Andrea Ramirez Pertuz arrived in Australia with a civil engineering degree and a plan. Her path to working on some of Sydney's biggest hospital redevelopments offers a practical lesson in how the industry absorbs skilled migrants when the system works properly. Andrea...
Hannah Dillimore didn't take the conventional path into the trades. She saw an ad for welders in Antarctica and thought, that's interesting. She wasn't ready for the South Pole, but the spark was lit. The 27-year-old from Melbourne's South East is now Victoria's 2026...
The Awesome Women in Construction Awards are back for their fifth year, and if you haven't paid attention before, 2026 might be the year to start. The AWIC Awards aren't just a gala night. They're one of the few places in this industry where the people doing the...
Abbey Paxton changed careers after a horse riding accident, walked into a TAFE classroom at 30 with two kids at home, and has since renovated her first house. Her story is exactly what the construction industry needs more of. And there has never been a better time to...
The workforce shortage in Australian construction is not a secret. Builders are struggling to find people. Apprenticeship numbers are not keeping pace with demand. And the industry continues to recruit from a pool that represents less than half the population. So when...
The Cook Government's Pre-sale Guarantee tackles one of the most stubborn financial barriers in apartment construction. The mechanics matter for anyone involved in delivering medium-density housing. Apartment development in Australia does not stall because builders...
Australia has a housing supply problem. You already know that. We have been talking about it for years. Planning reform. Zoning changes. Infrastructure levies. Approval timelines. Build rates. Housing targets. The National Housing Accord. State-level housing...
One of Queensland's leading builder brokers Emily Pollard on display homes, data, and the slow collapse of trust between builders and the people hiring them. There is a version of the construction industry that Australians still remember. Builders were respected. The...
Construction has started on Bank Street Park in Sydney's Bays Precinct. The NSW Government has set a target of 50 per cent women across the project's workforce. The industry average is 12 per cent. Here is what that ambition looks like in practice, and what it would...
Across Australia’s construction industry, the conversation around diversity is slowly shifting from awareness to action. While the sector remains heavily male dominated, more women are stepping into operational and leadership roles, helping reshape how teams operate,...
New workforce data is pointing to a significant shift in the Northern Rivers construction sector, with women playing an increasingly visible and practical role in delivering homes, infrastructure and commercial projects across the region. Figures released by the...
New data released during Women in Construction Week has highlighted a significant shift underway in New South Wales’ building sector. According to figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, the number of women enrolling in construction trades...
A significant new funding commitment is set to expand hands on construction training opportunities for women across regional New South Wales, with the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation granting $545,000 to Habitat for Humanity Australia to deliver its Habitat...
Australia’s construction industry is made up of people, real people; yet too often the sector is spoken about in headlines, statistics, and stereotypes. The 100 Faces of Construction campaign is aiming to change that. Launched as a bold new public awareness...
Western Australia’s construction and trade sectors are facing a familiar challenge: strong demand for skilled workers alongside persistent workforce shortages. While governments and industry bodies continue to focus on productivity, skills pipelines and training...
Australia’s construction industry has long talked about the need to widen its talent pipeline. Now, a new program launching in South East Queensland is turning that conversation into action. The Securing Futures – School to Work Transitions Program has been launched...
At first glance, early childhood education and construction waterproofing sit worlds apart. One focuses on caring for young children. The other protects buildings from moisture, mould and long-term structural damage. But for 26-year-old Scheriya Cuello, the move from...
A hands-on, confidence-building pathway bringing more women into construction Australia’s construction industry is facing one of the biggest workforce shortages in decades, but instead of just talking about the problem, AWIC (Australian Women in Construction) has...
When Amanda Bulow speaks, you immediately hear two things: grit and purpose.On today's episode of The Good Builder podcast, she sat down with Az to talk about her journey from a no fuss childhood in Ipswich to founding one of the most influential communities for women...
A First for NSW: 50% Women Targeted on Major Construction Project In a landmark move for gender equality in construction, the NSW Government has announced that women will make up at least 40% with a stretch goal of 50% of the workforce building the new Bank Street...
Australia’s construction industry continues to evolve and women are increasingly leading that change. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has opened applications for the 2026 Bright Ideas Grants, offering up to $30,000 in seed funding for...
