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Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women
Industry: Construction
Location: National
Lead: National Association of Women in Construction
The Allyship in Action program applies best-practice cultural change approaches to address systemic barriers to the participation, retention and advancement of women in construction.
This multi-pronged allyship program will engage with men to tackle poor attitudes and behaviours, empower men to sponsor women into leadership and utilise the power of cultural ambassadors to embed positive change on the ground.
Engaging men as partners in change at all career stages and workplace sizes, types and market segments, the program draws from research findings that men in allyship programs are 3 times more likely to address gender bias, driving inclusive culture and women's advancement.
Partners: ADCO Constructions, The Australian Worker’s Union, CPB Contractors, Holmesglen Institute.
Big Sister: Advanced Mentoring SA/WA
Industry: Clean Energy, Construction
Location: SA, WA
Lead: Electrical Trades Union
Big Sister drives transformational change in the construction and clean energy sectors by implementing an access and retention program for women apprentices across SA and WA – led by women, for women.
The project delivers a pre-vocational training program, mentoring, industry awareness events and support for employers to improve gender equity in traditionally male-dominated trades. Big Sister will provide pre-vocational training for 80 women in SA, with 80% transitioning into new apprenticeships in the energy trades by 2028.
Partners: Energy Skills Australia, Electrotechnology Training Institute (WA), Nilsen (WA), NSG (BOFFA), PeerTC, University of Sydney.
Breaking Barriers: Women in Trades and Tech
Industry: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction, Digital and Technology
Location: National
Lead: Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
This project has 2 key initiatives: Breaking Barriers in Industry and Breaking Barriers in Training.
The industry initiative partners with companies, with the support of community organisations, to improve flexibility, workplace culture and gender equity in workplaces, reaching over 30,000 workers through the development, piloting and delivery of tailored trainings and action plans.
The training initiative collaborates with TAFEs, Group Training Organisations (GTOs) and industry to deliver flexible, co-designed pathways for women into apprenticeships and technical roles.
Partners: Australian Industry Group, Alstom Transport Australia, ARA Manufacture, Asian Women at Work, Bendigo Kangan Institute, CDC Victoria, Central Highlands Group Training, First Person Consulting, Migrant Workers Centre, South Metropolitan TAFE, TAFE Queensland, TAFE NSW, Thales Australia, Tradeswomen Australia Foundation, UGL Engineering, Victorian Trades Hall Council, Viva Energy Australia, Women's Health in the North, Empowered Women in Trades.
Building Futures: Breaking the Barriers for Women in the Plumbing Industry
Industry: Construction, Clean Energy
Location: VIC, QLD, NSW
Lead: Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC)
This project will create, promote and deliver a national training program within the Australian plumbing industry, addressing the cultural and attitudinal changes needed to make the industry attractive, welcoming, and culturally safe for women.
This first focus of this project is for employers, by developing and implementing a national framework which supports a structured approach to promote the culturally safe environment, reduce gender discrimination and promote career pathways. The second is aimed at individuals, with an education program addressing the role an individual plays in promoting the change in current industry culture.
Partners: AMCA Australia OLD, AXIS Plumbing NSW Group, Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia - Plumbing Division, Cooke & Dowsett, Leemark Fire Protection, National Fire Industry Association of Australia, Master Plumbers, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, RAW Group, Master Plumbers' Association of Queensland, A.G Coombs.
Together We RISE (Respect, Inclusion, Safety, Equity)
Industry: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction
Location: National
Lead: Group Training Australia (trading as National Apprentice Employment Network)
As Australia builds toward a stronger future, we're missing a critical piece: women represent less than 8% of apprentices in male-dominated trades, yet make up 51% of the nation’s population.
Together We RISE works to transform this by partnering with GTOs across Australia through three interconnected pillars. Starting with Gender Impact Assessments that reveal real barriers and will inform a sector-wide Gender Equality Action Plan, this project will then activate change through the RISE & Shine peer network. Featuring Hard Hat Huddles for peer support and the Voice from Site Platform, this connects women apprentices nationally while amplifying their voices with senior leaders through the reverse mentoring program. Finally, this project will build change that lasts through inclusive leadership training and cultural safety toolkits for GTOs, field officers and host employers.
Whether in construction, clean energy, or advanced manufacturing, RISE will work to ensure women experience an inclusive, safe and equitable apprenticeship journey no matter where they are, or who they are, across the country. The goal: a 20% increase in female apprentice recruitment and retention, with 25% improvement in workplace inclusivity perceptions.
Partners: Women in Adult and Vocational Education, Australian Workers Union, Bendigo Kangan Institute, Women's Health in the SouthEast.
Level the Site
Industry: Construction
Location: National
Lead: Master Builders Australia
To drive structural and cultural change to increase women’s skilled participation in construction, you must tackle the causes of bias head-on.
Level the Site is a multi-faceted program that seeks to reach, educate and support the key demographics that influence a woman’s success in building and construction: employers and peer-to-peer (male-to-male and male-to-female).
This will be delivered through campaigns, mentorship programs, networking, best practice resources, and partnerships. The project will leverage the reach of all project partners and established networks to reach deeply across all areas of the industry and provide crucial resources and support for employers and the workforce.
Partners: Brickworks Building Products, Australian Worker’s Union, Civil Contractors Federation, Bunnings Group.
Women In Construction
Industry: Construction
Location: NSW, VIC, TAS, SA
Lead: Incolink
This project is a national partnership of construction employers, workers, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), Group Training Organisations (GTOs), Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and industry bodies, led by Incolink, supporting women to train, obtain and retain skilled roles by eliminating structural and cultural barriers to gender equity.
