NAWIC has launched a game-changing cultural change project to build women’s careers
It has been a particularly exciting time for NAWIC and its members. In line with our strategic focus on driving positive cultural change in construction, NAWIC is embarking on an innovative project designed to engage specifically with men and support upstanders to build fair, inclusive and respectful workplace cultures across the sector.
This $5 million game-changing project is funded through the federal government’s flagship Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program, and will be delivered in partnership with ADCO, the Australian Workers Union, CPB Contractors, Holmesglen Institute and the University of Sydney.
The Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Andrew Giles, announced NAWIC as a recipient of one of only 10 BWC Program Stream One grants in March.
The grant to NAWIC enables delivery of the ‘Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women’ project, which will tackle poor attitudes and behaviours; empower men to sponsor women into leadership; and utilise the power of cultural ambassadors of all genders to embed positive change on the ground.
While traditional gender equality initiatives have focused predominantly on initiatives to support women, NAWIC is committed to also addressing systemic industry cultural issues that form practical barriers to women’s participation, retention and advancement in construction. Not only do men currently comprise nearly 88 per cent of the sector, but the current barriers are not women’s issues to solve. Rather, they are industry-wide cultural issues that require commitment and contribution from across the sector.
Further, we want businesses and the community to fully capitalise on the many benefits that equitable and inclusive environments bring – reaping the benefits including improved financial returns, greater innovation, positive reputation, achievement of work health and safety imperatives, better compliance and ways of working, reduced workforce shortages and lower risk.
True progress in addressing systemic barriers to women’s participation in the construction sector requires engaging men not just as supporters but as stakeholders who benefit from, and are essential to, creating more equitable workplaces.
While we have seen great inroads made by dedicated and forward-thinking leaders and organisations across the many market segments impacted by construction work, the uptake hasn’t been widespread enough.
The Allyship in Action project is designed to engage men as partners in change at all career stages and workplace sizes, types and market segments. It draws from research findings that men in allyship programs are three times more likely to positively address gender bias, driving inclusive culture and women’s advancement.
The project builds on the success of the NAWIC Male Allies program, providing a multi-pronged culture change project to address systemic barriers – engaging specifically with men, tackling poor attitudes and behaviours, empowering men to sponsor women into leadership, and utilising the power of cultural ambassadors to embed positive change on the ground.
I look forward to seeing our Allyship in Action project come to life and deliver positive results. The project commences on 1 April 2025 and will run through to 31 March 2028.
Readers will have the opportunity to get involved with the four streams of the project as it rolls out across the country, and to join NAWIC in building workplaces where everyone can thrive. Keep an eye on publications and NAWIC’s website for further information as the project progresses.
You can read more about NAWIC’s Allyship in Action Project on the BWC website: www.dewr.gov.au/building-womens-careers-program/industry-construction#toc-allyship-in-action-transforming-culture-to-attract-and-retain-women
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