ACA launches Attract initiative for women in construction

The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) is set to launch its new Attract initiative with the support of the NSW government. Using funding from the government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program grant, the initiative aims to bring mid-career women to the construction industry.

ACA CEO Jon Davies says the initiative is an industry-first, with major contractors coming together to offer women the chance to experience what a career in construction is really like.

“While it’s essential to engage school leavers, we see a tremendous opportunity in attracting women with life experience,” Davies says.

“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.”

A welcoming environment

The ACA’s Culture Committee developed the initiative to showcase the industry’s evolving culture and the abundant opportunities available to women.

“As women, we often hesitate to apply for roles unless we have direct experience,” says Jayne Whitney, Chief Strategy Officer at John Holland.

“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.”

The initiative includes a public awareness campaign featuring a web-based portal, where women can learn about and explore careers in construction. Women will also have the opportunity to visit construction sites and see firsthand what working in the industry is like.

“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,” Whitney says.

“The opportunities to progress are endless, and few careers offer the same potential.”

Changing the landscape

Construction remains Australia’s most male-dominated industry, with women making up just 12 per cent of the workforce and less than 2 per cent of on-site roles. The ACA’s Attract initiative is part of a broader pledge by member companies to drive cultural change within the industry.

Four ACA member companies have achieved the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation, demonstrating significant progress toward the ACA’s pledge to create a more inclusive industry from the ground up. 

The NSW government is investing $20.2 million in the Women in Construction Program over three years to fund initiatives like Attract. The program aims to attract and retain more women in the construction industry, with a focus on increasing the number of women in trade and non-traditional roles.