Grant applications for Year 2 of the Women in Construction are now open to support initiatives which encourage participation and retention of women in the NSW construction industry.
The aim of the $20.2 million Women in Construction program is to remove obstacles which prevent women from entering the construction industry, implement reforms to create safe and inclusive workplaces, create desire and awareness as a career choice, fulfilment/retention with clear pathways for women to apply, enter and progress in the industry, and accountability of the government and industry to increase the number of women in construction.
Under Year 1 of the program, 21 women led multiple initiatives including education opportunities for those entering the industry, via mentoring, work experience, opportunity showcases, site visits for school students. The recipients also trained established workforces to influence existing workplace behaviours to develop respectful and safe work cultures on-site and implementing flexible work practices with a variety of childcare support mechanisms.
Minister for Skills, Steve Whan, says it is “paramount” that the proportion of women in construction is increased in NSW.
“Empowering more women to choose a career in construction will lead to greater innovation, diversity, and progress, ultimately building a stronger and more inclusive future for the industry,” he explained. “Increasing the participation of women in construction is not about meeting quotas; it is about cultivating a skilled, versatile and experienced workforce.”
Applications close 2pm Monday 19 February and the Q&A period ends this Thursday, 8 February 2024.
The Concrete Institute of Australia’s Women in Concrete community and technical forum focuses on greater female involvement, participation, and knowledge sharing. For more information visit: https://concreteinstitute.com.au/membership/cia-women-in-concrete/
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is our weekly news journalist and the editor of Concrete in Australia magazine for 10 years. She has been heavily involved in all forms of engineering since 2013; part of a 30-year writing career across a range of subjects and media.