Pilot program empowering women in trades

An innovative pilot program has been launched to help increase the number of women in trades, which includes practical skills, shadowing days with host employers, and major construction site tours.

AGA (part of the IntoWork Group), in partnership with Lendlease, developed the “Tradie Bootcamp”, a two-week initiative, specifically tailored to support women interested in entering construction trades. This program offers an in-depth exploration of various fields including Electrotechnology, Telecommunications, Carpentry, Cabinet Making, and Mechanical Plumbing.

In 2023, women constituted 15 percent of the building and construction workforce, with only three percent actively working with tools¹.

The Tradie Bootcamp is dedicated to equipping women with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in major construction environments. It includes practical training sessions, comprehensive safety education, and personal development workshops aimed at enhancing confidence and capabilities in these critical sectors.

Participants will benefit from exclusive tours of major Lendlease construction sites and interactions with current apprentices. They will also receive extensive Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Work Health and Safety (WHS) training. The curriculum further includes unique workshops focused on workplace culture and interpersonal skills, vision board creation, and goal-setting activities to motivate and energise the participants.

Another feature of the program is a shadowing day, where participants will accompany a host employer and an AGA field officer on-site, gaining firsthand experience and better preparation for their future roles. The pilot will conclude with a graduation ceremony where participants will receive essential tools and boots to kick-start their careers, followed by an official AGA induction into their apprenticeship or traineeship.

The final day of the program offers an exciting opportunity for participants to receive Elevated Work Platform training, enabling them to operate scissor lifts and boom lifts up to 11 meters, a crucial certification for their trade.

AGA Secondment – Field Officer Team Leader Andrew Micallef emphasised the importance of the Tradie Bootcamp in sourcing a pool of eager female participants wanting to try a trade. “Our goal is to get more women to enter the industry, and this program marks a significant step toward fostering more inclusive and equitable workplaces within the construction industry,” Mr. Micallef said.

“AGA is proud to support this initiative, which not only aims to diversify the workforce but also to empower women by providing them with the tools and confidence needed to succeed in their chosen trades,” he added.

Since the program’s inception, four out of six participants have started working on significant construction sites including Cranbourne Hospital, Frankston Hospital, and Wyndham Law Courts. Two participants are currently engaged in the host employer’s factory, preparing cladding and cabinet making, which they will later help install at these major construction sites.

Tradie Bootcamp is supported by Apprenticeships Victoria, TAFEs, Skills and Job Centres, and other Group Training Organisations (GTOs).

*AGA is part of the IntoWork Group.

1 https://masterbuilders.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Women-in-Construction_FINAL.pdf