Construcciones Yamaro: Freecity Construction wins NAWIC Allyship in Action challenge
One initiative is turning workplace culture goals into measurable progress in the construction industry, with Freecity Construction leading the way.
By Cathryn Greville, CEO of the National Association of Women in Construction.
The strong momentum generated during the recent Industry Challenge phase of the National Association of Women in Construction’s (NAWIC) Allyship in Action initiative shows how turning intention into action supports culture change, with 65 organisations taking part and 2,600 people enrolled.
The three-month challenge, which finished on 23 July, invited organisations across Australia’s construction and built environment sector to complete the program’s online Male Allies Training and demonstrate leadership in building safer, more respectful and inclusive workplaces.
The online training is part of NAWIC’s three-year, $5 million Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women project. Funded by the Australian Government’s Building Women’s Careers Program, the project is being delivered in partnership with ADCO Constructions, CPB Contractors, the Australian Workers’ Union and Holmesglen Institute.
Freecity Construction was named the winner of the challenge, achieving 100 per cent completion within the first six weeks after enrolling its entire construction team. Laing O’Rourke Australia, Duratec, Mott MacDonald and our project partners CPB Contractors and ADCO Constructions were also among the organisations with the highest number of completions.
The Allyship in Action project also includes Male Allies On-site Training, which trains trade-based workers in allyship practices; the Ambassador Program, which aims to train change agents across all genders to model inclusive workplace standards; and the Sponsorship Program, which pairs high-potential women with senior leaders who actively advocate for participants’ progression into leadership.
Culture change in construction isn’t a women’s issue; it’s a sector issue and requires everyone, including men, to step up. The challenge isn’t just about finding workers for an industry facing a skills shortage; it’s about building workplaces that are fair, inclusive and respectful, where talented people from all backgrounds want to stay.
Women currently make up less than 13 per cent of Australia’s construction workforce, with only around 3 per cent working on the tools – a huge and currently untapped resource. Allyship in Action is designed to close that gap by engaging men as active participants in driving cultural change.
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Allyship in Action senior project manager Greg Belle says the project is one of the largest government investments in construction culture change globally, and it’s built on evidence, not aspiration.
“Male allyship isn’t complicated – it’s small things done consistently by the majority who have the power to shift the culture,” he says.
“This isn’t about blame – it’s about awareness, accountability and lifting the standard. The barriers women face range from everyday assumptions and behaviour through to systemic issues that limit opportunity and progression.
“The training provides real-life scenarios to unpack 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.”
Participants say the Male Allies Training course is insightful and helpful, providing practical, evidence-based tools to navigate real workplace situations with confidence. The training helps participants speak up early, respond to inappropriate behaviour and set the standard on site and within their teams.
One participant recommends the program to anyone looking to step up and drive change: “Yesterday I completed the NAWIC Male Allies Program, and it was incredibly eye-opening. It provides a profound look into the everyday experiences and comments our female counterparts face in the construction industry.”
Another participant says: “I found it very informative and thought-provoking, particularly in reflecting on my own actions, whether I would call out certain behaviours, and how past workplace environments compare with the inclusive culture we should be creating.”
Our online Male Allies Training Course is free, open to all men across the building sector and easy to complete in five short online modules of about 30 minutes each – accessible anytime, on any device.
Join our Allyship in Action project as we break down barriers, challenge outdated attitudes and create more opportunities for women.
Learn more and register at nawic.com.au
The post Freecity Construction wins NAWIC Allyship in Action challenge appeared first on Inside Construction.
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