ASI Year in Review 2023-2024

Welcome

Welcome to the 2023-2024 Year in Review

The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) is the peak body for the Australian steel industry. We represent the entire local steel supply chain from the individual through to all businesses regardless of size.

Our vision is to influence profitable growth for the complete Australian steel value chain. Our mission is to increase use of Australian steel and improve industry competitiveness in construction and other strategic markets. We do so by providing marketing, education, advocacy, sustainability and technical leadership to more than 6,000 members and 600 companies nationwide.

Discover how we worked towards these goals this year.

6,370

Total members

611

Corporate members

Increase in fabricator members 25%

Member retention rate 93%

21,865

Total reach of database

1,087

Attendees at ASI events and seminars

The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) is the steel industry’s voice, championing its many attributes and assisting in driving the prosperity of the industry.

All our activities are focused on influencing profitable growth for the entire Australian steel value chain. During 2023-24, membership continued to grow with one of the highest retention rates on record at an overall rate 93% and a 25% increase in fabricator members.

The inaugural ASI Steel Sustainability Awards were successfully launched in February 2024, with four main category winners from a field of 25 entries. The awards showcase the achievements of the end-to-end supply chain including architects, designers, engineers, steel manufacturers, distributors, fabricators, processors, builders and constructors in delivering steel-related solutions that result in positive sustainable impact.

ASI continued to advocate for local content federally and across all states in 2023-2024 including engagement with the Victoria Government on the Local Steel Enhancement Policy implementation requiring a minimum local content up to 95% for steel supplied using locally milled and locally fabricated-processed steel.

The ASI advocated for an increase in the local content requirement for wind towers; and made a submission to the stakeholder survey on Queensland Renewable Energy Supply Chain Resilience and Local Content targets. In NSW the ASI made strong representations to increase the local content targets for items such as wind towers, as embodied in the Renewable Energy Plan.

Now in its second year, the Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) scheme continues to assess and certify downstream steel suppliers including distributors, fabricators, roll formers and reinforcing processors, and verifies upstream steel producers against best practice environmental, social and governance indicators. More than 80 sites are now registered with the scheme. As a result, ASI fabricator membership has increased by 25% over the year with an increasing need for these compliant solutions.

Chief executive’s report

The Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) scheme continues to go from strength to strength, with 152 steelwork fabricators now audited and certified. It is notable that the latest version of AS4100 calls up AS/NZS 5131 as a secondary reference, embedding this into regulation and that the NCC update 2022 also reflects this.

A new ASI-sponsored student undergraduate scholarship was launched at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). A new jobs board was established on the ASI website. The jobs board provides an unmatched opportunity for companies that want to reach candidates who are passionate about the steel industry, with 9,900 job views since inception in July 2023.

ASI welcomed 1087 attendees at ASI events and seminars throughout the year. ASI bookshop, eLibrary, events and eLearning continue to provide tools for education, training and development to those seeking to better understand the steel industry.

Looking forward

The ASI will continue to promote steel as a career path through a range of new education and training initiatives, including an expanded careers site on the ASI website in the next 12 months. Other priorities include:

• ASI will continue to advocate for local content federally and across all states so that the focus is on Australian steel and fabricated steel quality compliance is assured.

• Raise awareness of steel supply chain transparency and traceability with our members. The Traceability of Steel definition, education, certification and standardisation will be addressed by investing in a three-year plan to recommend a solution.

• Protecting and growing Australian steel. ASI has called for restriction on unprocessed scrap steel exports by making a submission to a Federal Government Senate Inquiry into waste reduction and recycling policies and by supporting the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council initiative to restrict the export of unprocessed scrap.

Mark Cain, chief executive, Australian Steel Institute

• Promoting a sustainable steel industry through the SSA certification and awards schemes.

• Promoting steel as the preferred building material. 2023-2024 has been a very successful and exciting year for the ASI. I would like to thank the ASI Board for their continued support and direction, and our hard-working ASI team for their strong commitment to supporting ASI members.

We look forward to an even better 2024-2025 for the local steel industry.

