The Master Builders Podcast

Are you starting up your first business?  Are you setting up your business systems and procedures? Is your business growing?

Don't let tax time catch you out. 

Our second Tax Time podcast guest says that preparing for paying tax is an essential part of your business planning and financial management. 

Aaron Froud is a Partner at BellchambersBarrett in Canberra with over 20 years professional experience across business, tax and acco...

Is it time you caught up on the latest news on tax deductions? Where can I find a one-stop-shop for the latest news on tax for small businesses? Is there an ATO website just for tradies? Where do I reach out for support?

Our latest podcast guest has the answers and will tell you where to find everything you need to know. 

Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh is the ATO spokesperson for Tax Time.  You may have seen him on morning TV break...

We recently released our blueprint for future-proofing the building and construction industry’s workforce in wake of a shortage of half a million workers.

With critical shortages across industries and skill levels hindering economic recovery and productivity growth, we chat with Jennifer Lawrence, Manager Industry Policy,  about what will be needed in the coming years and the policy priorities for attracting, recruiting, training a...

This is the second in a 2 episode series featuring Shaun Schmitke - Master Builders Australia National Director - IR/Safety/Contracts.

We spoke with Shaun about the incorporation of prohibition on sexual harassment in connection with work into the Fair Work Act,  and expansion of the circumstances where employees can request flexible work arrangements. 

Shaun takes us through recent changes now in effect, changes soon to come, and ...

What do recent and further changes to industrial relations legislation mean for your business? 

This is the first in a 2 episode series featuring Shaun Schmitke - Master Builders Australia National Director - IR/Safety/Contracts.

He takes us through recent changes now in effect, changes soon to come, and what's on the horizon. 

Stay tuned for our second episode soon- looking at steps you can take and where to seek further advice. 

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Our podcast has dropped to celebrate #IWD2023! Featuring some of the industry's best and brightest, we speak with them about how they are supporting more women into trades. 

With guest host Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn, hear industry insights from our three panellists:

• Grace Ferreira, Director of Master Builders Australia & Co-founder of Canberra-based Pacific Formwork and Precast Projects.
• Michael Foreman, Manager, Engineer...

We’re back! Back with our host Max Rafferty in 2023 to bring you in-depth interviews with people who know all about our industry and tell their stories in their words.

Today we talk to two people with deep insights into things that matter in our industry.

We meet Craig Edmunds, President of Master Builders Australia. He is an industry heavy weight with a passion for people and supporting them to reach their full potential in their ...

In this episode we continue our conversation with James McGregor about how to sell sustainable energy efficient homes without sounding salesy as he talks us through a simple 4 step sales process.

If you missed the first part just check it out in your podcast feed.

James is the founder of The Blue Tribe Company and he helps companies to develop and sell products that align profit with purpose - in other words they are financially su...

In this episode Max Rafferty and Robert Shaw discuss sales and marketing of homes.

Max talks with James McGregor about how to sell sustainable energy efficient homes without sounding salesy using a simple to use sales technique designed for builders.

Now we had so much to cover on this topic that we have made this into a two part podcast episode.  The first part is how to talk to consumers about energy efficient homes which is prob...

In this episode Max Rafferty and Robert Shaw talk about the challenges of selling energy efficient homes.

Max interviews Simon Dunstan who is the owner of SJD Homes and is a leader in sustainable housing solutions. He is also the man behind Melbourne's first zero energy home.

In this episode he shares his wealth of knowledge on what he has learned on his journey of building and selling energy efficient and sustainable homes.

Discov...

In this episode of the Master Builders Podcast, host Max Rafferty and co host Robert Shaw talk about the business of building with Jock Merrigan. 

Jock is the founding Director of Urban Habitats and has over 20 years of experience in the residential building industry.

As an active member of the Master Builders Association of South Australia, Jock chairs the Housing Committee, and is a member of the Council of Management. Jock is al...

In this episode of the Master Builders Podcast, host Max Rafferty and guest host Jock Merrigan talk about the business of building with industry leader Robert Shaw.   Now if you have been involved with Master Builders for any amount of time the chances are you will have heard about Robert.    Robert joined the National Board in 2015 and is Chair of the National Residential Builders Council.   He is a former President of Master Buil...

This episode of The Master Builders Podcast is called "Zero Energy Housing", co-hosts Max Rafferty and Robert Shaw discuss the topic in full detail with Josh Byrne and Simon Dunstan.

Josh, who is most known as the West Australian presenter of the ABC's Gardening Australia, started the Josh's House Project, a video series that documents the building process of Josh's zero energy home. Today he shares practical insights on the best w...

SUMMARY

This episode of The Master Builders Podcast is called "Open for Business with Mario Biasin from Metricon", co-hosts Max Rafferty and Robert Shaw talk about how builders can keep running their businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic with Mario Baisin who is the CEO and one of the founders of Metricon, Australia’s leading residential builder. 

In this interview Mario Biasin discusses some of the practical things Metri...

SUMMARY

This episode of The Master Builders Podcast is called "Open for Business with Mark Little from Little Constructions", co-hosts Max Rafferty and Robert Shaw talk about how builders can keep running their businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemi. Featured today is Mark Little from Little Constructions.

Mark discusses some of the practical steps he has been taking to keep building from how he is managing his sites, manag...

In this special episode of the Master Builders Podcast, host Max Rafferty discussed managing COVID-19 on construction sites with the Senior Safety Coordinator for Master Builders Western Australia, Michelle DeGalt-Rohlf.

Michelle explains some of the practical things that builders can do on site to manage risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the practices she discusses are not that difficult and most of what is disc...

This episode of The Master Builders Podcast is called "Solar Power" and co-hosts Max Rafferty and Robert Shaw talk about harnessing the power of the sun to the benefit of builders. Featured today are two interviews with experts on the subject, Alistair Sproul of the University of New South Wales and Rohan Forrest of Carter Grange.

Alistair explains the systems and hardware of solar power and how people can utilise it for both busin...

In this episode of The Master Builders Podcast called “Building in Bushfire Prone Areas with Colin Wood”, co-hosts Max Rafferty and Robert Shaw sit down with Colin to chat about building in bushfire prone areas, with such factors as material selection and landscaping near the home being a major consideration.

Colin Wood has been looking at the issue of building in bushfire zones for the past 25 years and as you will hear, Colin was...