‘Good example for my daughter’: The program helping Cairns women break into the building industry

Lady tradies are bursting through the construction sector’s glass ceiling with the help of a Cairns multicultural program giving women the power to build their own destiny.

Member for Mulgrave Terry James and Woree resident Abigail Booth at Centacare FNQ in Cairns. Ms Booth is a participant in Centacare's Multicultural Women in Construction program launched last year. Picture: Samuel Davis

Lady tradies are bursting through the construction sector’s glass ceiling with the help of a Cairns multicultural program giving women the power to build their own destiny.

Centacare Cairns was awarded $50,000 by the state government to fund a successful pilot program that has increased the number of women donning hard hats across the Far North.

For Cairns mum, Abigail Booth, the program has given her new skills and the chance to better provide for her teenage daughter.

“It’s been great doing something new,” the Woree resident said. “I used to work in hospitality and I never thought the opportunity would come up. It’s a big change but I’m benefiting myself and my family.

“I just want to be a good example for my daughter and Indigenous people in general.”

Centacare FNQ director Anita Veivers has welcomed new funding for its construction program.

Centacare executive director Anita Veivers said about 50 women have participated in the program, with 80 per cent having moved into employment or other pathways since.

“The idea was that there are so many women out there who’ve got the capacity and the ability to work in construction but have probably never picked up a drill or a hammer,” Ms Veivers said.

“Some of those women are now part of our Skilling Queenslanders Work program as well.

“When they finish that they’ll move into an apprenticeship in construction. So we think it’s been a fabulously successful program that’s really getting great outcomes.”

Centacare FNQ is using its Multicultural Women in Construction program as a “soft launch” for women to enter the building industry and complete apprenticeships. Picture: Getty

With cost-of-living on the rise, upskilling community members that were vulnerable to becoming homeless was even more important, Ms Veivers said.

“Women are particularly susceptible, particularly young single parents on a low income,” she said.

“To be able to get into housing and afford the increasing rents that we have, it’s really important to upskill these women, so they’re better prepared to get into the workforce.”

Ms Booth said the chance to learn alongside new Australians had been a special experience.

“I want to work in civil construction in the future, get my tickets and have a great life for me and my daughter,” she said.

“Being able to work in a team with women from different backgrounds culturally. I really enjoy mingling with others and being able to communicate with others who’ve come from developing countries.

“Some of my colleagues are from the Congo and they’ve got a better life here as well.”

The grant is part of almost $2m in funding to be distributed across 26 multicultural community-led projects announced by the LNP recently.

In the Far North, the Japan Community of Queensland Inc and Centacare’s Neighbourhood Fusion program also received funding to deliver programs that support community members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“We celebrate the diversity that our multicultural communities bring and these grants assist in promoting their rich heritage while supporting full participation as Australians,” Multiculturalism Minister Fiona Simpson said.

Originally published as ‘Good example for my daughter’: The program helping Cairns women break into the building industry