AFPA - Australian Flexible Pavement Association

11/12/2025

Assessing asphalt quality onsite?

Government officers need practical capability to recognise compliant work, identify risks, and support durable outcomes.

Asphalt Paving Essentials delivers that capability—with plant visits, laboratory engagement, and evidence-based assessment frameworks.

📍 Sydney, 10-12 March 2026
⏱️ 18 CPD hours
👥 Limited places

Register: https://afpa.asn.au/asphalt-paving-essentials-workshop/

10/12/2025

AfPA is pleased to share the successful completion of the Construction Taster Program for Women, delivered by Building Women.

Our involvement was led by Melissa Ekberg, Executive Director WA & SA and head of AfPA Capability and Inclusion, who is instrumental in driving our inclusion strategy. Throughout the program, Melissa met with the participants to discuss professional pathways, underscoring the value of curiosity and continuous learning across all facets of the construction sector.

We extend a special thank you to our partner Downer, who facilitated a crucial site tour in western Adelaide, offering participants direct, practical exposure to flexible pavement operations.

We congratulate all 15 participants on achieving a remarkable 100% completion rate. This outcome confirms the efficacy of targeted training programs in building the skilled workforce required for the future of our industry.

🎓 Celebrating Success – Construction Taster Program Graduation

Last week, Building Women proudly celebrated the graduation of our Construction Taster Program for Women, and what an incredible milestone it was.

We are especially proud to share that 15 women started the program and all 15 completed. That 100% completion rate is more than a statistic. It represents courage, resilience, commitment and belief in what’s possible.

For many of these women, walking through the door on day one took bravery. By graduation day, they were standing taller, speaking with confidence, and stepping into futures they once thought were out of reach.

It was an honour to welcome and acknowledge the support of Matt Burnell MP, The Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP, and Ella Shaw - Labor for Elizabeth, who joined us to celebrate the achievements of our participants and the impact of this work.

This program was delivered with the support of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations through the Building Women’s Careers grant. We extend our sincere thanks to all of our project partners: CITB South Australia NAWIC SA Maxima Group Australia AFPA - Australian Flexible Pavement Association, Office for Women, Renewal SA and supporters whose commitment made this program possible, including industry, training, and community partners who continue to champion greater inclusion in construction.

To our graduates - you have proven what is possible when opportunity meets courage. We can’t wait to see what you build next. 💪

SYC

03/12/2025

AfPA delivers its International Women's Day Breakfast in Brisbane, March 2026, proudly sponsored by Fulton Hogan and supporting the national theme Balance the Scales.

The Australian Flexible Pavement Association strengthens gender diversity across the flexible pavement sector through recognition, engagement, and capability development. This event enables leaders, practitioners, and emerging professionals to advance industry capability through shared insights, network development, and inclusive practice.

Keynote speaker Madeleine McManus OAM, FIEAust, NER, CPEng, EngExec, RPEV will address capability development, diversity in engineering, and how inclusive practices strengthen sector-wide performance.

📅 Date: Friday 6 March 2026 ⏰ Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM AEDT 📍 Venue: Victoria Park, Herston

🔗 Register now: https://afpa.asn.au/iwd-2026/

02/12/2025

🔥 Working with hot bitumen or asphalt? Safety comes first.

AfPA's Working Safely with Bitumen course strengthens safety capability for personnel handling hot bituminous materials and asphalt.

What you'll learn: ✅ Hazard identification and risk preparation ✅ Managing burns, boilovers, explosions, and fire ✅ Fire extinguisher selection and use ✅ First aid for bitumen burns

The course delivers the knowledge component for RIICBS203E – Safely Handle Bituminous Materials.

Final 2025 session: 📅 Date: 9 December 2025 | Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm AEDT | Venue: Online via Zoom

CPD: Up to 6 hours | Level: Intermediate

👉 Strengthen your team's safety performance: https://afpa.asn.au/registrations/

01/12/2025

Technical presentations and posters from the 20th International Conference: Future Ready Roads are now available.

Access industry knowledge on flexible pavement design, construction, maintenance, and long-term performance: https://aapa2.my.site.com/myafpa/s/?vtui__catalogId=a1m2w000000FkHIAA0,a1mOn000004xRt7IAE

28/11/2025

The Proficiency Round 2025 Final Report has been endorsed by AfPA’s National Technical Liaison Committee (NTLC) and is now available for our members and the broader industry.

Proficiency testing is a cornerstone of quality assurance in asphalt, helping our members maintain consistent, reliable results that support the delivery of durable, high-performance pavements.

Designed to support members, engineers, and site teams, the full report presents a statistical analysis of laboratory results, following PTA (2024) and EN ISO/IEC 17043:2010 guidance, and provides insights to support quality assurance, test method evaluation, and product acceptance across the industry.

