The Victorian Government has announced it will provide $585,000 to help diversify the traditionally male dominated construction industry.
According to the Victorian Government, women’s participation in the building and construction industry remains low at all levels, including the board level.
The funding package includes $500,000 to create Victoria’s first Women in Construction Strategy in conjunction with the Building Industry Consultative Council.
The strategy will aim to increase the proportion of women working in the construction industry.
Themes addressed in the strategy include promoting the industry for women, improving workplace culture to attract and retain women in the construction industry, qualitative experience and industry benchmarks, structural barriers to increasing women’s participation in the industry, and potential solutions and initiatives to improve participation in the industry.
A further $85,000 funding boost to Leadership Victoria to address the low representation of women on boards in the construction and building industries.
Minister for Women and Industrial Relations Natalie Hutchins said fixing the underrepresentation of women in traditionally male-dominated industries is key to closing the gender pay gap.
“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 just that,” Ms Hutchins said.
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