Building Australia's future timber industry capability

Building Australia's future timber industry capability

Friday 28 Nov 2025

Last week, WoodSolutions hosted its annual Industry Academia Workshop, a two-day forum designed to strengthen the connection between research, education and the practical needs of the wood products sector. The workshop was hosted by the Forestry Centre of Excellence (FCoE) and the University of South Australia, providing an ideal setting to explore the future of timber in the Australian built environment and its potential to drive innovation, sustainability, and growth across the sector.

Run by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA)’s WoodSolutions program, the event provides an opportunity for researchers, lecturers, industry professionals and technical experts to come together to share knowledge, test ideas and explore solutions that support the future capability of the sector.

Aligning research with real industry needs

A core focus of the workshop was guiding and supporting research to ensure it addresses the practical challenges and emerging opportunities facing the timber and construction sectors. PhD candidates and early-career academics engaged directly with industry professionals working across forestry, manufacturing, design, construction and education.

Discussions explored fibre availability, market demand and how timber can be used responsibly across the supply chain. Sessions focused on designing durable and sustainable homes considered how the sector responds to performance requirements while meeting growing interest in low-carbon construction.

Participants also examined how industry and education providers can work together to build capacity, improve career pathways and support future skills. This includes keeping timber and related disciplines visible in STEM curricula and ensuring students understand the role of timber in modern construction.

Sharing innovation and sector expertise

The day commenced with an excellent field tour led by ForestrySA, taking participants from UniSA City West to Mount Crawford Forest. The tour included a visit to the Forest Information Centre and inspections of key plantation and harvesting sites at Watts Gully and Charcoal Pits.

ForestrySA specialists provided practical insights into plantation establishment, harvesting operations and fibre supply - offering participants a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the processes behind sustainable fibre production.

Over the two days, the program showcased collaborative projects and highlighted innovation taking place across the built environment, research programs and manufacturing. Industry presenters shared case studies that demonstrate new approaches, emerging technologies and opportunities to apply research to real-world challenges.

A key theme of this year’s workshop was exploring how timber can help tackle Australia’s housing shortage. The sessions sparked important conversations about how the construction sector can harness timber to deliver faster, more sustainable, and cost-effective housing solutions, highlighting opportunities for real impact across the industry.

Supporting sector growth and capability

The workshop reinforces the importance of collaboration in driving sector growth. By strengthening connections between academia and industry, WoodSolutions is supporting research translation, innovation and the practical application of knowledge across Australia’s forest and wood products value chain.

Source: WoodSolutions

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