Mark Cain Chief executive, Australian Steel Institute

“During 2023-24, membership continued to grow with one of the highest retention rates on record at an overall rate 93% and a 25% increase in fabricator members.”

Overview

Membership support over the past 12 months enabled the ASI to achieve the following significant advances for the Australian steel industry.

• Initiated a three-year traceability-of-steel project to better define, educate, certify and standardise local steel products so all the parts of a finished steel product have production records.

• Called for restrictions on export of unprocessed scrap steel by making a submission to a Federal Government Senate Inquiry into Waste Reduction and Recycling Policies and by supporting the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council initiative to ban the export of unprocessed scrap.

• Commenced an investigation into the significant increase in volumes of imported fabricated steel, mostly for use in portal frame construction which is seriously impacting the viability of structural steel fabricators serving this important market.

• Continued to push for compliance with Australian Standards in fabrication to protect local community from inferior steelwork. Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) has now audited and certified 152 steelwork fabricators to construction classes as per the standard across all states. It is notable that the latest version of AS 4100 calls up AS/NZS 5131 as a secondary reference, embedding this into regulation and that the National Construction Code (NCC) update 2022 also reflects this.

• Facilitated the development and publication of the Designing to NCC 2022 documents and presentations. ASI worked with members and the National Association of Steel-framed Housing (NASH) to develop a number of industry reference documents in areas that relate to changes in the NCC 2022. Further to this, ASI provided representations and submissions to the NCC 2025 review and consultation process.

• Partnered with WorldSkills Australia (WSA) to sponsor its national championship at the Melbourne Convention Centre in August 2023 for construction metal work and welding categories. The sponsorship reaped rewards, with several thousand attendees visiting the show each day and more than 150 people visiting ASI’s shared stand with Weld Australia and the Outsource Institute. The national winners will now compete at the 47th WorldSkills International Championships in Lyon, France, in September 2024.

• Launched the inaugural Steel Sustainability Awards in February 2024. There were four main category winners from a field of 25 entries. The awards showcase the achievements of the end-to-end supply chain including architects, designers, engineers, steel manufacturers, distributors, fabricators, processors, builders and constructors in delivering steel-related solutions that result in positive sustainable impact.

• Nominated the winning entry in the World Steel Association constructsteel awards Innovation of the Year category in 2023.

• Provided access to ASI’s world-class extensive list of more than 20,000+ steel related resources. ASI bookshop, eLibrary, events and eLearning provide tools for education, training and development to those seeking to better understand the steel industry. ASI welcomed 1,087 attendees at ASI events and seminars throughout the year.

• Continued to advocate for local content federally and across all states and territories so that the focus is on Australian steel and that fabricated steel quality compliance is assured. With government agencies now increasingly specifying AS/NZS 5131 and/or mandating certified fabricators to be used, demand for certification is continuing to be strong. SCA is continuing to expand its services to include other steel supply chain participants that conduct works under AS/NZS 5131.

• Continued to engage and collaborate with relevant key stakeholders and state bodies to identify opportunities to promote careers across the steel supply chain. ASI will seek participation at careers expos, conduct site tours for secondary students, work with the Careers Advisers Association to build awareness and promote careers in steel to school students, and work with registered training organisations in delivering training courses in both roll forming and shed building.

• Contributed as a member or via submissions to a range of industry bodies and committees in 2023-2024 (see https://www.steel.org.au/what-we-do/representationand-memberships/ and https://www.steel.org.au/whatwe-do/advocacy/submissions-to-government/ for the full list.

Key initiatives

Membership support over the past 12 months enabled the ASI to achieve the following significant advances for the Australian steel industry.

National

New South Wales

• Launched a web page for the ASI’s Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee containing a charter, definitions and some key resources. A baseline survey will be rolled out later this year.

• Engaged with University of Wollongong and the Australian Research Council on development of the Steel Research Hub. ASI chairs the industry advisory committee.

• Continued as associate partner of the Heavy Industry Low Carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre.

