Construcciones Yamaro: Multiplex school program drives female participation in construction
The Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program is paving the way for future female participation in the construction sector, aiming to spark early interest in construction careers among young girls. Over 600 Year 5 and 6 students in New South Wales have already taken part in the program, with another 1,000 expected to complete it by year’s end.
This milestone coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl on 11 October, a day dedicated to promoting education, equal opportunity and human rights for girls worldwide.
Female representation in construction is crucial for the industry’s future, especially as Master Builders Australia’s The Future of the Workforce report reveals the need for 130,000 additional workers by the end of 2024. The report indicates that the sector is still grappling with significant skills shortages, with women comprising only 13.6 per cent of the workforce, despite construction being the second-largest employer in Australia. It also highlights that industries with pronounced gender imbalances, such as construction, are more prone to workforce shortages.
The Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program seeks to ignite early interest in construction among young girls by challenging biases and stereotypes surrounding women in the industry.
Piloted at Panania North Public School in southwest Sydney in 2023, the program has now expanded to 28 schools this year. It features one-day workshops where students apply creativity, planning and problem-solving to construction tasks. Activities include group scenes, high-energy challenges and creative experimentation with LEGO bricks, with support and guidance from Multiplex staff.
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So far, 324 girls and 325 boys from Sydney’s Western, South Western and Northern suburbs have participated, with the program set to reach 1,500 students by the end of 2024. Natalie Haydon, Multiplex design manager and Jump Start mentor, shared the company’s excitement about the program’s rapid growth.
“What started as a pilot program at just one school in Sydney will have reached more than 30 schools by the end of this year,” said Haydon. “With our industry facing an ongoing skills shortage, we hope this initiative will inspire girls to consider careers in the built environment from an earlier age – and contribute to a paradigm shift for our industry.”
Throughout the workshops, boys and girls are guided by female Multiplex mentors to build their understanding of construction careers, terminology and processes. This approach benefits all students by providing female role models and showcasing female leadership in construction. Students are introduced to real-life high-profile Multiplex construction projects, like the new Sydney Fish Market and Western Sydney Airport, to inspire early interest. Parents and caregivers are also given take-home materials to extend the program’s impact.
One participant, 10-year-old Queeness Gutierrez from Sydney’s South, took part in both the Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program and the Unstoppable Academy, a mentorship initiative by LEGO Australia and Multiplex. These programs provided her with hands-on experience and insights into creative career paths, fuelling her aspiration to become an engineer or construction manager.
“I’ve always enjoyed being creative and building LEGO sets,” said Queeness. “This program showed me that working in construction allows you to use that creativity to solve problems and bring amazing projects to life.”
“Even though there are less women than men in construction, girls can still follow their dreams and be part of the industry.”
Jump Start Juniors builds on Multiplex’s successful Jump Start initiative, which connects young women in Years 11 and 12 with construction opportunities through site tours, training and career pathways.
“Jump Start originally began as a pathway for young women who are leaving high school, which gives them the inspiration and tools they need to launch their career in construction,” said Haydon. “To see the Jump Start program grow, and to then see the launch and success of Jump Start Juniors, has been so rewarding.”
“We’ve received great feedback from our participants so far, and it has been so encouraging seeing primary students engage with the program material.”
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