The program comprises training and employment for women in skilled construction roles, wraparound services to support success, and worksite interventions to address cultural barriers.
It builds on the success of the Victorian Government’s Building Equality program. It is designed to scale and continue beyond the funded period and is overseen by a governance body that brings together key industry participants committed to harnessing the program’s momentum across the construction sector.
Partners: Aboriginal Building and Civil Construction Academy, CFMEU National Office, Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia - Plumbing Division, CFMEU Victoria/Tasmania, Cooke & Dowsett, Gold Services SA, Hickory Construction Group, J. Hutchinson, Jesuit Social Services, Multiplex Constructions, Our Watch, Plumbing Industry Climate Action centre (PICAC), RAW GTO, The Insight Centre, Master Builders Association Victoria.
Building Women: Breaking Barriers for a Diverse SA Construction Workforce
Industry: Construction
Location: SA
Lead: Building Women
The Building Women project is a transformative initiative designed to increase women’s skilled participation in construction. It focuses on 3 pillars:
• Educate – providing tailored pre-employment training to equip women with industry-specific skills
• Empower – delivering employer education programs to foster inclusive workplaces
• Employ – connecting women with sustainable career opportunities.
Through strong partnerships and a governance framework, this project drives structural and cultural change by dismantling barriers, promoting gender equity, and breaking from South Australia’s traditional silos to create inclusive pathways for women in male-dominated industries.
Partners: Maxima Training Group (Aust), Construction Industry Training Board, Australian Flexible Pavement Association, TAFE SA, Urban Renewal Authority, South Australian Government, Manser Group, The Umbrella Collective, National Association of Women in Construction.
EmpowerHer Pathways: See what you can be
Industry: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction, Digital and Technology
Location: Hunter Region, NSW
Lead: Network for Educational Workplacements
You can’t be what you can’t see!
EmpowerHer Pathways will show women what they can be, creating sustainable, gender-inclusive pathways in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, construction and digital technology.
With leading training and industry partners, this project promotes non-traditional career paths to women, helping them see the potential for great careers in these industries.
By addressing real and perceived gender, geographic and industry-specific barriers and establishing a mentoring network to support entry, retention and career advancement in currently male-dominated fields, this project will significantly increase skilled, high-paying careers for women.
Partners: Aboriginal Advancement Alliance, AGL Macquarie, AMPControl, Gamuda Berhad and John Holland, Hunter Multicultural Communities, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Regional Development Australia–Hunter, Singleton Council, TAFE NSW.
Indigenous women in construction across Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
Industry: Construction
Location: Darwin and Alice Springs, NT and Gladstone region, QLD
Lead: Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation
This Arnhem Land, a place-based partnership project for Indigenous women, connects Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation, construction social enterprise Mardrulk Contracting, Job Skills Network, industry employer Loftus Contracting, the Strong Women’s Healthy Country Network and the Bidwern Butj Uni as a VET partner.
Indigenous women will support design, delivery, and evaluation. Project partners will receive gender equity and cultural training and identify and audit barriers and enablers to Indigenous women training and working in construction. HR policies will be audited, and new policies will be developed to create safe and empowering places for Indigenous women in construction.
Partners: Loftus Contracting, WIC Group, Mardrulk Contracting, Strong Women’s Healthy Country Network, Bidwern Butj Uni.
Rise & Build: Empowering Women's Careers
Industry: Construction, Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technology
Location: Riverina Murray Region, NSW
Lead: Griffith Skills Training Centre
This project tackles gender and cultural barriers in construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and digital technology thereby creating sustainable career pathways for women.
By combining tailored training, workforce development, and recruitment solutions, it aims to break barriers, enhance diversity, and deliver lasting opportunities in the Riverina Murray Region of NSW.
Partners: Workfront People Solutions, Education Services International Supply Group, Regional Development Australia – Riverina, Proway Livestock Equipment, Flip Screen Mining, John Holland Group, Riverina Group Training and Employment, Compact Incorporated, NSW Business Chamber, CPB Contractors, Spotless Facility Services.
Great South Coast Construction Careers for Women Program
Industry: Construction, Clean Energy
Location: South-West Coast Region, VIC
Lead: South West TAFE
Led by South West TAFE alongside South West Local Learning and Employment Network Incorporated, Hansen Yuncken Australia and Ausnet, the Construction Careers for Women Program will deliver a set of resources, activities and courses that will develop the construction sector’s capacity to attract, train and retain women in the workplace.
A Gender Inclusivity Employment tool kit with sample policies, procedures and templates, employer workshops, information sessions and employer leadership programs will be key project features.
A range of women-only and mixed gender training programs with short courses to full qualifications will be offered with industry visits and speakers. Supporting those initiatives will be a regional equity coordinator role and a Women’s Community of Practice.
The program will run from Warrnambool, with activities also in Portland, Hamilton and Colac.
Partners: Hansen Yuncken Australia, AUSNET, South West Local Learning and Employment Network.
SeeHER
Industry: Construction
Location: TAS
Lead: Master Builders Association of Tasmania
SeeHER is a four-part initiative designed to support women in Tasmania’s construction industry, noting women currently represent just 5.3% of trade workers in the state.
• BecomeHER: An initiative encouraging young women into construction careers through site tours and industry discussions panels.
• ConstructHER: A pre-employment program offering essential certifications and mentorship to help women start and grow in the industry.
• RetainHER: Cultural transformation training aimed at fostering inclusivity, addressing biases, and creating a supportive work environment.
• EmployHER: Industry discussions providing resources, support, and guidance to employers in construction.
Each program supports women’s participation and retention in construction.
Partners: Centacare Evolve Housing, St Joseph Affordable Homes.