Construcciones Yamaro: Redefining success in construction
The National Association of Women in Construction is reshaping the industry’s definition of success by driving cultural change.
By Cathryn Greville, CEO of the National Association of Women in Construction.
We are on the cusp of a cultural shift in Australian construction, one that sees workplaces accommodate the respective needs of all workers, regardless of their background.
We’re moving toward a future where businesses and the community capitalise on the myriad benefits that equitable and inclusive environments bring, such as improved financial returns, greater innovation, a positive reputation, achievement of work health and safety imperatives, better compliance and ways of working, reduced workforce shortages and lower risk.
This change is long overdue. While great inroads have been made by dedicated and forward-thinking leaders and organisations across the many market segments impacted by construction work, the uptake hasn’t been widespread enough. Many organisations lack maturity in diagnosing issues in their own backyard and need assistance in designing and implementing appropriate fixes.
These are issues ripe for the picking, and we can shift the dial by focusing on culture – by which I mean the behaviours and attitudes that are accepted, justified and promoted in and around construction sites and the various services and activities that support them.
Unlocking potential through people
Any culture change comes back to people. And people are at the heart of what makes construction tick.
We simply cannot deliver the pipeline of construction projects in housing, infrastructure and energy without people – lots of them. At no other time has it been more critical to attract, retain and advance our people than during this period of massive skills and talent shortages.
The industry needs more than 400,000 new workers over the next five years. Yet, a staggering 110,000 workers leave each year through attrition. The full talent pool remains largely untapped, with women making up only 12.4 per cent of the workforce and just 3.4 per cent of trades roles. Meanwhile, the industry is struggling to attract enough young people to build the talent pipeline and offset the reality that a quarter of the workforce is over 55, with many nearing retirement.
We know that increasingly, workers are viewing workplaces and prospective workplaces with a cultural lens. Young people want to work for organisations serious about equity. Across the board, people stay in positive environments that meet their needs.
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Too many women face microaggressions – the small acts that make people feel less welcome, less valued, or less safe – and this is having a macro impact on businesses and the sector. On its own, a single act may seem little. But when we add up all the microaggressions women face over time, the impact is not so little. In fact, our Not So Little Things research study found that 88 per cent of respondents had experienced microaggressions in the sector, 41 per cent of aggressors are supervisors or managers, and another 38 per cent are clients or customers. Having experienced microaggressions, a lack of opportunity, a lack of flexibility and/or poor work culture, 8 per cent of women had left the industry entirely.
We can no longer hold tight to old ways of working that are outdated and serve no purpose in our modern workforce.
Flexibility, safety in all its guises, accounting for health and wellbeing, incorporating the needs of parents, those with disabilities, neurodivergence, actively taking steps to close the gender pay gap, demonstrating inclusive leadership and holding businesses and individuals accountable – all must become part of the usual way of working. This is what our current and future workforce is telling us they need and want.
The focus must be on building a sector that people – of all genders, races, ages, strengths and abilities – choose to join and stay. A fair, inclusive and respectful culture underpins our success. We simply cannot deliver for the nation without it.
Driving cultural change
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is leading this cultural change movement to achieve an equitable construction industry for all.
NAWIC has been at the forefront of driving positive changes to enable and benefit women and underrepresented groups to have successful careers in construction for 30 years. We take a multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary approach – working to support members, build community, deliver education and development opportunities, celebrate achievements and advocate for change.
We understand the issues impacting women, including the reasons for their low representation, poor experiences, and the failure to meet the needs of the sector. All our work is designed to enable women to join, stay and thrive in construction.
Indeed, we have numerous examples of women in the industry who exemplify what success looks like. We also have examples of committed leaders and organisations doing great things to improve the sector for women.
In 2025, our focus is on:
- Supporting our members: Continuing to provide support for members, who consist of both individuals and organisations in various roles and market segments of construction. NAWIC membership is open to all, and 11 per cent of our membership identifies as male.
- Changing the industry: Looking at the environment, designing and implementing targeted, evidence-based initiatives, and ultimately driving fair, inclusive and respectful workplaces.
What does industry success look like?
The ultimate success would be a sector of choice for people seeking a meaningful career – one that is welcoming to all, regardless of background, and recognises the benefits that diverse perspectives and experiences bring to both the decision-making table and the work of an organisation.
It would be one where everyone can play their part in building and maintaining the very places and spaces in which we all live, work and play.
It would be one characterised by fairness, inclusion and respect in construction and the built environment.
It’s well and truly time. Let’s work together to create the industry that we all want, where everyone can thrive. Join us in the cultural change movement and help us amplify our impact.
NAWIC is the peak membership body for women working in the construction industry and supporting sectors across the built environment. A national not-for-profit association dedicated to the attraction, development and retention of women in the construction industry, NAWIC has local chapters in every state and territory and forms part of a global NAWIC network. NAWIC connects like-minded people focused on driving gender equity. You can find out more about NAWIC through its social media channels @nawicau or on the NAWIC website, nawic.com.au
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