Victoria Launch Campaign to Increase Women in Construction

State government has launched a new campaign with the goal of breaking down long-standing barriers for women in construction.

The “She Built It” campaign will inspire more women and girls to pursue careers in the building industry, changing the fact that women still make up less than 3% of workers in Victoria’s building and construction trades.

“There are many women with thriving careers in the construction industry and it’s important to highlight those stories because it’s hard to be what you can’t see. Representation and visibility matter.”

Tim Pallas – Minister for Industrial Relations

As part of their Big Housing Build, Homes Victoria is constructing 200 modern, secure, and energy-efficient homes in Moonee Valley City Council. The $108.1 million project will include 100 homes for social housing and 100 affordable homes for first-time homebuyers.

Redevelopment will use best practices in design to transform the Dunlop Avenue site into a vibrant community precinct, while also providing an economic boost by creating over 900 jobs.

The project approach is distinguished by the fact that half of the trainees, apprentices, and cadets are women. At Ascot Vale, women make up more than 40% of the construction partner team.

The Building Equality Policy of the Andrews Labour Government, which currently applies to major public works projects and mandates that women hold at least 3% of trade roles, 7% of non-trade positions, and 35% of management, supervisor, and specialist labour roles, will be complemented by this campaign.

State government has contributed $3.5 million towards the Building Equality Policy implementation and an additional $1.5 million towards the Women in Construction Strategy.

The initiatives include the development of an industry specific website called Building Futures by Women in Construction, which is a program supported by the Victorian Government that aims to support women who are having trouble breaking into our competitive industry and to empower those who are considering doing so.

“Women are making a valuable contribution to the industry and it’s important that their influence is acknowledged through campaigns like ‘She Built It’, which celebrate greater diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Rebecca Casson – Building Industry Consultative Council Chair

Government programmes are a great place to start when promoting diversity in the construction industry, but if organisations want to see real change in the coming years, they need to actively keep up the momentum and support complementary initiatives in their own communities.

Leading Victorian construction firms like Kapitol Group and Alchemy Construct are actively working to support women in their own workforces and draw more women into the field.

Earlier this year they discussed how women contribute significantly to the construction industry every day in Australia despite making up only 12% of the total workforce.

SHAPE encourages employees to challenge norms and play a significant role in diversity and inclusion of women in construction through programmes and policies like their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan and Sponsorship Program.

Conecta partners are dedicated to improving the experiences of women in construction. They’re also hiring on the app now! Login to view and apply for current opportunities.

Image Source: Women in Construction