By working together, employers, industry associations, unions, and the Government will create an innovative, sustainable, safe, inclusive, and productive industry where everyone can thrive.

The key challenges include labour and skill shortages, increases in the cost of materials inappropriate apportionment of risk and lack of diversity in the workforce.

To be an industry of choice for future generations of workers and a model for other industries to follow, the industry and government need to work together to find solutions that will benefit everyone.

• excellence in safety, health, culture, and wellbeing

• building workplaces that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive

• growing the workforce capability, productivity and capacity

• embracing and promoting the uptake of smart construction and digital design.

Our joint ambitions are that the industry is:

• a positive work environment is one where everyone is safe, appreciated, respected, and valued and where safety, inclusiveness and wellbeing is paramount

• an industry of choice for a diverse group of creative, thought leading, considerate, future focussed, purpose driven, leadership enabled people inspiring them to take up rewarding careers

• a leader in innovation fully embracing the transition to a digital economy and the rise of smart construction technologically

• driving sustainable change economically, environmentally, and socially

• efficient, competitive, profitable and drives economic growth across the economy

• driving change through leadership by discovering and advancing progressive initiatives and policies.

Objectives

The objectives of the Building Industry Consultative Council are to:

• promote an environment that will stimulate building activity and jobs growth in Victoria

• provide a high-level forum for regular dialogue between Government, employers and representative associations and unions on significant economic and industrial relations issues in the building industry

• promote diversity and inclusion across the building and construction industry.

Charter

The Building Industry Consultative Council will:

• through consultation on key issues, foster a harmonious working environment in the Victorian building industry

• promote cultural change in the industry, through examination of initiatives that will improve Victoria’s construction productivity, reduce industrial disputation, enhance occupational health and safety, encourage skills development, and enhance employment security

• promote and encourage initiatives which will facilitate investment into Victoria

• encourage constructive dialogue about effectiveness of industry structures to promote and achieve a best practice environment

• provide advice to the Victorian Government on matters relevant to its role

• provide a forum that can both co-ordinate and promote showcase projects to encourage best practice in the industry

• supervise and manage the operations of the Victorian Building Industry Disputes Panel.

To deliver the strategic priorities, changes are needed to the way the industry currently operates. The BICC has an important leadership role to play in driving this change.

Culture and wellbeing

The BICC aims to improve culture for workers to promote mental and physical wellbeing. It will do this by:

• establishing a Mentally Healthy Workplaces Committee

• improving mental and physical health outcomes for workers by undertaking research, promulgating policy recommendations and best practice outcomes

• helping businesses assess and manage health risks, protect industry participants, and promote wellbeing

• developing and showcasing best practice approaches to health and safety

• creating a more inclusive environment for all building and construction workers, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. It will do this by starting with actions such as:

  • delivering the actions in the Women in Construction Strategy 2019-22

  • promoting the Building Equality Policy

  • supporting the implementation of the new Building Equality Strategy 2023-31.

Workforce skills capability and capacity

The BICC aims to support the sector to attract people by offering careers of choice and being a positive and fulfilling place to work. It will do this by:

• identifying the future workforce gaps, skills and capabilities needs

• engaging and partnering with government and industry bodies to add value to data sets on industry trends, the pipeline of projections and skills demand

• supporting growth and modernisation of the sector through the development, delivery, and showcasing of projects and the career opportunities

• creating conditions for construction supply chains to thrive, including considering issues such as security of payment, sham contracting, visa compliance, and auditing.

Smart construction and digital design

The BICC aims to support industry to adapt to the rapidly evolving technological changes in the sector. It will do this by:

• supporting the industry in modernising its working practices and broadening its appeal through supporting the industry to change

• supporting the Digital Build program led by the Office of Projects Victoria which aims to improve project delivery efficiency, uplift design, and delivery capability, and provide greater data insight and analysis to continuously improve project performance.

It is the sought-out adviser on industry issues that fall within the BICC Objectives and Charter, that pose challenges or new opportunities.

The BICC provides an avenue for the:

• Victorian Government to seek advice on significant industry issues

• Industry to advise the Government on matters of interest and concern.

The BICC values cooperation between stakeholders and Government to drive a strong, profitable, and harmonious building and construction industry.