• Facilitated development and publication of the Designing to National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 by hosting a suite of online documents and video resources on the ASI website for use by the construction industry.

• Provided representations and submissions to the NCC 2025 review and consultation process.

• Initiated a review of AS/NZS 3500.3 which is now completed and has led to the inclusion of significantly improved design guidelines for roof gutters.

• Initiated a dialogue with key players in the steel design and supply chain focussed on a Design for Deconstruction concept.

• Guided a tour group of 20 fabricators to Fabtech in Chicago and visited US fabricators with Peddinghaus.

• Consulted with the Australian Bureau of Statistics regarding steel industry data and reports.

• Worked with World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, The Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union to promote decarbonisation efforts in the steel supply chain.

• Provided ongoing representation on the Renewable Energy Sector Board. Advocated for an increase in the local content requirement for wind towers. Provided case study information on the recent investment in local manufacturing capacity and capability to supply solar farm tracking system components as a consequence of the local content requirements for solar.

• Commenced an investigation into the significant increase in volumes of imported fabricated steel, mostly for use in portal frame construction which is seriously impacting the viability of structural steel fabricators serving this important market.

• Continued the popular industry tours in Illawarra and Western Sydney during 2023 and 2024, and Economic Briefing in Sydney.

• Provided networking opportunities to roll formers through NSW Roll Forming Best Practice Group meetings.

• Provided networking opportunities and information to fabricators on key topics such as strategies to engage with local school leavers to encourage apprenticeships, and the decrease in the workplace exposure limit for welding fume via the NSW Fabrication Group.

• Partnered with the University of Wollongong Women in STEM LIFT program and attended the official launch by the industry minister.

• Invited NSW and ACT members and their guests to a Christmas lunch on December 13 that included a tour of CommBank Stadium. The design, which includes 4,500 tonnes of Australian steel, was named national winner of large projects in the ASI’s 2020 Steel awards.

Northern Territory

• Met with representatives from the NT Chamber of Commerce and NT Manufacturers Council to discuss steel industry issues and the need for NT steel fabricators to be certified to meet the requirements of AS/NZS 5131.

• Met and discussed certification to AS/NZS 5151 with key NT steel fabricators. Jakes Steel and Welding became the first NT steel fabricator to be certified by Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) to AS/NZS 5131.

• Wrote to the NT Chief Minister calling for the Northern Territory Government to provide surety to local fabricators and mandate AS/NZS 5131 certification for all NT fabricators who tender for NT Government projects which require the supply and installation of structural steel.

Queensland

• Met with key contacts in the Olympic and Paralympic Infrastructure Office of the Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning to discuss the ASI’s Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) scheme and how it can assist the Queensland Government to meet its target of a Climate Positive 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

• Presented to Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC) inspectors on the topic of site inspection of structural steel and steelwork compliance.

• Followed up a submission to the stakeholder survey on Queensland Renewable Energy Supply Chain Resilience and Local Content targets. Recommended that SSA certification become a tender pre-qualification for Queensland renewable energy projects. Met with representatives from the Qld Dept of Energy & Public Works (DEPW) to discuss how SSA certification can assist to meet both ESG and local content targets in Queensland renewable energy projects.

• Continued to advocate for Queensland steel fabricators to be certified to AS/NZS 5131 in line with the Queensland Government’s commitment to supporting a certification scheme.

• Met with senior staff of Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) to share information and discuss support for the local steel supply chain. Prepared an ASI submission to MSQ regarding its plan to encourage support for training of the local steel supply chain.

• Attended meetings of the ASI Queensland Construction/ Technical Committee; National Association of Steel Framed Housing (NASH) Queensland Chapter Committee; National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Queensland Committee, Australian Construction Modellers Association (ACMA) Committee; and Engineers Australia (EA) Queensland Structural Branch Committee.

• Maintained regular engagement with Industry Capability Network (ICN) Victoria, the Victoria Government – Dept of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), Local Jobs First Commissioner, Office of Projects Victoria @ Department of Treasury and Finance, Vic Roads / Dept of Transport & Planning, and Victorian Skills Authority (VSA).

