What does CITB do?

CITB collects a levy on construction activity in South Australia to fund training for the SA construction workforce.

Funds for training are collected in the form of a levy paid by "Project Owners".  The Project Owner is defined as the Builder/Prime Contractor, where one is appointed, or otherwise the person or entity for whose benefit the work exists on completion.

The levy is applied at the rate of .25 percent of the value of building and construction work (including GST).  This revenue is then invested back into the construction industry in the form of expenditure on training.

The CITB's responsibilities include: 

• To act as a principal adviser to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education on training related matters for the Building and Construction Industry in South Australia;

• Management and administration of the Construction Industry Training Fund and the South Australian Construction Industry Skills Board;

• The preparation of Training Plans (this takes the form of the Annual Training Plan published in June each year for the following Financial Year);

• Generally to coordinate training and development programs within the industry;

• To initiate, carry out, support or promote research into the training and personnel needs of the building and construction industry and to develop and implement policies, plans and programs to meet those needs. 

The CITB invests in training through two main mechanisms:

Entry Level Training Program.  This is comprised principally of Apprentice and Trainee Support by way of training incentives paid to employers and apprentices/trainees in a Contract of Training in specified vocations.

An adjunct program is Doorways2Construction, a very successful VET in schools program that was initiated by the CITB ten years ago.  It has been a key factor in reviving interest in construction trades as a career, and has been the source of large numbers of apprentices for the industry.

Current Worker program.  This takes the form of training subsidies that reduce the cost of training for “Eligible Workers”. Eligible Workers may apply for, and be issued with, a CITB ID Card which is in effect a “Training Passport” providing the holder with discounted access to more than 600 short courses offered in any one training year, by a network of up to 40 CITB-endorsed Registered Training Organisations.

The CITB also manages the conduct of other Programs under the classification of 'Contingency and Innovation' to meet emerging industry needs.  One such Program, 'Wise Guys', is taking mature-aged, experienced trades people and preparing them to become qualified trainers so there is sufficient expertise available to prepare the next generation of construction workers.