Construcciones Yamaro: NAWIC campaign calls for better support for parents in construction
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) brought construction leaders, government representatives and industry members together in Newcastle on 31 July for the first in-person event of its Off Site, Not Out of Mind campaign.
More than 70 people from Tier 1 construction firms through to small businesses attended, with discussions focused on the experiences pushing women out of construction and the changes needed to keep them.
NAWIC CEO Cathryn Greville said the campaign responds to one of the construction industry’s most pressing workforce retention challenges.
“Pregnancy is one of the biggest risk points for losing experienced women from construction,” said Greville. “It’s bigger than any one employer or individual. It’s not just a personal cost; it’s a workforce issue the industry cannot afford, particularly as it faces ongoing skills shortages and growing infrastructure demand.”
The event centred on the experiences of women working in construction, including one who miscarried at work but felt unable to leave because she had an important meeting. Others described returning from parental leave to inflexible roles or unclear pathways back to site.
Related stories:
- NAWIC awards celebrate excellence in construction
- NAWIC board welcomes new director
- Removing the barriers that push women out of construction
“In construction, paid and flexible parental leave is a critical workforce tool that keeps skilled people in the sector and supports project continuity,” said Greville. “No one should have to choose between being a parent and building a career in construction.”
State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp opened the event and said addressing the issue is central to the Hunter region’s future growth.
“The Hunter is one of the largest growing regions in the country, and we rely on our construction industry to facilitate that growth and ensure we’ve got the homes and infrastructure we need,” he said.
“This is not a women’s issue; it is a workforce issue. Most people will be a parent one day, and we need a construction industry that supports parents with flexible conditions and access to parental leave.”
The event included a panel discussion, Making Construction Work for Carers, featuring Icon head of design management Ashley Barnes, Laing O’Rourke general manager of people operations and industrial relations Dane Bates, Tradeswomen Australia CEO Clea Smith and Parents At Work founder and CEO Emma Walsh.
Panellists discussed ways employers can better support workers through pregnancy, parental leave and their return to work, with a focus on communication and workplace culture. The panel also reinforced the message that supportive workplace cultures can help parents speak openly about their needs and give managers the confidence to raise the right questions at the right time.
The Off Site, Not Out of Mind campaign is promoting organisational policies and resources that support parents and carers in construction. These include flexible work, clear parental leave pathways, guidance for managers and structured return-to-work support.
The NAWIC campaign is supported through the NSW Government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program, funded by Infrastructure NSW.
Infrastructure NSW executive director of strategy, planning and innovation and NSW Women in Construction Program lead Margot Brassil addressed the event and highlighted the Women in Construction 2026 Industry Survey. The survey is open throughout August and aims to provide a better understanding of workforce experiences across the construction sector.
The Off Site, Not Out of Mind campaign will continue until Carers Week in October, with resources for employers and employees, webinars with Parents At Work and Future Women, and further industry engagement.
The Newcastle gathering was the first of three regional events planned across New South Wales.
The post NAWIC campaign calls for better support for parents in construction appeared first on Inside Construction.
View Source
Comments
Post a Comment