• Represented at quarterly meetings of the Victorian Skills Authority’s Industry Advisory Groups (IAGs) in both construction and manufacturing.

• Achieved successful outcomes from a series of Spark North-East Link Steel Industry Forums held this financial year, with the ASI, key steel manufacturers BlueScope and InfraBuild, and local steel fabricators, together with multi-national construction consortium Spark resulting in clear visibility of steel specific requirements totalling more than 200,000 tonnes.

• Continued to engage the Victoria Government on the Local Steel Enhancement Policy implementation which has resulted in any work packages associated with strategic Victorian Government projects released for tender to clearly specify the requirements for local steel content, for example a “minimum requirement of 90% of local steel content using locally milled and locally fabricated-processed steel”.

• The Victorian Government has awarded the first tunnelling contract for the steel-intensive $3.6b suburban rail loop east project. The 16 kilometres of twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley will be delivered by an internationally renowned consortium of CPB Contractors, Ghella and Acciona Construction. The project has a requirement for 90% minimum local content for steel products using locally milled steel and locally fabricated-processed steel.

• Completed a submission paper to the Victoria Government on Strengthening Victoria’s Local Jobs First Act 2003 – Consultation Paper Feedback

• The updated 2023 Victoria Steel Supply Chain Directory was successfully completed and launched on the Victoria Government’s Made in Victoria site and will be shared internally across the Victorian Government which will help further drive local steel content in Victoria moving forward.

• The ASI in conjunction with registered training organisation (RTO) Kangan Institute have set up a Victorian Government subsidised Cert II Engineering (Roll forming) Training Course which commenced in March 2024 for ASI Victorian Roll forming members to upskill existing employees.

• Held monthly meetings with the ASI Victorian Construction Technical Committee covering an overview of current projects and activities, new technical developments, and general business.

Victoria

South

Australia and Tasmania

• Maintained regular engagement with the Department for Education SA and the Office of the Industry Advocate SA, and as required with Infrastructure SA and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport SA.

• Brought local Australian steel producers together on one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects. The SA Torrens to Darlington project will require some structural steelwork and at least 170,000 tonnes of reinforced steel over the construction timeline. One of the bidders ConnecT2D Alliance which comprises CPB, Acciona and Ghella sought introductions through the ASI to key steel suppliers BlueScope, Liberty and InfraBuild. The meeting discussed how ConnecT2D Alliance can work collaboratively to maximise engagement and opportunities with the local steel industry.

• Positive support from ASI SA fabricator and manufacturing members in 2024 for their participation in some activities to promote career pathways in the local steel industry, including representation at the 2024 Adelaide Careers and Employment Expo as part of a Student Pathways Hub funded by the SA Dept for Education.

• Received great support from ASI SA fabricators and manufacturers in Adelaide in the development of young trade skills via engagement with the newly constructed and opened SA Findon Technical College. Providing one-day per week work experience to the

students, depending on the student’s home location and suitable proximity to the fabricator/manufacturer’s site. The technical colleges will support students in years 10 to 12 to complete their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) while undertaking vocational education and training (VET) in specialist state-of-the-art facilities.

• Continued engagement with the South Australia Government via submission on the Green Paper on South Australia’s Energy Transition and also South Australia’s 20-Year State Infrastructure StrategyDiscussion Paper Feedback

• In Tasmania, engaged with North-West Transmission Developments (NWTD) who provided assurances to the ASI that their procurement process is run not only in accordance with all legislative requirements but encourages sourcing materials from Australian suppliers and manufacturers and that the project proponents (including main contractors) for Tasmania’s Marinus Link Project are required to follow the Australian Industry Participation Plan requirements.

Western Australia

The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) is actively involved in various initiatives to support the steel industry in Western Australia. Key areas of focus in 2023-2024 included:

• Met with government officials to discuss job creation in the steel sector.

• Represented members on the Advanced Manufacturing Taskforce (WA steel firms are investing in advanced technologies like automated systems and robotics).

• Collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs to address ongoing labour shortages, particularly for welders and fabricators.

• Emphasised the need for traceability of building materials to support recycling and the circular economy, with ASI advocating for traceability in government procurement.

• Addressed issues with project specifications and promoting third-party certification to ensure quality and compliance in steel fabrication.

• Ensured government procurement policies support compliance and traceability, with ASI promoting the Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) scheme for supply chain certification.

• Supported decarbonisation efforts through the development of hydrogen and renewable energy projects for steelmaking.

• Collaborated on the Bulk Freight Wagon Initiative to enhance efficiency in rail heavy haulage and support research and development.

• Highlighted opportunities in decommissioning activities off the coast of WA, presenting significant business opportunities for ASI members.

• Brought on AMOG as a sponsor for Curtin University’s annual final-year engineering student awards.

• Attended a Net Zero Australia and Infrastructure Needs for Heavy Industry Processing Scenario webinar organised by the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC).

• Attended FEnEx CRC Colloquium: Fundamental Research and Partnerships - Unlocking the use of Pilbara Iron Ore in Low Carbon Ironmaking.

These efforts aim to strengthen the steel industry in WA through innovation, compliance and sustainable practices.

Steelwork Compliance Australia

• ShedSafe® is the ASI’s third-party accreditation and training program for shed manufacturers, buyers and builders. Buyers can purchase a ShedSafe® accredited shed confident in the engineering, steel products and site specification of the steel shed they are purchasing. Students can undertake training to an industry recognised standard.

• Fifty-eight students were enrolled in the ASI’s NSW and Queensland shed builders’ course on May 20, 2024. The Masters in Building Training (MIBT)-backed, webbased course provides a qualification in shed building over a two-year period. Experienced shed builders seeking a qualification can chose a recognition of prior learning (RPL) option.

ASI’s Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) scheme is currently the only certifying body that is accredited by JASANZ for auditing to the full scope of AS/NZS 5131 (Steelwork Fabrication & Erection).

SCA has now audited and certified 152 steelwork fabricators to construction classes as per the standard across all states. It is notable that the latest version of AS 4100 calls up AS/NZS 5131 as a secondary reference, embedding this into practice and that the NCC update also reflects this.

With state government departments now specifying AS/NZS 5131 and/or mandating certified fabricators to be used, demand for certification is continuing to be strong. SCA is continuing to expand its services to include other steel supply chain participants that conduct works under AS/NZS 5131.

Steel Sustainability Australia

The ASI Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) certification scheme has grown significantly since its inception in January 2023 with more than 90 sites registered and more than half of these now certified across Australia. Fabricators make up the highest proportion with 65 sites registered, or 70%, and reinforcing is the second highest with 22 sites registered or 24%.

The scheme assesses and certifies downstream steel suppliers including distributors, fabricators, roll formers and reinforcing processors, and verifies upstream steel producers against best practice environmental, social and governance indicators.

The SSA scheme is an approved initiative under the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Responsible Product Framework, enabling SSA certified steel suppliers to contribute a number of credit points towards a Green Star Buildings rating.

In 2024 four Australian steel manufacturing mills were re-verified to SSA – BlueScope Port Kembla Steelworks, Liberty Primary Steel Whyalla Steelworks, InfraBuild Laverton Steel Mill and Sydney Steel Mill. The scheme also became available to international steel manufacturing mills seeking to become verified to supply raw steel to Australian downstream steel suppliers.

SSA is now working with the New Zealand Steel Sustainability Council for a similar program to be available in New Zealand. ASI anticipates the program will grow exponentially as demand for the GBCA Green Star Building’s rating tool becomes more widespread in the building and construction industry.

Focus areas

Advocacy

ASI continued its advocacy in 2023-2024 on local content, compliance and certification schemes; technical education, steel careers, student awards; continued engagement with industry associations; and increased level of activity with WorldSkills Australia.

