The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) has made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Student Pathways to In-Demand Industries highlighting the urgent need to recognise traditional trade skills as an in-demand industry essential to preserving Victoria’s built heritage and achieving sustainability through repair, retrofitting and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. The Trust’s message is clear — traditional trade skills must be prioritised in vocational education to support heritage, sustainability, and the future of our built environment. 

While often overshadowed by modern construction and tech industries, traditional building trades such as carpentry, stonemasonry, lime plastering, and slate roofing are critical to preserving Victoria’s rich architectural history. These skills are not just about aesthetics or nostalgia. They play a central role in adaptive reuse, climate sustainability, and waste reduction — core principles of a circular economy. 

Early Career Tradespeople not Obtaining Necessary Skills 

Victoria is experiencing a diminishing pool of tradespeople with the expertise to maintain and repair existing buildings and provide apprenticeship training for early career tradespeople. These are not obsolete skills — they are urgently needed to keep millions of dollars’ worth of cultural and community infrastructure safe, functional, and beautiful. 

Unfortunately, current vocational education, particularly within TAFE programs, focuses almost exclusively on new construction using modern materials. The result? Graduates leave with limited knowledge of conservation principles and traditional materials, and heritage structures are too often subjected to damaging or inappropriate repairs — or demolished altogether. 

Building Sustainable Pathways 

The National Trust argues that integrating traditional building knowledge into the TAFE curriculum is not only a cultural imperative but an economic and environmental one. Traditional trades support adaptive reuse, reduce landfill waste, and retain the embodied energy of existing structures — all vital for meeting climate targets. 

To address this, the Trust proposes several key reforms: 

• Introduce traditional building techniques and conservation principles into existing TAFE trade qualifications. 

• Develop dedicated heritage building skills courses and reintroduce once-common specialised units. 

• Establish career pathways and recognition for both students and existing tradespeople interested in heritage work. 

• Provide incentives and support for heritage building businesses to train apprentices in traditional skills. 

Showcasing a Valued Career Path 

Traditional trades should be actively promoted in schools and career guidance materials as viable, fulfilling careers. These are highly skilled vocations involving creativity, problem-solving, and craftsmanship — attributes that are increasingly valued in a changing workforce. Internationally, heritage tradespeople are in high demand and often enjoy strong career prospects and professional recognition. 

A Call for Action 

Traditional trades are essential for conserving Victoria’s built environment and supporting sustainable development. Immediate investment in education, training, and recognition of these skills is critical to building industry capacity and meeting community and environmental goals. 

By recognising traditional trades as in-demand and essential, and embedding them into the education system, Victoria has the opportunity to strengthen a critical industry, support sustainable development, and inspire the next generation of skilled craftspeople.

Read our full submission here.