Made To Build by HIA

Construction workers experience higher rates of anxiety, depression and burnout than the general population. This is the stress problem nobody talks about.    In this episode, Greg Jennings discusses why builders and small business owners face unique mental health challenges, from financial pressure and long hours to the responsibility of leading a team. He explains why looking after yourself is o...

Social researcher and futurist Ashley Fell explores how affordability, lifestyle shifts and changing generational values are reshaping the future of Australian housing. Drawing on her research into consumer behaviour and emerging trends, she explains how younger Australians are redefining homeownership and what they expect from the homes and communities of the future. The conversation examines the...

For years, the formula for success in building was simple: be a great tradesperson, do quality work, and the jobs would keep coming. But today's most successful builders are discovering that craftsmanship alone isn't enough.    Chris Guilbert, Director of Tenfold Homes and winner of the 2026 HIA Australian Emerging Builder award, joins the podcast to discuss how the next generation of buil...

Australia needs more homes. There is broad agreement that increasing housing supply is critical to improving affordability and meeting the needs of a growing population. Yet delivering more homes remains a major challenge, with regulation, planning, infrastructure, rising costs and complex approval processes continuing to create barriers across the housing pipeline. In this episode of Made to Buil...

Why do some homes still feel right 20 years later while others feel outdated within five?   Award-winning designers from Studio Minosa, Darren Genner and Simona Castagna, explore the psychology behind great residential design and why the most successful homes aren't driven by trends but by a deep understanding of how people live. They discuss how thoughtful planning, functionality, materials and c...

Australia’s residential building industry is facing significant change, with tax, regulatory and business settings influencing how businesses invest, employ and plan for the future. Introducing a new series, Made to Build In Focus, featuring discussions alongside HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin and industry leaders, Peter Burgess - CEO, SMSF Association & Laurie Cosentino - General Manage...

Most people never think about how a hallway, a doorway or a light fitting can influence someone's wellbeing. But for people with higher care needs, those design decisions can make the difference between simply living in a house and truly feeling at home.   Ron Choi and Andrew Mantoufeh from Clover Homes discuss how they're delivering award-winning specialised housing that balances complex...

Australians have long dreamed of a house on a quarter-acre block, but housing challenges are shifting the traditional Australian Dream. Ben and Marie Doyle from Fiducia join the podcast to discuss why apartments and medium-density housing are becoming an increasingly important part of our country’s housing future. They unpack the realities of delivering successful apartment projects, from feasibil...

Luke De Vries and Lara Maeseele take us behind the build of Nebraska House, the 2025 HIA Tasmania Home of the Year. Set on a remote beachfront site on Bruny Island, Tasmania, the project required careful planning to balance architecture, construction, environmental conditions and complex logistics.    They discuss how the project responded to the site's harsh coastal conditions, the challenges...

Keeping good apprentices is one of the biggest challenges for any building business. Peter Wright, 2025 HIA NSW Apprentice Host of the Year, shares the practical strategies he uses to build a team that sticks around. From structured onboarding and clear expectations, to genuine relationships on and off site, he explains how creating the right culture improves retention, accountability and performa...

Running a family business sounds good – until big decisions, pressure, and different opinions hit. Geoff Harrison and Mitch Harrison get into the reality of working father and son – how they handle decision-making, where they coordinate and clash, and how they’ve managed the business handover as Geoff steps back, and Mitch steps up. It’s a straight look at keeping the business moving without blowi...

How does Tempo Living get clients to site in 10 weeks? Jeremy Whiting breaks down how they hit a 10-day tender, 10-week site start, and how they offer a guaranteed delivery time. He chats on how efficiency actually shows up day to day and where the real cost savings are. Jeremy also gets into how those same decisions drive better sustainability on-site - less waste, smarter layouts, and practical...

Most custom builders are still reinventing the wheel on every job - and it’s costing time, margin, and headspace. Lee Selkrig and Sam Piasente from Enso Homes, break down the practical habits they’ve pulled from volume builders to tighten things up and deliver architectural homes at scale. From clearer scopes, an Entrepreneurial Operating System, and using suppliers that they love, they have built...

