Safety initiative gives builders the edge for winning major contracts

Australian Industry Group is helping builders gain safety accreditation needed to compete for major contracts.  

With federally funded housing delivery ramping up, builders vying for head contracts must have Federal Safety Commission (FSC) WHS Scheme accreditation. 

Our Be Safe Ready program delivers over $40,000 of tailored support to builders pursuing FSC WHS accreditation — at no cost. 

Builders who sign up receive:  

• a dedicated consultant to help close audit gaps, 

• a complete suite of policy guides, templates and webinars, 

• a safety management system starter template and  

• access to WHS learning modules. 

While the audit criteria remain the same, the pathway to readiness is now streamlined, helping builders get through accreditation more efficiently. 

You don’t need to be a member of Australian Industry Group to sign up, and it’s not just for the major players. 

Project lead Andrew Campbell, of Australian Industry Group, said: “There was a perception that FSC accreditation was only for the big end of town.  

“Smaller builders weren’t prioritising the change in favour of current projects. But with fast-tracked support, Tier 2 and 3 contractors can recalibrate their systems to meet FSC audit criteria in, on average, just five months. 

“We start with a high-level review of your safety systems and work on the areas that need attention to meet FSC audit criteria and gain accreditation.” 

Eligible businesses include: 

• builders intending to work on Housing Australia-funded projects, 

• subcontractors wanting to align with FSC-accredited builders and

• support for builders stuck mid-FSC application process. 

Housing Australia has opened Round 3 of the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) and the National Housing Accord Facility (NHAF), unlocking delivery of 21,350 additional social and affordable homes on the way to the national target of 40,000 new homes. 

It’s the largest pipeline of federally supported housing projects in Australia’s history. 

Accreditation strengthens your business beyond tender eligibility. FSC WHS systems are based on global best practice, meaning your business becomes safer, more competitive and more resilient. 

Accredited builders benefit from:  

• preferred status with Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and government delivery partners, 

• stronger governance signals for project applicants needing low-risk delivery teams, 

• better safety performance, reducing insurance costs and downtime and  

• higher likelihood of early appointment on shovel-ready HAFF projects. 

“With Round 3’s emphasis on low-risk, ready-to-deliver partners, being accredited doesn’t just open doors, it moves you to the front of the line,” Mr Campbell said.

Start now   

Use our self-evaluation safety system diagnostic tool to understand where your current WHS system stands.  

Once you submit it, Australian Industry Group can advise you on next steps. 

This free support is available until 30 June.