Australian Constructors Association announces gender diversity initiative

The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has announced plans for a new initiative to attract experienced women to the construction industry.

The Attract Initiative, supported by the NSW Government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program grant, will offer candidates the opportunity to experience careers in the industry. 

The scheme has been developed by ACA’s culture committee and aims to showcase construction’s evolving culture and the varied roles that are available for experienced candidates.  

Jon Davies, ACA’s CEO, said: “While it’s essential to engage school leavers, we see a tremendous opportunity in attracting women with life experience.

“Many women don’t realise that the skills they have gained in other industries can easily transfer to construction.

“Bringing these women into our industry can accelerate the cultural shift we desperately need – it’s about more than just gender balance.”

The initiative includes a public awareness campaign featuring a web-based portal, where women can learn about and explore careers in construction. In addition, women will have the opportunity to visit construction sites and gain first-hand experience in the industry.

Jayne Whitney, chief strategy officer at John Holland and non-executive director at ACA, said: “As women, we often hesitate to apply for roles unless we have direct experience.

“We want women to know that construction welcomes them and that their experience in other fields is valuable. There’s a role for everyone in this industry.

“We are confident that once women see our sites and the scale of our work, they’ll be inspired by the important role construction plays in shaping our world. The opportunities to progress are endless, and few careers offer the same potential.”