The new Master Builders Advancing Women in Building and Construction initiative which is currently being rolled out throughout Tasmania is designed to support women working in building and construction, and those who are looking to build a career in the industry.
Michael Kerschbaum, Executive Director of Master Builders Tasmania said the state’s builders are getting behind the program, “There is still a way to go, but some of our members, including the state’s leading builders, are making a concerted effort to recruit more women and, what’s more they are starting to see the benefits.”
According to Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “We want to encourage more women to work in the industry and to access training pathways to careers in the industry. A big part of that is about supporting them in their choice. We also need to ensure that the industry is prepared and willing to accept them.”
While the program is about boosting the numbers of women in the industry, the broader idea is to support women to work and advance their careers in the industry after they have completed their training.
According to the latest ABS figures, 4.9 percent of workers in the building and construction industry are women.
To enable this, experienced industry practitioners with a current supervisory role or own their own business will act as mentors, while mentees will be women with up to five years’ experience working in the industry, completing an apprenticeship or in currently a pre-employment program.
For those that complete the program, there will be an award given to one mentee. The award is a course of choice to the value of $3000 at Master Builders’ “Building Leadership Simulation Centre” in Melbourne.
