NT Skills Centre In 2017 HIA’s Darwin Skills TrainingCentre continued to grow and expandCentre has a growing reputation as aquality training and pathway provider its offering of courses to the industry. for school leavers. The second intake of first–year HIA’s commitment and growing carpentry apprentices commenced experience in providing quality industry and second–year apprentices training, from builder licensing and continued with good retention trade skills through to the VET in numbers. schools program, continues to be 2017 also saw the commencement acknowledged by the Northern of the first Vocational Education and Territory Government. HIA’s ongoing Training (VET) in schools Certificate I, participation on a number of with participation from several high government training and advisory schools in the greater Darwin area. committees and the flow of student Interest in this course has been high referrals to the Skills Centre provides and is evidence that HIA VET training positive reinforcement of the is highly valued in the Territory. The Association’s training program. GreenSmart HIA GreenSmart was established in1999. Now in its eighteenth year the green smartFEATURING AUSTRALIA’S TOP GREEN HOMES program continues to be a voluntary designing for your climate industry-driven initiative that encourages and promotes the mainstream application and benefits of environmentally-responsive housing. In 2017, HIA GreenSmart provided initiatives to support industry with sustainability awareness and assistance nationally through HIA training courses and online communications, including quarterly eNewsletters and the annual GreenSmart magazine. These initiatives provide up–to–date information on sustainabilitythe basicsaward winners 10 tips for the homewhat is GreenSmart?australia’s top designers + builders practical, affordable and durable environmental solutions for residential design and construction. showcased builders across Australia Throughout the year a number of leading the way in delivering more homes were assessed for GreenSmart comfortable and sustainable homes accreditation and in September, the for their owners to live in and enjoy. winners of the 17th Australian Pleasingly every state and territory GreenSmart Awards were announced was represented in the winners and live online. Once again the awards finalists list. HIA ANNUAL REPORT 2017 15|