The NSW government has opened grant funding applications for the second round of the Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program.
Construction continues to be one of the most male-dominated industries in Australia, with 12 per cent representation of women across the sector and only 2 per cent in trade roles.
The Industry Innovation Program supports a range of industry-led initiatives across the state to increase the number of women working in construction, improve workplace culture, create inclusive and safe work environments, and to empower women in leadership roles.
Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said: “Through the Women in Construction program, we are actively working to empower women to consider a career in the construction industry through education and skills development.
“The future of our trades industry lies in embracing the diversity and capabilities of all workers. The Industry Innovation Program aims to engage the industry in creating a safe, inclusive and dynamic workforce that welcomes and supports women in all trade roles.”
The 21 funding recipients under Year 1 of the Program, lead initiatives ranging from education opportunities for women entering the industry via mentoring, work experience programs and opportunity showcases and site visits for school-based students — to training for established workforces, with the introduction of training to influence existing workplace behaviours to develop respectful and safe cultures on site.
Initiatives also included embedding flexible work practices and providing a variety of child-care support mechanisms for parents and carers, which helps to address the obstacles that prevent women from considering a career in construction.
An example of a funded initiative comes from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council who lead the program — Sustainability: a credible construction career path.
This program aims to attract women to the industry and empower inclusive work practices through the development of a skills framework, creation of educational resources for organisations and the delivery of a mentoring program for NSW construction businesses.
The Industry Innovation Program is being delivered as part of the NSW government’s $20.2 million Women in Construction Program.
For information on how to apply for grant funding, visit the NSW Government Industry Innovation Program Year 2 grants page.
