Benchmarking International Best Practices for Circular Skills Training: Lessons for Australia

Managing construction and demolition waste poses a persistent challenge necessitating effective management strategies. Circular economy principles have been acknowledged as pivotal for addressing this challenge, demanding a profound reassessment of design, construction, and maintenance practices, particularly focusing on material utilisation. Consequently, it is crucial to implement targeted training programs tailored for construction professionals. Furthermore, there exists a compelling rationale for integrating circular design thinking principles into academic curricula, acknowledging a critical skills gap in Australia. However, effective strategies to address this challenge remain an ongoing pursuit. This study aims to identify global best practices for advancing circular skills by conducting a systematic review of extant literature, specifically focusing on circular economies. Notably, the review emphasised practices observed in the Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, United Kingdon, United States, Finland, and Canada. The analysis delved into the types of CE skills and the different modes of delivery. The study’s findings serve to identify successful approaches and extract valuable insights from international contexts, which could be pertinent to Australia. Ultimately, this study provides evidence and recommendations to inform the development of Australia’s national circular skills strategy, retraining initiatives, and the seamless integration of circular principles into vocational and higher education curricula. Additionally, it contributes significantly to the global understanding of optimal practices for facilitating workforce transitions.