I was very pleased to be asked by Sam Sheppard of Buildmore to be the national patron for an Australian first project to promote women in the construction industry- The Women Into Building Housing Showcase.
My background in the workforce was as a labourer in the building and construction industry, removing asbestos from buildings, including the Australian National Library. I later worked for the Building Workers Industrial Union (now the CFMEU) as an organiser focusing on occupational health and safety. Women still represent a really small percentage of building workers so I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of this initiative.
Led by Sam, an inspiration role model and multi-award winning Sunshine Coast builder, the Women into Building Housing Showcase site on Creekside Boulevard is being built completely by a talented female workforce.
Late last year I visited the housing showcase in Sippy Downs Queensland to endorse the project. The objective of the showcase is to elevate awareness and acceptance of women who choose the industry as a career of choice. The showcase also brings attention to the importance and increasing interest in environmental design built to sustainable guidelines and netting a six-star energy rating, small lot housing and sustainable principles.
Sam through the directorship of the Buildmore Group purchased a 385sqm block of land from Investa situated in the Master Builders’ Display Village.
The project is predictably attracting a lot of positive media attention and it is my hope that this will help to inspire the next generation of girls to contemplate a career in building. A Current Affair aired a piece on Women Into Building 13/01/2010, pushing the campaign to promote women in the building industry nationally.
There are skill shortages across many trades in building and construction and with the economy on the rise there will be a growing demand for tradespeople. If there were more women choosing the life of a tradie, we would be able to solve these shortages that much sooner, which would be good news for our economy. These fantastic women are part of a visionary project that is an important step forward for the industry and the economy in Australia. I’d like to see the idea spread around the country !
