Allyship in Action backing women’s careers in construction

Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles today launched the Male Allies Challenge at a construction site in Logan, driving a national push to back more women to build their careers in Australia’s construction industry. 

The free, online initiative calls on men across the sector to step up and help create workplaces that are more flexible, safe and inclusive.

The Minister joined the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and other partners of the $5 million Allyship in Action project to kickstart the Challenge, which will run over the next three months.

The Male Allies Challenge is encouraging organisations in the construction industry to play an active role in helping women enter, stay and build long‑term careers in trades through completing a newly developed Male Allies Online Training Program.

Women make up only about 13 per cent of Australia’s building and construction workforce, with only about three per cent working on the tools. This is a statistic the Albanese Government is working hard to change. 

This new training works with men – who make up most of the construction workforce – to help create safer, more respectful workplaces where women are encouraged to start and stay in what is a nation-building industry.

The Male Allies Training Course is free, online and self‑paced, with five short modules that can be completed on a phone, tablet or computer. 

It is available nationally and open to men working across the construction and built environment. Individuals and organisations can register online to take part via the National Association of Women in Construction website.

Allyship in Action is one of 20 projects supported by the Albanese Labor Government’s $60 million Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program, and is led by the NAWIC and with partners ADCO Constructions, CPB Contractors, the Australian Workers’ Union and the Holmesglen Institute.

The Building Women’s Careers Program supports practical action to improve training and job opportunities for women in industries where men make up most of the workforce, including construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and digital and technology.

This month marks one year since the launch of the BWC Program, which now supports 20 projects and 175 organisations across every state and territory.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

“Women remain significantly under-represented in construction, particularly on the tools. We cannot meet our national priorities to build more homes and the infrastructure Australians rely on without changing workplace culture.

“This training is about engaging men as allies and giving them the skills to challenge poor behaviour, support their colleagues and help make construction a place where women are encouraged to pick up the tools, build their careers and stay for the long term.

“Through the $60 million Building Women’s Careers program the Albanese Labor Government is proud to be funding 20 incredible industry-led projects backing more women to enter construction, technology and digital, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.”

Quotes attributable to CEO of the National Association of Women in Construction, Cathryn Greville:

“NAWIC’s Allyship in Action project is about giving individuals and businesses the tools to be part of the solution to positively address gender bias through culture change, and it’s exciting to see the rollout of the Male Allies Training Course.

“This project would not be possible without the significant grant from the Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program and the support of our project partners. True progress on gender equity in construction requires engaging men not just as supporters but as stakeholders who benefit from, and are essential to, creating equitable workplaces.

“The Male Allies Training Course gives men practical, evidence-based tools to handle real workplace situations with confidence, helping them to speak up early, respond to inappropriate behaviour and set the standard.

“When we prioritise a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect, we create an environment where everyone feels valued and able to succeed. This is critical to attract more women into the industry, retain them, and foster a strong pipeline of future leaders. We have billions of dollars of construction projects to deliver and we have an untapped pool of women available to help build it.”

ENDS