Kayla Bolton was presented with the coveted QBCC 2023 Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) scholarship at a recent National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) event.

Kayla, a General Manager of Project Delivery at not-for-profit organisation Uniting Care, said she was delighted her intuition served her right.

“When I was told I was the winner of the scholarship, I could not believe it at first as I had already applied four times before … But when I was writing the content for the submission, I felt I was finally ready,” Kayla said.

“I am very grateful for the QBCC and NAWIC teaming up for this sponsorship, especially considering I work in a not-for-profit organisation.

“I haven’t had access to a board environment, taking part in the course will catapult me into the right environment where opportunities are available.”

QBCC Interim CEO and Commissioner, Angela Masson, said the AICD scholarship would provide Kayla with the perfect opportunity to progress her leadership and boardroom skills.

“We know how important it is to have women represented in the building and construction industry and we need to offer them support and encouragement along the way,” Angela said.

“Greater diversity supports a move toward a more sustainable workforce with gender being just one aspect of diversity the industry is embracing.”

This is the fifth year the QBCC has sponsored this scholarship which will provide Kayla with a 12-month membership to the AICD and the opportunity to undertake a company directors’ course.

Kayla’s submission stood out because of her efforts to improve the work environment for staff, especially parents.

Her initiatives include promoting women on the project management team, creating a flexible environment which allows staff to do the school drop off and pick up, as well as a safe and inclusive workplace for pregnant women and mums returning to work after parental leave.

“We currently have a pregnant staff member who will be able to transition back to work after parental leave knowing that she has a private room where she can retreat to when needed,” Kayla said.

“This will allow her to continue her early motherhood journey while still being part of the team.”

Kayla has dedicated her career to social infrastructure working on hospitals for sick children and homes for the elderly.

“I have worked hard to have such a fulfilling and purposeful career, however, there are so many rewarding roles in the construction industry,” Kayla said.

“I would recommend any woman who is presented with an opportunity in the industry, especially a leadership role, to give it a go.”

Kayla, who has two children, Estelle, 4, and Joseph, 5, said she had an incredible support network which included grandparents and her husband.

“My husband Peter who also works full-time is very supportive of me. His encouragement has certainly helped me to thrive in my career."

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) says wet weather and moisture, combined with north Queensland’s high humidity, provide the perfect ingredients for the wood-eating pest to flourish and multiply.

QBCC Commissioner Anissa Levy says increased termite activity following heavy rain and flooding could have a potentially devastating effect on homes, with the insects capable of causing major structural damage in a short period of time.

“Homeowners can help protect their properties by remaining extra vigilant following heavy rainfall and flooding,” Ms Levy says.

“This includes checking for any signs of activity and ensuring that their termite management system has not been compromised.”

“If flooding has surrounded or covered internal floors, homeowners should check for signs of damage to their termite management system."

“If the system has been compromised, or if homeowners suspect they have termites, they should immediately seek the advice of an expert with a QBCC termite management contractor licence to conduct an inspection.” Ms Levy says there are a number of measures homeowners can take to help prevent a termite invasion after rain events.

“Termites seek moisture, so it is important to clear water pooling in gutters, empty cans, or other objects around the property and fix leaking items, such as pipes and taps,” she says.

“Removing the termites’ additional food source, such as wood in contact with the ground or near the house, is another way to help prevent infestations.”

Ms Levy urges homeowners renovating during the wet season to be aware that building footpaths, garden beds, patios and pergolas, as well as landscaping and laying turf, can cause termite systems to be less effective. 

This work can impede the termite management system or reduce visibility of termite entry into the building.  

“When renovating, you can help protect your property by using termite-resistant materials, including treated timber, masonry, steel, concrete and fibre-reinforced cement.”

Signs of potential termite infestations:

• Mud shelter tubes built by the termites for protection. These can be found internally next to architraves or skirting boards, undercrofts of buildings, brick foundations and external walls adjoining ground level
• Sagging floors, doors or ceilings
• Damaged skirting boards, door jambs or architraves 
• Cracked or blistered paint or plaster
• Power failures 
• Discarded termite wings found near windows, in spider webs or light fittings
• Timber that makes a hollow sound when tapped
• Dry sand-like faecal pellets (frass) coming out of termite tunnel openings
• Finding frass in cone-shaped piles or in circular patterns on the surface of infested wood.

For more information on protecting your property against termites visit the QBCC website.

For a list of licensed contractors, visit Our lists and registers on our website.

The State’s building industry regulator says 9,017 new licensees were approved by the QBCC in the 2021-2022 financial year, an increase of more than 1,200 on the previous financial year.

Meanwhile, the first five months of the 2022-2023 financial year, (1 July to 30 November 2022), has seen 3,264 applications approved for individuals or companies not previously licensed with the QBCC, taking the total number of licensed tradies in the State to 113,724.

QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says the increase in the number of licensees will provide reassurance to home owners.

“Home owners who hire a licensed contractor can have confidence their work will be done by a qualified and experienced professional,’’ Ms Levy says.

“Anyone considering hiring a contractor should always make sure they are licensed with the QBCC.

