Push to clean up Victorian construction industry culture to attract women

A STATE government push to attract women to the construction industry will help improve workplace culture to attract and retain female builders.

A STATE government push to attract women to the construction industry will help improve workplace culture to attract and retain female builders.

Nearly $600,000 has been allocated by Women and Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins for the creation of a Women in Construction strategy.

It will aim to remove barriers to women joining the flourishing industry, promote the industry to women and attract women to building and construction boards.

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“We know that fixing under-representation of women in traditionally male-dominated industries is the key to closing the gender pay gap,” Ms Hutchins said.

Women and Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins. Picture: Aaron Francis

Tiffany Lucas, trainee contracts administrator on the new South Melbourne Primary School project.

“There will only be an equal representation of men and women in the construction industry when we take the necessary steps to attract and retain women workers. This strategy will help deliver that.”

Leadership Victoria will receive $85,000 to help increase the number of women on boards, with $500,000 dedicated to drafting the strategy.

Its aims will include the creation of industry benchmarks, identification of barriers to women’s participation in building and construction and development of solutions.