🔗 View the report: https://aapa2.my.site.com/myafpa/s/share-playlist?vtui__p=21dqnH2UaywSmxI6QwOUpEVD6jJj0OMj5XMzp5wKMrxjlbUoFzVxHk197eNc4Ilfj2za8yi%2BqRd9%2F6cb%2Fj%2FX%2Fhc3hS4k3Hw0XeXsPDSCDJKuEPo5tjTfIPuuhLPXmh%2BcZxCpR56Xs3%2FkjME4FAUwHQ%3D%3D&iospref=web

We thank our material suppliers, Downer, Puma Energy and Boral for their national collaboration and contribution.

📸 Photo: Downer pavement engineers carrying out sampling – a practical example of industry collaboration in action.

27/11/2025

AfPA has released a new model specification to help councils design and deliver longer-lasting local roads using crumb rubber modified asphalt.

The guidance shows how crumb rubber modified dense graded asphalt can improve pavement durability compared with conventional mixes, helping councils reduce maintenance needs over time. It includes practical information on materials, design, testing and quality requirements, all aligned with national standards.

Developed with the support of Tyre Stewardship Australia, this work also helps increase the productive use of recycled rubber, supporting better environmental outcomes.

You can read and download the full specification here: https://aapa2.my.site.com/myafpa/s/share-playlist?vtui__p=n0VzJ6Bkw%2BZAlOresSRzKkV5g8PwPRqkEiYaVuHY%2BiSusX%2Fz7%2FGkh5xM91VBPLRqSLc0wcSSgFPs6whnwCrf3YJ%2BbVkNOy261w0riYTzQPoK8unkdrFaLxxFVs%2BDgMS0yyCM9fOgsQKFt6n0jxtJHA%3D%3D&iospref=web

Image: Supplied by Tyre Stewardship Australia

25/11/2025

AfPA delivers Asphalt Paving Essentials across three national locations in 2026.

📍 Melbourne: 24-26 February 📍 Sydney: 10-12 March
📍 Brisbane: 19-21 May

This benchmark capability program strengthens technical capability for supervisors, engineers, and government officers in asphalt planning, placement, and compaction to industry standards.

Includes guided visits to asphalt plants and laboratories.
✓ Up to 18 CPD hours ✓ Limited places

Register here: https://afpa.asn.au/asphalt-paving-essentials-workshop/

19/11/2025

We're still inspired from the 20th AfPA Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre! 🎉

A huge thank you to our principal partners, Business Events Adelaide, the Adelaide Convention Centre and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for helping us deliver an exceptional event. The Adelaide Convention Centre provided outstanding facilities and an excellent environment for networking and knowledge sharing.

Adelaide excels as a business events destination, with seamless accessibility and warm South Australian hospitality. We're delighted with our experience and look forward to returning!

Adelaide Convention Centre

18/11/2025

🔥 Working with hot bitumen or asphalt? Safety comes first.

Safe bitumen handling relies on people who understand the risks and apply consistent, practical controls. AfPA’s Working Safely with Bitumen course strengthens that capability. It provides practical instruction for all personnel involved in storing, handling, working near, or supervising the use of hot bituminous materials and asphalt.

Participants gain essential instruction on:
✅ Preparing to work with bitumen and identifying hazards
✅ Managing common risks including burns, boilovers, explosions, fire, fume exposure and reversing plant
✅ Correct selection and use of fire extinguishers
✅First aid for bitumen burns and site clean-up requirements

The course also provides the knowledge component for RIICBS203E – Safely Handle Bituminous Materials.

Working Safely with Bitumen
CPD: Up to 6 hours | Level: Intermediate | Pre-requisite: AfPA’s Be Bitumen Safe course.

Strengthen your team’s safety performance: afpa.asn.au/registrations/

14/11/2025

Refresh and enhance your skills with AfPA’s Sprayed Sealing Selection & Design Re-Certification training! Strengthen your knowledge of prime, initial seal, seal, and reseal selection, covering key areas like binder choice, traffic assessment, composition, loading, and environmental factors.

Learn a proven approach to selecting the most suitable treatments and gain hands-on instruction using the current Austroads seal design method with real-world examples.

👉 Learn more: https://afpa.asn.au/sprayed-sealing-selection-design-re-certification/

👉 Register here: https://afpa.asn.au/registrations/

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10/11/2025

Today, and our members pause to honour the service and sacrifice of our veterans and current serving personnel.

As the clock strikes 11, we invite you to join us in a moment of silence, paying tribute to the heroes whose courage and commitment continue to shape our nation. Lest we forget.