“Licensees play an important role in carrying out quality building work to the appropriate standards to ensure the safety of all Queenslanders.”

The QBCC website provides free information to help home and property owners choose a qualified, licensed local contractor.

2022 was a busy year for the QBCC, which was quick to offer information and assistance to Queenslanders following the devastating and widespread flooding events in February.

The QBCC established an online Recover and Rebuild Tradie Register to connect property owners with local licensed contractors in the wake of the floods.

In the 2021-2022 financial year, QBCC officers also proactively inspected more than 1,300 active projects to help reduce defective work and identify potentially risky or dangerous products, to better protect the safety of consumers and building industry participants.

Meanwhile, the QBCC Contact Centre received more than 2,000 calls in relation to a temporary, independent mediation service which was launched in July 2021.

The Accelerated Builder/Consumer Dispute (ABCD) Framework, jointly launched by the QBCC and the Department of Energy and Public Works, assists property owners, builders and tradespeople navigating delays and cost imposts due to Australia-wide industry shortages.

To date, there have been 105 applications regarding industry shortages, with just one case still pending.

BACKGROUND

The breakdown of new licensees by region for both the 2021-22 Financial Year and from 1 July 2022 to 30 November 2022 is below:

New licencees

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has contacted almost 58,000 of its licensees, urging them to remain vigilant about the products they use and providing them with information about preventing NCBPs related to their licence classes.

In Queensland, each person in the building chain of responsibility – from designers to home owners - has a duty to ensure their actions do not lead to NCBPs being supplied or used in association with a building.

QBCC Commissioner, Anissa Levy, says the regulator has identified several product types that could pose problems for workers in some licence classes.

“With different products coming onto the market and work sites all the time, it can be difficult to keep up, so we are developing a range of technical fact sheets to help licensees check if a product could be non-conforming.

“For instance, we’ve contacted about 40,000 builders, carpenters, tilers and other licensees about the use of vinyl products in wet areas and the need for portable or temporary dwellings to comply with the National Construction Code,” Ms Levy says.

Other licensees who have been contacted include more than 17,000 in plumbing classes, to highlight issues with watermark certification and the use of vinyl products in wet areas.

About 800 glass glazing and aluminium licensees have also been contacted and provided information about windows and glazed external doors and ways to help ensure the product they supply or install is not an NCBP.

Ms Levy says several other fact sheets are currently being written by QBCC technical staff and will be provided to licensees when they are completed.

“We are always looking to provide licensees with the most current technical and other information to reduce defective and non-compliant work and to limit the risk of NCBPs.”

More information about responsibilities around NCBPs is available on the QBCC website.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is undertaking the technical and assessment audits to ensure compliance across the industry.

QBCC Commissioner Anissa Levy says officers are currently undertaking audits in a number of Queensland regions to check the work of certifiers.

“Certifiers have an incredibly important role in the building and construction industry, and attention-to-detail to compliance is imperative,” Ms Levy says.

“We know the vast majority of certifiers do the right thing and Queenslanders can feel confident that their homes are being built by people with the appropriate skills and qualifications.

“Licensed building certifiers assess building applications, decide whether to issue building approvals and inspect and certify building works.

“The certifier ensures the building works comply with the building assessment provisions, the Building Act and the approval.”

Commissioner Levy says an important part of the role of the QBCC is to carry out audits like this in a bid to uncover potential substandard behaviour within the building and construction industry.

“Certifiers inspect building projects during construction and after the building process to ensure that they have been built in accordance with Queensland legislation.

“QBCC officers are focusing on issues such as certifiers granting a building development approval before all necessary permits and documents are in place.”

The QBCC received 222 complaints about certifiers in the 2021-2022 financial year and finalised 217 complaints.

Audits will be undertaken in regional Queensland throughout October and November in Beaudesert, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and Townsville.

The total number of QBCC-licensed private certifiers as at 30 September 2022 was 425.

Anyone with concerns about a QBCC licensee should contact the QBCC on 139 333.

Stemming from the recommendations of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Governance Review 2022, the advisory body is being formed to provide a voice on matters which impact the building and construction sector.

QBCC Commissioner Anissa Levy is encouraging all applicants to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity.

“This is an exciting chance for industry experts and those who represent consumer groups to have their voices heard, to use their expertise on current issues, emerging risks and trends related to our industry,” Ms Levy says.

“The purpose of the Committee is to provide observations, strategic advice, and guidance to the QBC Board in relation to matters affecting the building and construction industry to achieve a reasonable balance between the interests of building industry practitioners and consumers.

“We look forward to working with experts who are on the front line, to hear their views on matters relevant to the building and construction sector.”

The QBCC is seeking a wide range of representatives from the sector for the Committee, including licensees, industry bodies, designers, consumers, industry unions and local government.

BACKGROUND

The creation of the Industry Advisory Committee is a recommendation of the QBCC Governance Review 2022 (action 3.4) to establish an advisory body to allow the QBC Board to effectively engage with the building and construction sector.

Applications close 5.00pm, Tuesday 25 October 2022. For more information on how to apply visit the QBCC Website.