About FTAA

Membership of the Finishing Trades Association of Australia for Professional Trades Associations

The building and construction industry can be tough. When you are an independent business owner, what you often need is someone to listen to you, to give you good advice, and to advocate for you.

Employers in the finishing trades have never needed support and representation more than today. This is a time of great change in the industry.

• Concerns with culture and practices between industrial parties, in particular across commercial construction.
• The State Government’s plans to substantially update the Victorian Building Act giving regulators more scope to regulate the industry and power to enforce compliance.
• Significant changes in relation to the employee entitlement organisations, how they engage with, and impact, businesses.
• The clear need for better balance and genuine negotiation in industrial relations matters.
• Significant changes to federal employment law redefining what is an employee, the types of employment and potentially upending the industry’s sub-contractor model.
• Need for clarity on the new licensing requirements and timing in order to ensure that the implementation of the Building Amendment Act meets the industry’s needs.
• The tough business environment with the slowdown of the economy, difficulty in finding good quality employees, increases in costs, and the ongoing challenges of getting paid.
• The future skilled workforce when the finishing trades are not held in high regard and quality training options are shrinking.

While many of the issues the finishing trades face today are shared across the building and construction industry, enough are unique that they benefit from their own representation. Last on site, last to get paid, treated as an afterthought is the opinion often shared. The finishing trades need someone who is backing them, their own voice, their own seat at the table and their chance to be heard. 

A Quarter of a Century and Still Strong

This year the FTAA celebrates its 25th anniversary. For over 25 years the association has been representing the broader finishing trades by bringing together the employer member organisations for;

• Painter and Decorators through The Master Painters’ Association of Victoria,
• Plasterers and Renderers through The Commercial Plastering Contractors Group,
• Tilers through The Master Ceramic Tilelayers Association of Victoria and,
• The Australian Institute of Protective Coatings

The FTAA was born out of the support provided by the Master Painters Association of Victoria for the other finishing trades. The MPAV has been representing painting, decorating and signwriting employers since 1895. 

The FTAA provides advice and support based on deep knowledge of the industry and the challenges all finishing trades experience by:

• Listening to members, understanding the issue, finding solutions and acting to get a better outcome
• Engaging with government, industry parties and manufacturers, contributing to the conversation and advocating for the needs and rights of the finishing trades employers
• By providing support, advice and resources to help members promote their business, run it more effectively, reduce risk and manage costs.

Members of the FTAA have access to employer advice and support on;

• Employment related matters
• Business and Marketing
• Technical practices and resources

The FTAA is a voice for the finishing trades through advocacy to government, industry stakeholders and the public.

As part of our 25th anniversary the FTAA is investing in our industry by;

• Launching a new website to provide members with better access to information and services.
• Trialling new products and services to support the needs of members in the current market.
• Developing new employer and technical training programs.
• Engaging with industry on the relaunch of the plastering and tile laying associations to provide these trades with their own specific representation and voice.

We need your support to help us help you.

• If you want to see conditions for finishing trades improve.
• If you want to have a voice to ensure your interests are considered in the new licensing scheme and changes to regulation.
• If you want to have someone to call, that will support you and give you informed, unbiased advice and to have your back.
• If you want to give something back to your trade and build a brighter future for the next generations of plasterers, tilers, painters and the rest of the finishing trades.

Then join the FTAA or one of the Master trades associations for finishing trades now.