Key advocacy initiatives in 2023-2024 included:

• ASI called for restrictions on export of unprocessed scrap steel by making a submission to a Federal Government Senate Inquiry into Waste Reduction and Recycling Policies and by supporting the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council initiative to ban the export of unprocessed scrap.

• Worked with domestic steel producers to meet the Federal Government’s emission reduction requirements under the Australian Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The ASI contends the CBAM design needs to include the provision of a comprehensive traceability scheme that is capable of providing verification of the provenance of the carbon emission intensity value associated with any given parcel of semi-finished steel or finished steel products.

• Initiated a three-year traceability-of-steel project to better define, educate, certify and standardise local steel products so all the parts of a finished steel product have production records.

• Continued to push for compliance with Australian Standards in fabrication to protect local community from inferior steelwork. Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) has now audited and certified 152 steelwork fabricators to construction classes as per the standard across all states. It is notable that the latest version of AS 4100 calls up AS/NZS 5131 as a secondary reference, embedding this into regulation and that the National Construction Code (NCC) update 2022 also reflects this.

• Facilitated the development and publication of the Designing to NCC 2022. ASI worked with the National Association of Steel-framed Housing (NASH) to develop a number of industry reference documents in areas that relate to changes in the NCC 2022. Further to this, ASI provided representations and submissions to the NCC 2025 review and consultation process.

Sustainability

The ASI is working with domestic steel producers to meet the Federal Government’s emission reduction requirements under the Australian Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The ASI contends the CBAM design needs to include the provision of a comprehensive traceability scheme that is capable of providing verification of the provenance of the carbon emission intensity value associated with any given parcel of semi-finished steel or finished steel products. This traceability scheme needs to be able to account for the transit of imported steel and steel products through intermediate countries. In the absence of credible verified carbon emission intensity credentials, the value assigned should default to that of the highest quartile producer group in the country of origin. ASI sustainability initiatives in 2023-2024 included:

• Prepared a submission with input from local steel producers to the Senate Inquiry into Effectiveness of Federal Government Policy on Waste, Recycling and the Circular Economy. The inquiry is expected to release its findings during November 2024. The ASI has called for the prohibition of scrap steel exports via the Federal Government using its powers under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020. Steel scrap is a sovereign and increasingly scarce and valuable resource, the ASI submission says. Australia needs to fully optimise waste and the circular economy by prohibiting the export of unprocessed steel scrap.

• Launched the inaugural Steel Sustainability Awards in February 2024. There were four main category winners from a field of 25 entries. The awards showcase the achievements of the end-to-end supply chain including architects, designers, engineers, steel manufacturers, distributors, fabricators, processors, builders and constructors in delivering steel-related solutions that result in positive sustainable impact.

• Developing as a member of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) a clear policy roadmap across all levels of government for implementation of an embodied carbon framework and measurement at scale across the Australian built environment to promote consistency across residential and commercial buildings and infrastructure.

• Working closely with the National Australian Built Environment Rating System as they develop a new carbon rating system for measuring embodied carbon in building materials.

• Chaired the Australian Steel Stewardship Forum (ASSF) which brings together a range of ASI manufacturing members and provides a forum to discuss and have input into a variety of steel stewardship and sustainability issues and developments, and enables a platform for developing advocacy plans to enhance our representation with government groups. ASSF membership provides direct access to ASBEC policy planning and output, providing greater representation for our industry on sustainability matters.

• Worked on a Design for Deconstruction project to strategise the list of building elements and how they will be best reused/reclaimed/recycled.

• ASI is a participating member of the International Steel Constructors Group, which is chaired by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, and has participating steel industry associations from across the globe. Currently this group is working on guidelines for low carbon design using steel and provides a great opportunity for international shared learnings in this area.

• ASI continues to be an active participant with the World Steel Association sustainability programs, which includes life cycle analysis (LCA) and decarbonisation awareness and measurement initiatives.

• Australian Standards. ASI has participated in meetings with broader industry for a current Australian Standards initiative to develop a standard for ‘green steel’. It has also provided input and support for Infrastructure Australia in its endeavours to provide accurate forecasts for construction and its impact on nearer term embodied carbon.

