MALE ALLIES IN ACTION

Building Respect. Advancing Inclusion. Strengthening Industry

Why This Matters

Understand the Reality

In male-dominated industries, particularly construction, many women still face barriers that affect their safety, confidence and ability to stay in the job. These range from everyday assumptions and behaviour through to systemic issues that limit opportunity and progression.

This training unpacks what the data shows and what women working on site actually experience. It explores how workplace culture directly impacts safety, wellbeing, performance and retention and why getting it right matters for everyone in the workplace.

Why Allyship Matters?

Men play a critical role in shaping workplace culture. The actions they take or don’t take set the tone for what’s acceptable.

When men speak up early, step in when something isn’t right, and lead by example, workplaces become safer, more respectful and more productive. This training shows participants exactly how to do that in practical, realistic ways without escalating situations or putting themselves at risk.

Your Role in the Bigger Picture

Every action in the workplace matters. Individual choices strengthen teams. Consistent action across sites shifts culture and over time, changes the industry.

This course helps men understand how their everyday decisions influence safety, trust and long-term workforce retention and how small, practical actions can make construction a safer place for everyone.

About the Male Allies Training Course

Short, Practical and Free to Complete

The program is free and designed to fit within busy site schedules. It’s delivered in five short online modules (around 30 minutes each) and can be completed any time on a laptop or mobile device.

Each module includes real workplace scenarios, reflective questions and clear, practical actions participants can start using immediately.

What Participants Will Learn

• How everyday behaviours impact psychological safety
• How to identify disrespect, bias and exclusion
• How to safely intervene and challenge harmful behaviour
• How to support colleagues who experience disrespect
• How to role-model inclusive behaviour in the workplace
• How peer influence shapes culture—and how to use it positively
• How male allyship strengthens team performance, safety and retention

Join the Industry Challenge

Who will lead the industry in building respectful workplaces?

The Male Allies Industry Challenge is a free, national initiative inviting organisations and worksites across Australia’s built sector to demonstrate leadership by participating in the Male Allies Online Training Program.

This is not about prizes. It’s about accountability, visibility and meaningful cultural change in workplaces.

How It Works

• Register your site or organisation via a simple online form
• Individuals complete the training in their own time
• Every completion counts toward your site or organisation’s total
• Progress is tracked publicly via a weekly national leaderboard
• Top-performing sites are recognised through certificates, public acknowledgement, and inclusion in national press and ministerial updates

Challenge Dates

Who Can Participate

The industry challenge is free and open to organisations and worksites across the built sector, including construction, infrastructure, engineering, property, planning, architecture, government and industry partners of all sizes.

Register your site or organisation — every participant contributes to a coordinated national effort to improve safety, respect and workplace culture across Australia.

Why Participate
Organisations who join the industry challenge:

• Demonstrate visible leadership in respect and cultural safety
• Strengthen psychological safety and team cohesion
• Support supervisors and leaders with practical tools for inclusive workplaces
• Improve retention and wellbeing
• Align with industry expectations for safer, more respectful workplaces
  

Click to register

Free to join. Open to every site

Download Materials

Ambassador Program

Our Commitment

The Male Allies Training Course is a central component of NAWIC’s Allyship in Action Program, a national initiative designed to build fair, inclusive and respectful workplaces across Australia. We work with individuals and organisations to create cultures where every person feels safe, valued and supported.

Allyship in Action responds directly to the urgent need for change in our industry. With women’s participation in construction declining from 17% in 2006 to just 12% in 2020, and with the workforce still overwhelmingly male—98% in trades, 81% in management and 96% of CEOs—the program engages men as active partners in driving sustainable, measurable cultural transformation.

Through a multi-layered engagement model, the program reaches thousands of workers and leaders across Australia:

• Site-Based Allyship Program
• Cultural Ambassador Program
• Male Sponsorship Program
• National Online Male Allies Training

This integrated approach builds critical mass for cultural change, while also providing the depth of support required to shift attitudes, strengthen accountability, and embed respectful behaviours at individual, team and organisational levels.

By empowering men to challenge harmful behaviours, support their colleagues and model everyday respect, the Male Allies Training Course helps create psychologically safe workplaces where women and men can thrive—now and into the future.

FAQs

What is the Male Allies Online Training?

It’s a practical, evidence-based training program designed to help men understand the everyday biases, behaviours, and structural barriers women face in male-dominated industries. Through short modules, real stories and practical tools, participants learn how to contribute to safer, more respectful and inclusive workplaces.

Who is this training for?

The program is designed for men across all levels of the construction and related industries—apprentices, site teams, managers and executives. While women and gender-diverse colleagues are welcome to participate, the training is specifically designed to equip men with the skills and awareness needed to be effective allies.

How long does the training take?

The full course consists of bite-sized modules, each taking around 30 minutes to complete. Participants can progress at their own pace.

How do I start the training?

Simply complete the registration form on this page. Once submitted, you’ll receive immediate access and can begin the modules straight away.

What is the Industry Challenge?

The challenge is a friendly industry-wide competition measuring the percentage of your workforce or site completing the training between Thursday 23 April and Thursday 23 July. It’s designed to demonstrate commitment to building respect and inclusion on-site and across organisations.

Is there a prize for completing the industry challenge?

There is no physical prize, but high-performing organisations and sites will be recognised on:

• The NAWIC website leaderboard
• NAWIC newsletters
• LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook
• Media releases and ministerial updates
• Participants will also receive a NAWIC certification at the end of the challenge to acknowledge completion levels.

How does my organisation join the industry challenge?

A dedicated section on this page allows organisations to register.

Can individual participants join the industry challenge?

Yes. Individual participants automatically contribute to their organisation or site’s completion percentage when they register and complete modules. If you're unsure which category you belong to, simply list your employer or site name at sign-up.

Does the training need to be done during work hours?

Not necessarily. While many organisations encourage participation during work time, individuals can complete the modules whenever suits them. The course is fully self-paced and mobile-friendly

Is the training confidential?

Yes. Participant progress and responses are confidential. Only aggregate completion data is used for the challenge leaderboard.

Do I need any prior knowledge?

No prior experience is required. The training is suitable for anyone, regardless of background, role or familiarity with inclusion topics.

Is there a cost?

The training is funded under the Allyship in Action program. There is no cost for individual participants or organisations to take part.

Can multiple sites under one company join separately?

Yes. Each site can register independently and compete in the challenge as its own team.

Who is behind the Allyship in Action program?

The program is delivered by NAWIC in partnership with leading industry organisations, educators and advisors, as part of a national effort to build fair, inclusive and respectful workplaces across Australia.

Do I need to be a NAWIC member to register for the Male Allies Online Training?

No — you do not need to be a NAWIC member to complete the Male Allies Online Training.
However, participation in the Sponsorship Program and Cultural Ambassador Program is limited to NAWIC members.

Do I need to use my company email for my participation to count towards the Industry Challenge?

No, you can register using any email address.
To ensure your participation counts towards the Industry Challenge, you must select or enter the correct organisation name when registering.

Can I bulk register people from my organisation in the Industry Challenge?

Yes. If you have a group of 20 or more participants, we can support you with bulk registration.

How do I bulk register participants?

To arrange bulk registration, please contact our team at:
[email protected]

Will I receive a confirmation email when I register?

Yes. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to access and begin the training.
If you don’t see it, please check your junk or spam folder.

I’m experiencing a technical issue — what should I do?

If you are experiencing any technical issues with registration or accessing the training, please contact our support team:
[email protected]
Please include as much detail as possible (e.g. screenshots, device/browser used), and we will assist you as quickly as possible.