NSW government’s $80m construction scheme produced zero graduates or homes

A major state government scheme to train and employ social housing tenants is yet to produce a single graduate or home.

Not a single student has successfully graduated under an $80 million state government scheme designed to support social housing tenants get skills and employment.

The NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC)’s Apprenticeship, Traineeship and Cadetship program began two years ago and although 272 people participated, not one person has graduated despite many courses being one year-long.

The funding was aimed to train students in construction so they can build social housing accommodation as part of their on-the-job experience.

The investment was dubbed as providing “lasting economic benefits for NSW” but The Daily Telegraph can reveal no social housing accommodation has been completed.

Two years into the program, not a single person has graduated.

Half of the budget was to be spent on education delivery while the remaining $40 million was for building 100 social housing properties with the help of the trainees.

But as of October 31, 2021, a measly $8.9 million has been spent according to answers to questions from budget estimates.

Questions have also been raised about the promotion of the major project as most social housing tenants were told about the program through a text message.

An independent evaluation of the project commissioned by DPE and seen by the Telegraph said, “most responders either misinterpreted the SMS or were ill-suited to the program”.

“Delivery Partners reported feeling ill-equipped to manage the correspondence generated. This had a kick-on effect of slowing down subsequent phases,” the report said.

Labor housing spokesman Rose Jackson has slammed the project as a “fail”. Picture: Dylan Coker

The report stated that “tight time frames” around the project “pose various issues during implementation” and the LAHC and industry partners “would have appreciated more forewarning and planning”.

The problems included cadets not getting meal allowance payments in time for two weeks of “intensive training” and not enough time to “effectively mount promotional campaigns or tap into existing networks of social housing tenants”.

A Department of Planning and Environment spokesman defended the lack of graduates blaming the pandemic for the courses needing to be extended.

“Covid-19 required a move from face-to-face learning to online study.

“Consultation with the cohort of apprentices, trainees, and cadets decided that courses would be extended to allow for the opportunity for more on the job experience,” the spokesman said.

“The funds have been allocated over four years for the employment programs, with the bulk of expenditure in years two and three, as that is when most apprentices, trainees and cadets will be earning and learning.”

The spokesman added that although no social homes were completed yet, the project was “on track” to deliver 100 homes according to its timeline.

“Crucial lead-in activities such as design development, planning approval, tenancy relocations and procurement is complete, meaning work on four projects under the program – at St Marys, Merrylands, Dubbo and Fairfield – can begin this year,” the spokesman said.

Labor housing spokeswoman Rose Jackson described the project as “a complete and utter fail”.

“The Covid pandemic should have been an opportunity to turbocharge investment in social housing construction – it stimulates economic activity and supports employment,” she said.

“The NSW Government is using Covid as an excuse for doing the exact opposite, putting on ice a program intended to deliver social housing and useful on the job skills training.”