1300 365 565 | adbrimasonry.com.au | VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, SA, TAS |
| Austral Bricks | 132 742 | australbricks.com.au | VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, WA, SA, TAS |
| Austral Masonry | 1300 627 557 / 1300 627 667 | australmasonry.com.au | VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD |
| Baines Masonry | 02 4631 1383 | bainesmasonry.com.au | NSW |
| Island Block & Paving | 1800 004 499 | islandblock.com.au | TAS |
| Midland Brick | 13 15 40 | midlandbrick.com.au | WA |
| Namoi Valley Brickworks | 02 6742 0533 | nvbrickworks.com.au | NSW |
| PGH Bricks & Pavers | 131 579 | pghbricks.com.au | VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, SA |
Board of Directors
The ABBTF Board represents a cross section of industry stakeholders and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of strategies to address the skill shortage in bricklaying.
Mark Ellenor (Chair)
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Dalton
Chief Executive Officer
Arlene Nardone
General Manager – Concrete Products
Duncan Bosch
General Manager Bricks & Masonry
Tim Murphy
Director
Simon Croft
Chief Executive, Industry & Policy
Denita Wawn
Chief Executive Officer
Nik Babovic
General Manager Operations
Luke Radford
Chief Executive Officer
Sue Johnsen
Company Secretary
Brick and Block Careers Annual Reports
The Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation provides annual reports to members, outlining our objective, strategies and performance highlights of the year. As an organisation committed to improving outcomes for brick suppliers, bricklayers, apprentices and others in the industry, we strive to keep improving industry and employment outcomes into the future. Our annual reports allow our members to see our achievements throughout the year, industry challenges, funding breakdowns and changes to the organisation.
Our members are important to us, and so we want to inform them of opportunities within the bricklaying industry for the future and our current initiatives. We encourage taking a look at the annual report each year to keep in touch with the industry at large.
Our operating results are also published annually, and they outline key metrics in the bricklaying industry. These metrics aide us in determining our vision for the future, where funding should go, and what initiatives we can bring forward to improve outcomes for our members and future apprentices.
From time to time, we conduct industry research reports to more accurately determine what employers and apprentices are looking for in different parts of the country. These reports include stories, surveys and suggestions from the ground to give more clarity to the statistics.
Research Reports
Training bricklayers on the job has its challenges
Bricklaying Contractors Stepping Up – May 2013Insights into Bricklaying Apprenticeships
National Report – July 2009Barriers and Drivers for Bricklaying Apprenticeships
Barriers and Drivers Report – 1 July 2009Innovative Practices in Bricklaying
Innovative Practices Report – 1 July 2009National Bricklaying Apprenticeship Status Report
Status Report – 15 March 2009Laying the Foundations
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