Master Builders Australia has received $250,000 in Commonwealth Government funding to create a program supporting women in the building industry.
The Master Builders’ Advancing Women in Building and Construction Program, which was launched by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for Women Michalia Cash, seeks to increase the participation and employment of women in building and construction.
Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch said funding will be provided over a 12-month period for the pilot program.
“It will come as no surprise that women are substantially under-represented in what is a traditionally male dominated industry, but Master Builders is determined to build on our current efforts to change that,” Mr Harnisch said. “Women currently only make up 11 per cent of the industry’s workforce, while in the traditional trades women comprise just one per cent.”
Mr Harnisch said the program will break down cultural barriers and inbuilt biases associated with the workforce and will also deliver to employers the benefits of attracting and retaining increased numbers of workers largely untapped by the sector.
“We know that while they are currently low in number, women trained in building trades are highly motivated to attain high standards in the skills that employers need,” he said. “Building techniques are rapidly changing as new technology increasingly takes hold in the industry and increasing the numbers of women in building will play a key role in the industry meeting the rising demand for a skilled workforce.”
“The building industry will create 300,000 new jobs over the next decade which will provide huge opportunities for women to find employment, empowerment and opportunities to advance and achieve their full potential in an exciting and expanding industry.”
B&J Catalano heavy duty mechanic second-year apprentice Elisa Green is one of a growing number of females turning to trades.
The 2014 South West Institute of Technology Pre-Apprentice of the Year said the program would be very beneficial to women, especially to those already in apprenticeship training and full time work.
“A lot of females are willing and able to participate in male-dominated industries, I just don’t think they are quite aware of how accepting a lot of people are now,” she said. “For me personally, it was just more the fact that I would be judged, being in a bloke’s job.”
“It’s very stereotypical of women to have women roles in the workforce, and I just didn’t want to be judged, but now that I’m doing it, it’s awesome.”
Ms Green said she has had a lot of support from her family and friends to complete her apprenticeship.
“I work for B&J Catalano, they’ve been really good as well, she said. “Any support I need they are more than willing to offer, even if it’s just counselling.
“I think publicly though, it’s not as supportive, only because it’s not a hugely popular thing just yet.”
However, Ms Green said there’s definitely more girls in trade jobs now then there was, and the stigma around what was considered a male-based industry is starting to change.
Busselton Waterproofing and Silicon Solutions waterproofer Peta Reinke agreed.
“I think [the Master Builders Australia program] is a great idea, because I think there are a lot of women out there that probably would love it too, but because its such a dominant male industry they could feel a bit like they don’t fit in,” Ms Reinke said. “It’s not for everybody but it’s just getting easier and easier.”