Focus areas

Education

ASI welcomed 1087 attendees at ASI events and seminars throughout the year. ASI bookshop, eLibrary, events and eLearning continue to provide tools for education, training and development to those seeking to better understand the steel industry. Highlights in 2023-2024 included:

Careers

• ASI continued to offer ASI undergraduate steel awards to student winners from all Australian universities teaching steel design.

• ASI continued to offer student lectures by ASI state managers to all Australian universities teaching steel design. The key lectures were Economical Steel Structures (a more general presentation), Steel Structures – Construction (presented to construction management students) and Bolting and Welding

• ASI is trialling a student undergraduate scholarship at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with ASI member Orrcon Steel as the sponsor.

Seminars/webinars

• ASI plays a significant role in education for designing with steel, through live seminars, eLearning and webinars. ASI’s 2023-2024 list of seminars included Site Inspection of Structural Steelwork (130 participants), ASI Welding Course for Engineers (14), Finite Element Analysis of Steel Structures (147), Reducing the Risk of Fatigue Failure of Structural Steelwork (36), AS 4100 Steel Structures Design (150), Workshop Inspection of Structural Steelwork (69), Economic Briefings held in Sydney and Perth (80), NSW site visit tours Illawarra x 3, and western Sydney x 2 (20 each).

eLibrary

• Responded to more than 700 eLibrary enquiries since 1 July 2023.

• Sold over 800 books (eBooks and hardcopies) since 1 July 2023.

eLearning

Six online eLearning courses have been added to the ASI eLearning program in the past 12 months, bringing the total to 69. A total of 421 people downloaded courses. eLearning has had a restructure, with upgrades to the eLearning platform and courses to ensure an even more reliable, stable and enjoyable user experience and capacity for future corporate package scalability.

Top 10 eLearning courses

Convention and awards

ASI offers a number of tools for ASI members to promote their services, network and improve their understanding of latest industry developments. Key among them is the ASI national convention, which brings together key stakeholders in the steel industry for three days of presentations by steel leaders on key issues impacting the industry.

Preparation is underway for this year’s convention in Brisbane on 8-10 September 2024 on the theme, What it takes to ensure a design and structure is sustainable. A roll formers session will explore latest changes to code and practices, a fabricators forum will look at compliance and traceability, and the Australian Construction Modellers Association will hold its AGM and forum.

Two major awards are held by the ASI to recognise members contributions to the steel industry: the Steel Excellence Awards recognising outstanding steel design and construction and the Steel Sustainability Awards recognising outstanding sustainable design and construction.

Focus areas

Membership

• During 2023-24, membership grew to one of the highest retention rates on record (93%) and a 25% increase in fabricator members. The biggest driver was the continued support and advocacy ASI provides for the steel industry and the impact this directly has on their business, along with increasing uptake and success of ASI compliance schemes such as Steel Sustainability Australia and Steelwork Compliance Australia. ASI members receive significant reductions on audit costs, an incentive for membership.

• Membership grew to 6,370 in 2023-2024, up from 5,557 the previous year.

• ASI now has 611 corporate members, up from 554 the year previous.

• Fabricator membership enjoyed a 25% increase in 2023-2024, with an additional 61 members joining ASI. The ASI offers support, engagement and consultation to the fabrication community. This along with substantial discounts to all fabricators for the SCA and SSA compliance schemes has seen the fabricator membership continue to grow.

• Professional membership increased by 13%. This was driven by the focus on communications with members on latest developments in the steel industry, technical updates, education and training offerings and opportunities.

• The ASI launched a jobs board that provides an unmatched opportunity for companies that want to reach candidates who are passionate about the steel industry, with 9,900 job views since inception in July 2023.

• The ASI is an active user of social media to promote its services. The ASI website has more than 700,000 page views and the ASI LinkedIn page more than 70,000 impressions in the past financial year.

• ASI welcomed 1087 attendees at ASI events and seminars throughout the year. ASI bookshop, eLibrary, events and eLearning continue to provide tools for education, training and development to those seeking to better understand the steel industry.

