Older Australians are being urged to head back to school for a twilight career change, as part of a new incentive program upskilling workers for free to help tackle the construction crisis.

Chris Reppel has made the leap from office worker to trainee tradie, becoming an apprentice carpenter at age 43.

WATCH ABOVE: Australian’s offered free education to address the skills shortage

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“Look, I cannot fathom exactly how much this decision has changed my life,” Reppel said.

“I’ve got a passion for it. That’s probably one of the biggest things. I look forward to Mondays now.”

His timing is impeccable, with the construction industry facing a chronic labour shortage and the federal government announcing free qualifications for 6000 mature age tradies nationally.

Chris Reppel made the leap from the office to becoming a trainee tradie. Credit: 7NEWS

He was a keen home fixer turned full-time tradesman. Credit: 7NEWS

Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles said the program would fast-track experienced workers into formal qualifications.

“People with skills but not qualifications in areas relevant to building homes for Australia could be fast-tracked to having those skills recognised,” Giles said.

The initiative is modelled on a similar New South Wales scheme, which has 1900 seasoned students enrolled.

Construction worker Zac Nielsen from Zabro Projects will soon graduate as a qualified builder, completing what would normally take 12 to 18 months in just three months.

“It’s been awesome. It’s been real easy. I pretty much just called up and said, this is my scenario, this is what I want to do, these are my ambitions,” Nielsen said.

Thousands of older Australians are being given the chance to retrain as tradies for free, with the federal government fast-tracking qualifications to help solve the nation's construction labour shortage. Credit: 7NEWS

Zac Nielsen will complete his qualifications in just three months. Credit: 7NEWS

TAFEs and training organisations will deliver the Advanced Entry Trades Training Program, with the first students set to sign up within months.

The state is also offering a range of free TAFE courses, including aged and childcare, fitness and cyber security.

“It’s great for our economy and meeting our national goals,” Giles said.

Reppel said he had no regrets about his career change.

“I am so glad, so glad I made the decision to head down this road and give this a crack,” he said.