The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) is set to unveil a ground breaking initiative aimed at attracting mid-career women to the construction industry.
Supported by the NSW government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program grant, this industry-first effort brings together major contractors to offer women a firsthand experience of careers in construction.
ACA CEO Jon Davies emphasised the initiative’s focus on women with life experience, stating: “While it’s essential to engage school leavers, we see a tremendous opportunity in attracting women with life experience.
“Many women don’t realise that the skills they have gained in other industries can easily transfer to construction.”
The Attract Initiative, developed by ACA’s Culture Committee under the leadership of Jayne Whitney, Chief Strategy Officer at John Holland, aims to showcase the industry’s evolving culture and the abundant opportunities available to women.
Whitney explained: “As women, we often hesitate to apply for roles unless we have direct experience.
“We want women to know that construction welcomes them and that their experience in other fields is valuable.”
The initiative includes a public awareness campaign featuring a web-based portal for women to explore construction careers.
Additionally, it offers women the opportunity to visit construction sites and witness the industry in action.
Currently, construction remains Australia’s most male-dominated industry, with women comprising only 12 per cent of the workforce and less than 2 per cent of on-site roles.
The Attract initiative is part of ACA‘s broader commitment to driving cultural change within the industry.
The NSW government’s support through the Industry Innovation Program, which allocated $2.2 million to 13 industry recipients in its second year, has been crucial to this initiative.
The program aims to fund innovative ideas that support inclusive workplace cultures, attract and retain women in construction, and support female employees and women in leadership roles.
As the construction industry faces ongoing worker shortages, this initiative represents a significant step towards diversifying the workforce and addressing the sector’s pressing needs.