• The total reach of databases was 21,865.

Training and development

The ASI engaged a dedicated training manager in 20232024 to address trade skills shortages in the steel supply chain and create strategies towards securing future skills requirements in Australia. Key initiatives in 2023-2024 included:

• Connected NSW fabricators and engineering members with schools to promote careers in steel via the Department of Education’s Regional Industry Education Program. Educational tours provided real-life workshop experiences for the students, with a number of young people taking up steel apprenticeships.

• Developed a new ASI webpage for careers advisers to expand ASI’s reach to school students nationally to promote careers in steel. A key focus is to continue to build relationships with school communities and expand to other underrepresented people.

• Continues to collaborate with TAFE institutes nationally offering a number of Certificate II in Engineering courses to upskill current employees.

• Connected with 850-900 careers advisers across NSW/ ACT to promote jobs in steel.

• Provided input to the Australian Government Skills Priority List report published by Jobs and Skills Australia skills report.

• ASI collaborated with the AiGroup and Training Services NSW to deliver the Driving Sustainable Modern Manufacturing seminar specifically designed for ASI fabricator members.

• ASI attended the Tamworth Engineering and Manufacturing showcase at Belmore Engineering as part of a guided tour of eight steel businesses for students from six local high schools.

Marketing and communications

• Improved connectivity and reach by designing and implementing a strategy to revamp the Steel Australia magazine to include a fully interactive online version along with a revamped print magazine.

• Prepared and implemented a marketing strategy to promote the ASI’s inaugural Steel Sustainability Awards. There were four main category winners from a field of 25 entries.

• Continued to develop an overarching plan for all ASI compliance solutions to make the certification process for SCA, SSA and ShedSafe®, easier for steel members to navigate.

• Enhanced media engagement by preparing and distributing media releases on a raft of ASI advocacy initiatives and other steel-related matters.

• Improved member enagagement and access to industry insights by preparing and releasing a new ASI monthly publication Metal Musings recognising individual contributions by ASI members to the steel industry.

• Prepared briefings to government and responded to requests from MPs to discuss with ASI its perspectives on the federal government’s safeguard mechanism reforms, legislation covering anti-dumping, and its policy on export of unprocessed scrap steel.

• Improved member enagagement and access to industry insights by preparing and releasing a monthly news report, brochures and regular electronic direct mails, social media and online content promoting ASI and its activities.

• Prepared and implemented a marketing strategy for promoting the ASI annual convention, ASI Steel Excellence Awards, Steel Sustainability Awards and Steel Sustainability Australia certification scheme.

The year ahead

2024-2025 is shaping as an exciting and successful year for the ASI and its members, with existing initiatives reaffirmed and new projects and programs starting.

Key priorities for the ASI in the coming 12 months will be:

• A three-year traceability-of-steel project to better define, educate, certify and standardise local steel products so all the parts of a finished steel product have production records.

• Continue an investigation into the significant increase in volumes of imported fabricated steel, mostly for use in portal frame construction which is seriously impacting the viability of structural steel fabricators serving this important market.

• Further calls for restrictions on dumping of overseas steel on Australian markets and export of unprocessed scrap steel.

• A continued push for compliance with Australian Standards in fabrication to protect local community from inferior steelwork. Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) has now audited and certified 152 steelwork fabricators to construction classes as per the standard across all states.

• A strong focus by the ASI’s Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee on ensuring representation by woman and minorities in the Australin steel industry.

• Continued engagement and collaboration with relevant key stakeholders and state bodies to identify opportunities to promote careers across the steel supply chain. ASI will seek participation at careers expos, conduct site tours for secondary students, work with the Careers Advisers Association to build awareness and promote careers in steel to school students, and work with registered training organisations in delivering training courses in both roll forming and shed building.

ASI event calendar for 2023-2024

ASI event calendar for 2023-2024

Image (right): Umbagong district park pedestrian bridges winner of the 2024 Steel Sustainability Awards in the small projects category.

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