More than 50 of Australia’s leading property, construction and design firms have joined forces to launch Tomorrow’s Women in Construction (TWIC) — a transformative new program aimed at inspiring and supporting young women to explore careers in construction and the built environment.
TWIC is addressing one of the industry’s key barriers to gender diversity: the widely recognised “you can’t be what you can’t see” phenomenon.
By offering guaranteed work experience placements for Year 10 girls in NSW, the initiative hopes to reshape perceptions of the industry and broaden career horizons.
“This initiative is about visibility and access,” said Kat Kister, Co-Founder of TWIC.
“The desire to create a more gender-equitable workforce is stronger than ever. We’ve gone from symbolic gestures on International Women’s Day to real, tangible action — nearly 50 companies signed up in the first week alone.”
Contrary to popular belief, construction careers extend far beyond on-site work.
Opportunities span feasibility, planning, and design through to law, engineering, sustainability, and project management.
Many projects take years before any physical work begins — and women are already shaping and leading outcomes across these areas.
TWIC’s online platform features career profiles of inspiring women across the industry, offering relatable role models for students during crucial career decision-making years.
Every Year 10 girl in NSW who expresses interest will receive:
- A personalised quiz to identify career pathways aligned with her interests
- A guaranteed one-week work experience placement matched to a host organisation
- Support and mentoring from trained professionals in an age-appropriate, welcoming environment
Host companies are also provided with resources to create a positive placement experience, from developing relevant tasks to preparing their teams for effective mentoring.
Applications are now open via the TWIC website.
TWIC is “an initiative by the industry, for the industry,” supported by founding partners including Multiplex, AJC Architects, Architectus, RP Infrastructure, Richard Crookes Constructions, Northrop, and TTW, with more organisations joining weekly.
“This is a collective industry movement,” said Isabel Duffy, TWIC Co-Founder and Structural Engineer at Northrop.
“We’re showing young women that they don’t have to change who they are to belong in construction — there is a place for everyone.”
