More women will enter Victoria’s building and construction industry thanks to a new State Government policy to improve gender equality in the building, infrastructure, and civil engineering sectors. 

Building and construction has always been a male-dominated industry, but that needs to change if our industry is to reduce skills shortages and have a thriving and sustainable future. 

The Victorian Government’s Building Equality Policy (BEP) is an Australian first and will disrupt gender stereotypes in the country’s most male-dominated industry. 

More women are active in building and construction now than in the past, but they still make up just 2.5 per cent of all construction trades workers in Victoria.  

And in Victoria, women made up 12.4 per cent of all employees (323,791) in the building and construction industry in August 2021. 

The BEP will apply to new government projects and mandates female representation in at least 3 per cent of each trade role, 7 per cent of each non-trade position, and 35 per cent of management, supervisor and specialist labour roles. 

In effect from 1 January 2022, the BEP also mandates that 4 per cent of labour hours for apprentices and trainees will be required to be performed by women. 

Master Builders Victoria is committed to promoting gender equality in the workplace and on building and construction sites.  

Rebecca Casson, CEO of Master Builders Victoria and Acting Chairperson of Victoria’s Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC), said while our industry was making good progress, more needed to be done to encourage more women to become fully qualified master trades. 

“More women are active in building and construction now than in the past, but they still make up just 2.5 per cent of all building and construction trades workers in Victoria,” she said.  

“Our sector must change if it is to reduce skills shortages and have a thriving and sustainable future. 

"It was pleasing to see that this year’s Master Builders Victoria Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Carley Attard." 

The new requirements are being introduced through Victoria’s Social Procurement Framework (SPF) for works valued at $20 million or more over the project's life. 

There will be a two-year transitional implementation period, and action on non-compliance will kick in from January 2024. 

The BICC has worked collaboratively on developing the policy.  

It will continue to provide support and guidance to help the industry understand its obligations and comply. 

Executive Director Commercial and Corporate and acting CEO of Master Builders Victoria, Saeed Mirbagher, spoke to 3AW yesterday supporting the new policy. 

“Building and construction has always been a male dominated industry, but that needs to change.”

For more on the interview, click here.

For more information about starting a career in the building and construction industry, contact the MBV Assist Team on (03) 9411 4555.