When most people think about a hospital redevelopment, they picture cranes, scaffolding, and a future full of improved healthcare services. But in Newcastle, the $835 million John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct (JHHIP) is shaping more than just clinical outcomes it’s shaping careers.
Through the Jump Start program, part of the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program (ISLP), young women are gaining the tools, training, and confidence to step into an industry that has long been male-dominated.
And the numbers tell a story of progress. Women now represent around 14 per cent of the JHHIP workforce, with three per cent in trade roles, already above the state government’s target of two per cent.
Jump Start: More Than a Name
Jump Start is an initiative led by contractor Multiplex in partnership with the NSW Government’s Women in Construction strategy. It gives female students in Years 10 to 12 a hands-on introduction to construction, not just through classroom talks, but through site visits, subcontractor workshops, and real-world placements.
Electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, and site supervision are all on the table. For some, it’s the spark that lights a career.
One of those stories belongs to 18-year-old Zali Kilgour. After completing the program, she’s now on site as an apprentice plumber with a subcontractor at the John Hunter project.
“After going through the Jump Start Program, I had more confidence to pursue a trade and now here I am, helping to deliver a huge construction job that will care for the people of my community,” Zali says.
She’s not alone. More than 120 women have taken part so far, with others moving into university pathways or securing scholarships for built environment degrees.
Why Women in Construction Matters
Diversity in construction is not just a buzzword. It’s a productivity issue, a workforce issue, and an industry sustainability issue.
NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison put it plainly: “The Jump Start program is an important step in ensuring women have access to career opportunities and pathways in construction, in an industry that is evolving to become more inclusive.”
Her comments echo a wider push across government and industry. With ongoing labour shortages, an ageing workforce, and mounting project pipelines, tapping into underrepresented talent is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan added that diversity brings “fresh perspectives” that foster more inclusive and innovative workplaces.
Beyond Healthcare: Building Local Skills and the Economy
The John Hunter redevelopment is one of the Hunter’s biggest regional health projects. But as Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley notes, it’s also about jobs, training, and the local economy.
“This redevelopment isn’t just about better healthcare,” she said. “It’s about creating jobs, boosting the local economy and building skills for the future – and backing women to be part of that is a win-win for the whole community.”
It’s a message the building industry should pay attention to. Government projects are increasingly being leveraged as training and diversity engines and private contractors who align with this direction are set to lead the market.
Multiplex, the contractor behind Jump Start, has been clear on this. Managing Director David Ghannoum says the company is “committed to attracting and retaining more women in our industry.”
“We created our Jump Start program to show young women that construction is a viable, varied and rewarding career choice,” he said.
From Policy to Practice
For years, the talk about increasing women in construction has circled at conferences and roundtables. The JHHIP shows what it looks like when that talk turns into tangible outcomes.
The ISLP framework underpins it, setting trial targets, requiring major projects to deliver measurable outcomes, and using partnerships with TAFE NSW and Skills NSW to embed training and real-world opportunities.
The result? A model that can be replicated across future projects, ensuring diversity goals aren’t just aspirational, but achievable.
The Human Side of Numbers
While percentages and targets matter, the real impact lies in stories like Zali’s. It’s the difference between a student who might never have pictured herself on site, and an apprentice plumber building a career in her own community.
It’s also the ripple effect, more visibility of women in hi-vis and hard hats inspires the next cohort. It normalises their presence, challenges stereotypes, and shifts culture site by site.
As local MP Sonia Hornery noted: “It’s so important to have more women in construction roles and this is a great initiative… to increase female participation in a traditionally male dominated sector.”
Looking Ahead
Construction at the John Hunter Health and Innovation Precinct will continue through to 2026, with the new clinical services building as its centrepiece. By then, it won’t just deliver a world-class health facility it will have helped build a more inclusive, skilled, and resilient construction workforce.
And for the industry at large, the message is clear: gender diversity isn’t a side benefit. It’s part of how we build better projects, stronger communities, and sustainable businesses.
As Minister Ryan Park summed up: “Zali’s journey highlights the important role the Jump Start program and major infrastructure projects like the JHHIP project play in supporting women and creating opportunities for rewarding careers in construction.”
For builders, suppliers, and subcontractors, the challenge now is to take the Jump Start blueprint and make it business-as-usual.
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