Made To Build by HIA

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...

Builder Rob Watchorn has trained plenty of apprentices and learned the hard way what works and what doesn’t.   Rob shares real-world ways to engage Gen Z, set clear expectations, and keep 'em keen. Tools include a weekly scorecard helps track progress and build team culture.   We get deep into what it takes to fix the skills shortage. While school-based trade programs like youthBuild are turni...

Go behind the scenes of the Surfside House in Avalon Beach, crowned 2024 HIA-CSR NSW Home of the Year. Builder Joel Jones shares the challenges and triumphs of crafting a coastal home built to stand the test of time. From hoisting 200kg sandstone blocks to designing floating breezeways and sourcing extra durable materials, discover what it takes to build a beach house that will still turn heads in...

Gavin Hepper, Kitchens and Bathrooms specialist, unpacks how futuristic connected homes (where kitchens can ‘talk’ to bathrooms) are closer than you think. Hear how he uses the “Umbrella Effect” to keeps projects moving, what silica rules mean on-site, designing for ‘A.M/breakfast zone’, and why more clients want multigenerational living. Gavin also previews the latest global trends from Salone de...

Architect and builder Sarah Waller shares how she built HIA's 2025 Australian Home of the Year in only 10 months. 'Blackwood' is a clean, monochromatic masterpiece set in lush Noosa. Refusing to be beat, she tackled months of rain, slopes, scale, detail, and pressure, crediting her trusted subbies along the way. This ep is a sharp look at full-project control, and how she finished a wi...

Kim Allen , CEO of CRA Construction, shares how she stepped up from the office to lead a growing team - and why hiring more women made business sense. Her business partner and hubby, Chris Allen backs her with real talk on culture tweaks and rebranding the business for success. Find out how this couple is building a business that people want to work in.   Follow  @hia_au Check out Kim & Chris’...

Branding that stands for something. A bible for your build quality. Leaders who lift the load. Ryan Goodwin from Mode Group lays out how to build a business that could run - or even sell - without you. It’s about honouring the craft, setting the bar, and backing your team. Tune in on how you can think beyond today’s job.

Patrick from McDowell Building chats about renovations - how to handle dust, noise, and tricky old homes. He’s big on clear plans, honest chats with clients, and keeping sites clean. With a small, solid team, he pushes for high standards and learning as you go. Good planning and solid comms are key. https://mcdowellbuilding.com/ | @McDowellBuilding

We pitched the mics on the expo floor at National Conference and squeezed three sharp chats into one hour: Merrick Watts – comic-turned-entrepreneur – on using pain as a growth gauge and turning your passions into business. Paige Gercovich spills on the move toward timber use in kitchens, playful tiles and calm, earthy palettes. Dean O’Rourke on new tech, cutting waste and making the trade shine f...

We rolled the mics to HIA National Conference and stitched three chats into a one-hour bonus ep. Featuring: Ian Hazan & Debbie Johnson (HIA Presidents) on backing members, cutting red tape, and the builder’s role in better housing. Dean Backman shows how he bumps a house from 7 to 10 stars with airtight testing, triple glazing, and smarter detailing. Oliver Burnell explains trading a desk job...