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The NSW Government is investing $20.2 million over 3 years to attract more women into the construction industry, with a focus on increasing the number of women in trade and non-traditional roles.
Women in Construction Year 1 Review
The NSW Government is investing $20.2 million in the Women in Construction (WIC) program over 3 years. The program aims to attract and retain more women into the construction industry, with a focus on increasing the number of women in trade and non-traditional roles.
The WIC Program has five objectives:
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An increased number of women are working in the construction sector, ideally in trade and non-traditional roles.
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There is a pipeline of women educating/training to meet demand.
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Increased workplace flexibility in the construction sector.
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Culture change on construction sites so that the construction industry is one that people want to work in.
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Partnership between government and industry to achieve this goal.
Key program achievements in 2023
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$3.7M was allocated to 21 successful recipients under Year 1 of the Industry Innovation Program (IIP). These projects will be finalised by August 2024.
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16 Project Officers have been embedded across 19 NSW Government major infrastructure projects as part the Women in Construction Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program.
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A Women in Construction industry survey was undertaken in July 2023 with participation from 593 construction workers and 313 construction businesses. The results of the survey have been published in a Survey Report.
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From 1 September 2023, NSW Procurement Board Direction 2023-01 Skills, Training and Diversity in construction includes a requirement for all new NSW Government construction projects valued over $10 million that commenced from 1 July 2023 to report on the number of women working in trades and women in non-traditional roles. Procurement Board Direction.
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In August 2023 we launched the NSW Women in Construction LinkedIn page to share information about initiatives and programs across government and industry.
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In December 2023 the “Hard Work Knows No Gender” campaign was launched to promote gender diversity on construction sites. The campaign materials are available here.
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A formal exemption for the Program was provided by the NSW Attorney-General under relevant provisions of the Anti-Discrimination Act NSW.
These Program initiatives are just the first step towards achieving gender equity in the construction industry. We look forward to continued engagement with all industry participants to achieve our ambitious Program objectives and make the construction industry a better place to work for all.
Key initiatives for 2024
Key initiatives planned for this year include:
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Applications for Year 2 of the IIP grants program opened on 22 January 2024.
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Further engagement with both Government and industry on the ‘Hard Work Knows No Gender' campaign.
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Work across state jurisdictions and with the Commonwealth Government to promote Program objectives.
The WIC Program is being delivered in close partnership between Infrastructure NSW and Department of Education. In addition, an Industry Advisory Group provides on the ground industry perspective and insights from peak bodies, associations, unions, subcontractors and head contractors, including both men and women in executive and non-executive roles.
Women in Construction focused Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program
The Women in Construction Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program (WIC ISLP) is a key initiative of the NSW Government Women in Construction Program to increase the number of women working in construction.
As part of the WIC ISLP, the NSW Government will fund a minimum of 15 project officers to be embedded on infrastructure project sites across the state. The project officers will work with industry to drive change from the project level and support subcontractors to meet the WIC ISLP targets of 4% target for women in trade roles and 7% in non-traditional roles.
The project officers will play a key role in supporting contractors and subcontractors by leveraging their connections with education institutions and industry to attract and retain women on site, build a network of women in construction, and identify upskilling, training and improvement opportunities.
The WIC focused ISLP models the same approach used to pilot the Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program (ISLP).
Industry Innovation Program
The NSW Government Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program (IIP) provides grants to construction industry organisations, including associations and contractors, to boost the number of women working in construction trade and non-traditional roles.
Projects will be funded under the IIP to support a range of industry-led initiatives across the state to:
- increase the number of women working in construction
- improve workplace culture
- create inclusive and safe work environments
- empower women in leadership roles.
Increasing the representation of women across all levels of construction, in particular leadership roles, is a significant step to creating a more gender balanced construction industry.
The IIP is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $20.2 million Women in Construction Program.
IIP Year 2
Applications for IIP Year 2 have now closed.
For more information, visit NSW Government grants portal.
Please direct all questions regarding the IIP to wic@det.nsw.edu.au
Frequently asked questions
Commonly asked questions and responses are available in the