Building services professionals from across Australia and New Zealand gathered in Sydney on 10 September for a networking event celebrating 60 years of the Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA). Established in 1964, the BSCAA has grown to become Australia’s peak industry body for the building services sector, supporting professionals in the cleaning, security, facilities management and grounds maintenance industries.

Kim Puxty, national CEO of BSCAA, opened the event by highlighting the association’s evolution over the decades into an inclusive organisation, with members from all corners of Australia and beyond. Much of the progress has largely been driven by the involvement and feedback of its members, many of whom volunteer their time and expertise to strengthen the organisation.

“The past 60 years would never have been possible without all the executives of the various states volunteering their time,” Puxty said.

“When you participate, when you give feedback[…] it helps us grow.”

Since 1964, the BSCAA has been at the forefront of providing leadership, advocacy, and support for its members. The association offers a wide range of services, including compliance, legislation guidance, certifications, industry best practices, training and networking opportunities. Through initiatives like WeComply, which offers HR, workplace health and safety templates and industry-specific advice, the BSCAA remains committed to fostering the growth and development of the contract cleaning and building services industry.

One area where the BSCAA has been leading the way is its strong female leadership — Puxty replaced Barbara Connolly as CEO after a 20-year stint in the position, while Debbie Delimitros is the national president. 

Delimitros said she was proud that BSCAA has long been an industry outlier in having women at the top.

“In the past, I’ve been to tenders where we’ve had 95 cleaning companies come along and I’ve been the only female,” Delimitros said.

“When I go to tenders now, there are more women, and I think cleaning companies are taking notice of that. A lot of cleaners are women, so there’s no reason not to have female leadership.”

BSCAA is also committed to improving the image of the cleaning industry in other ways. Delimitros said one of the key benefits contractors receive from their association is access to online training and independent audits. This certification is designed to help contractors demonstrate they are “doing the right thing” and counter any perception that cleaning contractors are “dodgy”.

Barbara Connolly, former CEO, said an increased awareness of the importance of cleaning and hygiene, post-COVID, has also helped boost the industry’s image, with a newfound respect for cleaning as a crucial element of public health.

“We’ve all seen the difference cleaning can make to the community now, when you’re cleaning for health,” Connolly said.

The last words for the evening came from industry veteran Terry Colby, who has been involved in the BSCAA for more than 45 years. He spoke passionately about his time in the cleaning industry and his pride in how far the Australian sector had come over the past 60 years.

“We don’t lead the world in too many things, maybe cricket, but we are world leaders in our industry,” Colby said.