Trailblazer award for Build Up Tassie Head Coach

By Wendy Shaw

Helping young people build a career while also building much-needed affordable housing has won a young Tasmanian trailblazer a top award.

For the past two years, Melanie Ransley has been Build Up Tassie Head Coach, part of Centacare Evolve Housing and St Joseph Affordable Homes’ Build Up Tassie program, which supports young job seekers to gain work in the construction industry.

Mel won the Young Achiever/Trailblazer prize as part of the Housing Industry Association Tasmanian Building Women Awards, in Hobart in November.

She was thrilled to win the award.

“The category was full of other young trailblazers that were all deserving of this award,” she said.

“I feel very proud to have been the recipient.

“Being able to support young people to learn not only about construction but also about themselves is very rewarding. I get to watch people discover their area of interest in construction and also discover their personal strengths over a really small period of time.

“Having the opportunity to be a part of that and support their journey is incredible.”

Ben Wilson, CEO St Joseph Affordable Homes, congratulated Mel on the award.

“Mel has been instrumental in the delivery of the Build Up Tassie program and the implementation of St Joseph Affordable Homes ‘Supporting Women to Succeed in Construction Strategy’,” he said.

“We couldn’t be more proud of her work within our organisation and as a role model for the next generation of Tasmanians entering the construction industry.”

Mel’s leadership, passion for supporting young people including those with barriers to employment, and the skills that saw her win the coveted Master Builders’ Australia national apprentice of the year award in 2020, have stood her in good stead in her Build Up Tassie role.

The Build Up Tassie program is now nationally recognised as an industry leader for training and support.

There was further celebration when St Joseph Affordable Homes won the HIA Professional Medium Builder Award.

Mr Wilson said: “After just three years of operation we are immensely proud to be recognised as leaders in not only the community housing space but in the Tasmanian construction industry as a whole.

“We thank each and every one of our staff members, partners and stakeholders who have contributed to St Joseph Affordable Homes’ success.”

Meanwhile, Connor Klemke – three years on from starting an apprenticeship with St Joseph Affordable Homes after participating in the first round of Build Up Tassie – was a finalist in the HIA apprentice of the year awards

And St Joseph Affordable Homes was a finalist in the heritage renovation category for work on St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart.

St Joseph Affordable Homes is a building and construction social enterprise, launched by the Archdiocese of Hobart in July 2020.

It aims to provide sustainable work for young and vulnerable Tasmanians and alleviate housing stress and homelessness.