About the program
The Homes NSW apprenticeship, traineeship and cadetship program is an initiative delivered in partnership with:
- Housing Industry Association (HIA)
- Master Builders Association of NSW (MBA)
- and Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW
and supported by TAFE NSW.
It was implemented over 4 years to May 2025.
Improving education and employment outcomes
Participants got access to paid, on-the-job training and pathways to employment in social housing property and tenancy management and construction trades.
Housing construction trades included, but were not limited to:
- carpentry
- cabinetmaking
- electrotechnology (electrician)
- painting and decorating
- kitchen & bathroom design
- business.
Addressing skilled workforce shortages and increasing diversity
The program also helped to address a growing skilled workforce shortage. It promoted diversity in the workforce by focusing on people who have experiences of social disadvantage and/or face barriers to entering the workforce, such as:
- people who live in social housing
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- women
- young people (15-24 years old)
- mature-aged (35+ years old)
- people with a disability.
The program contributed to building more homes in the social housing system in NSW.
Apprenticeships and traineeships
Expressions of interest are now closed.
Cadetships
Applications for the 2025 cadetships are now closed.
Visit the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW website for more information.
Program as a pathway to success
The program achieved high retention rates and strong diversity outcomes for:
- Aboriginal people
- people aged over 35
- women.
The program saw long-term unemployed women returning to full-time work and gaining housing security.
What the program is delivering
As of April 2025:
about 80% with CHPs.
Success stories
Case study: Apprenticeship
Micaiah is a 21 year old Bricklaying apprentice who lives in the small regional community of Uralla. Micaiah has always had trouble with spelling, reading and math, along with speech problems. He receives extra support at TAFE and attends block release in Newcastle by catching the XPT. He is committed to his success, to save money for a car and to get a driver's licence.
"My apprenticeship is the best thing that has happened for me - everyone is so proud and I am proud of myself".
Case study: Cadet
At the last CHIA graduation, a cadet graduate shared:
... when I first started the cadetship it was the first attempt at studying and doing something for myself since becoming a young mum 16 years earlier and only having low education from dropping out of school early. I've lived in social housing and found the cadetship gave me a chance to express lived experience and openly talk about issues, learn communication skills, gain knowledge, and opened my eyes to areas I didn't acknowledge, great skills like valuating and prioritising things in life.
Applications for 2025 now closed.
For more information about the training program
You can download and read more about the program's success in our Stage 1 evaluation report.
For other enquiries, please contact Homes NSW Strategy and Policy - Business Planning team: