Master Builders Australia Launch 2023 Women Building Australia Program

Master Builders Australia (MBA) has officially opened applications for their Women Building Australia mentor program. 

The program runs over nine-months commencing on 28 March with applications closing on 28 February.

Funded through Federal Government grants, the program is open to women across Australia with up to five years experience in the building and construction industry. 

Mentees are paired with leading women in construction to be mentored with monthly engagements to boost their careers through experienced nurture, advice and support that guide their development.

The program has been set up to advance the participation of women in the building and construction industry. Speaking on the program, MBA chief executive Denita Wawn said, “the building and construction industry is one of the largest sectors in Australia. During November 2022, there were 1.29 million people employed in the industry working in over 445,000 construction businesses. However, women currently make up only 13.6 per cent of the industry’s total workforce.”

The number of women in management positions is even lower and mentorship from current leaders will inspire more women to progress into leadership roles in construction.

There have been a number of state government initiatives to support women in construction, which adds to the momentum and collective support to make construction more attractive as a career choice to women entering the workforce.

On Thursday 9th March, Building Respect is hosting a Victorian Government sponsored summit bringing together a cross-section of the industry and a diverse mix of voices to advance participation of women in the construction industry.

These programs and summits are supported by shorter campaigns to give women a platform of recognition and support. In September 2022, the state government launched the ‘She Built It’ campaign with the goal of breaking down long-standing barriers for women in construction.

The Federal Government has recently announced plans to make public disclosure of the gender pay gap mandatory for companies over 100 employees, which would include a number of the country’s leading construction companies.

Ms Wawn went on to mention that the gender pay gap (in building and construction) is declining faster than average. The proportion of women in all occupation groups, except administration, is increasing.

Benefits of the Women Building Australia program have been seen by mentees and mentors with previous participants communicating their success in completing a supportive program.

2022 program participant Laura Stevenson, said: “My mentor Tara who has many years experience in the industry was really great at giving me some insights on how to navigate it all and some ideas about the future.

“I was just starting off in my career and unsure at first of what I wanted in the program. I’d highly recommend this program to anyone starting out even if they felt unsure like me as it was a nice feeling to work with someone who just gets it,” said Ms Stevenson.

Applications for the 2023 Women Building Australia close on 28 February 2023. If you or someone you know could benefit from the program, applications can be started on the Mentorship Program website.

Conecta is proud to partner with builders who take proactive steps to support the advancement of all people in the construction industry, including women and people within minority communities.

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Image Source: Women Building Australia Program