Can builders use AI like an apprentice? This is AI for builders explained. In this episode, business strategist Therese Tarlinton breaks down what’s actually worth applying from the AI hype.  From quoting and variations to client communication and paperwork, discover how AI can help builders save hours each week, reduce admin, and improve speed and consistency across jobs.  AI isn’t here to replac...

The client wanted a wine cellar. It turned into a full-scale Home of the Year build.  Mark Supple from Mazzei breaks down delivering a complex home on a windswept Red Hill (Victoria) site, with winery views one side and ocean the other. He covers planning, trade coordination, cantilevered concrete, and 50,000 bricks over a 23-month build - while keeping the client’s vision intact.  There’s straigh...

Housing policy, planning constraints and industry ego are stalling the homes we actually need.   Architect AJ Bala, Director of DNA Architects, unpacks why the “missing middle” — duplexes, townhouses and low-rise apartments — remains critically undersupplied, and what needs to change to fix it.   With over 20 years across residential and commercial projects, AJ brings a grounded, real-world perspe...

Clients are asking for prefab — but most builders are still picturing cheap boxes and design limits. This episode clears things up. Steve Bridger, founder and Managing Director of Saltair Modular, explains how design-led modular delivers good-looking custom outcomes, tighter finishes, and repeatable quality without cutting corners. We dig into how modular methods can shorten build times, improve p...

Good people are leaving worksites. Productivity cops it. Culture is usually why. In this episode, carpenter and Build Like a Girl founder Joanne “Jo” Farrell breaks down what actually keeps women—and good blokes—on the tools and in the industry. From lifting female participation at Kane Constructions ACT from 6 to 48 per cent, to fixing the behaviours that push apprentices out, Jo demolishes stere...

Get a practical look at running a business like an engine, so you’re not just wearing every hat. Caleb Adams, founder of Pilgrim Homes, follows the principle of ‘momentum over margin’ and breaks down how he built a boutique design-and-build business using clear systems, the right people, and a strong sense of purpose. We talk hiring staff based on attitude, really understanding your business model...

What can we learn from international cities to build more affordable, sustainable communities? Professor Philip Oldfield explains how 15-minute cities can influence the way we plan and build; and what the $10b Housing Australia Future Fund means for supply and affordability. He lays out the practical design choices, material decisions and planning moves that help builders improve their carbon foot...

  If you’re flat-out but still not getting ahead, this episode shows you the way out. Andy and Angela Smith from Lifestyle Tradie break down the systems, pricing habits and team structures that pull builders out of the grind. They call out the “busy = successful” mindset and show how to break the Tradie Trap. Real examples, simple fixes and practical steps you can use straight away to run a cleane...

Look behind the build of a 1900s heritage villa with brothers Hamish and Jed Villis of SA’s Build Theory. They transformed a run-down city house into an award-winning home after a full structural overhaul, open courtyards, and a kitchen that won 2025 HIA Australian Kitchen of the Year. Watch now for stunning before-and-after results.    https://buildtheory.co/   @build.theory Subscribe to the Made...

3D-printed homes are here thanks to Ballarat-based duo Paige Gercovich and Ash Quiddington from Dune Build, one of Australia’s first companies using 3D-printed concrete for housing. They break down the process from digital design to built form, explain what sets it apart from traditional builds. With any innovation, they share the wins (faster construction, less waste, more design freedom), plus t...

 Veronica and Mark King from  King Homes NSW  pull back the curtain on what it’s really like running a family building business together. From growing the social media influence of The Builders Wife to running their custom building company, they found success in balancing family life, boundaries, and their own business roles. Follow Veronica’s journey on Instagram @builderswife  Kinghomesnsw.com.a...

Builders don’t get second takes. Interior designer and TV personality, James Treble, calls out the myths of reality TV, budget traps, and tips to keep clients grounded. He shares tools to set clear expectations early, adapt inspiration into workable builds, and make better design calls that last. Don’t miss this entertaining ep!    Want more James?  Instagram | YouTube @designerjamestreble  www.ja...