Isabella Gilbert, Andrew Giles (Federal Minister for Skills & Training), Cathryn Greville (CEO, NAWIC), Rob Monaci, Greg Belle, Ruth Mukheibir and Steven Clark at the launch hosted by CPB Contractors at the Warringah Freeway Project site office in Artarmon.
Image credit: Oscar Coleman
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) yesterday launched the Male Allies Training and Industry Challenge in New South Wales at the Warringah Freeway Project in Artarmon, marking a key milestone in the national Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women initiative.
Allyship in Action is actively engaging men in driving gender equality, fostering inclusive workplaces, and dismantling systemic barriers that disadvantage women in work.
The Male Allies Training and Industry Challenge forms part of the three-year project, which has received $5 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program and is being delivered in partnership with ADCO Constructions, CPB Contractors, the Australian Workers’ Union and Holmesglen Institute.
Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, attended the NSW launch, reinforcing the importance of industry-wide action to improve women’s participation and retention in construction.
Women currently make up approximately 13% of Australia’s construction workforce, with only around 3% working on the tools. Allyship in Action is designed to directly address this imbalance by engaging men as active participants in driving cultural change across the sector.
The Industry Challenge invites organisations and individuals across the construction and built environment to complete NAWIC’s free, online Male Allies Training Course and demonstrate their commitment to building safer, more respectful and inclusive workplaces.
The training is practical, accessible and designed for real-world application, with five short, self-paced modules that can be completed on a phone, tablet or computer. It focuses on recognising everyday bias, building confidence to intervene and reinforcing that respectful culture is everyone’s responsibility.
Research shows that when men actively participate in allyship initiatives, workplaces become safer, more inclusive and more productive, supporting stronger team performance and better long-term outcomes for women in the industry.
Quotes attributable to NAWIC CEO Cathryn Greville:
“The launch of the Male Allies Training and Industry Challenge in New South Wales represents an important step forward in engaging the industry to take practical action on culture.
“Allyship in Action is about equipping individuals and organisations with the tools to be part of the solution. We know that real change happens when people feel confident to speak up, challenge behaviours and lead by example.
“This initiative is designed specifically for the construction and built environment, using realistic scenarios and practical strategies that reflect the day-to-day experiences of our workforce.
“By engaging men as allies, we are not only supporting women to enter and stay in the industry but strengthening the entire sector for the future.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
“Women continue to encounter systemic and cultural barriers in trades and technical fields. Case studies show workplace culture and recruitment practices continue to deter women from entering and staying in the construction industry.
“Supporting workers to call out outdated attitudes and foster positive culture change strengthens the entire construction workforce. That cultural shift is essential if we are to deliver the projects communities depend on.
“Increasing women’s participation is not only the right thing to do, it’s critical to ensuring we build a workforce that can meet the growing infrastructure and housing needs in New South Wales.”
Quotes attributable to Rob Monaci, Executive General Manager NSW/ACT, CPB Contractors:
“As an industry, we have a way to go on our diversity journey. Progress requires ongoing effort and accountability from everyone, which is why programs like the Male Allies Industry Challenge are important.
“The online training is excellent, and we’ve already seen great participation at CPB Contractors, with most senior members of my team completing it.”
Quotes Attributable to CPB Contractors Project Engineer, Isabella Gilbert
“Since joining the Warringah Freeway Upgrade Project, support from colleagues has helped me advance from Junior Engineer to Site Engineer and now Project Engineer.
“At the Warringah Freeway Project, allyship isn’t a checkbox, it’s how we work, men and women supporting each other to deliver a high-quality project, safely and efficiently in a complex environment.
“It's great to see programs like NAWIC's Allyship in Action, which foster a work environment where women can contribute fully, progress their careers meaningfully, and be valued as essential members of the delivery team.”
Individuals and organisations can register for the Male Allies Training and take part in the Industry Challenge via the National Association of Women in Construction website.
Further information on the Building Women’s Careers Program.
Media Enquiries:
Christine Callinan
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