A Step Toward Inclusion in the Trades Queensland’s construction industry has long struggled with one of the lowest female participation rates of any sector in Australia. But a new $20 million government program, the Women’s Career Grants could mark a turning point by...
North Queensland, Australia. For decades, Australia’s construction and trade industries have been dominated by men. But a quiet revolution is underway in North Queensland, and the numbers speak for themselves. The proportion of women training in trades at TAFE has...
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...
In an industry where fresh thinking can be the difference between stagnation and progress, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is giving bright ideas the fuel they need to take off. Through its Bright Ideas Grants, NAWIC is investing directly in...
I have been to enough women in construction events now to know they are full of energy, inspiration, and connection. I have also noticed something else. They are often full of women. Now before anyone takes that the wrong way, hear me out. These events are brilliant...
A decade on the tools and still proving themselves We have told plenty of stories at The Good Builder about what it takes to stick it out in this industry, from the Tier 1 partnerships that work because of trust to the small builders who refuse to cut corners because...
“Culture is everything. If you don’t have a good culture, you have nothing.” – Kim Allen When Kim Allen speaks about construction, it’s never just about building walls – it’s about building people, culture, and opportunities. A familiar guest on The Good Builder...
Australia’s home building sector faces a reality check. Master Builders Australia Chief Executive Denita Wawn has delivered a stark warning: without immediate reforms, Labor’s ambitious plan to build 1.2 million homes by 2029 will fall short. Fresh figures from the...
Summary: The New South Wales Government’s latest Women in Construction industry survey is now open and it is not just for women. Builders and trades across the sector are encouraged to have their say on workplace culture, diversity, and the changes needed to build a...
Yesterday morning at the Master Builders Queensland breakfast in Birtinya, something really special happened. It wasn’t just a gathering for coffee and conversation. It was a moment where the industry paused to rally around one of its most loved people — Nicola Scott....
As the building industry continues to grapple with labour shortages, mental health pressures, and the need for greater inclusivity, Carpentry Australia is stepping up with a series of free events across New South Wales designed to deliver real impact. Backed by the...
Carpentry Australia offers free NSW events aimed at tackling tradie shortages, well-being and inclusion across the trade.Supported by Carpentry Australia & the Women in Construction program from NSW Government Carpentry Australia is rolling out a series of free...
When Hannah Keirl walks onto a job site, she’s not just showing up for herself. She’s walking in for the thousands of women who never saw this pathway as possible. As the Manager - Community Relations, Marketing & Projects at Carpentry Australia, Keirl is...
There are people in this industry who quietly lead with strength, heart, and resilience, and Nicola Scott is one of them. In June, Nicola and her family are going all in, shaving it, colouring it, wearing it, to raise vital funds for breast cancer research through the...
Today, we’re pausing from the noise. No market updates, no budget breakdowns, no commentary on approvals or the housing crisis. Because this Sunday is reserved for something more important, the women who laid the first foundations for our lives: our mums. In...
We’ve had the pleasure of chatting with some cracking guests on the podcast lately people with real stories, sharp thinking, and plenty of heart. It just so happens that a few of them are women. Women who’ve built businesses, led teams, redefined roles and reshaped...
Not everyone wants to talk about women in construction, but maybe we should. Especially when someone like Kim Allen joins the conversation, a plasterer-turned-CEO who’s shaking things up, speaking out, and refusing to be boxed in. We recently had Kim on The Good...
Not everyone gets fired up about supplier relationships. We get it. You’ve got a bunch of jobs running, all at different stages, someone didn’t show up, products are on back order, and the client wants weekly photo updates. Talking about hot water systems and rep...
Aletha Walters is the co-owner of Stroud Homes Wide Bay, the biggest individual franchise in Queensland across any home builder brand. Alongside her husband Slade, she’s built a powerhouse business that now sells over 40 homes a month across a vast regional footprint...
The construction industry has long been a heavily male-dominated industry, with cultural barriers and outdated perceptions often standing in the way of progress. Yet, change is underway, and it’s being driven by strong leadership and inclusive culture. At The Good...
If you think of trades as a family, plastering would have to be the black sheep. It’s the forgotten child, the one that no-one really likes to talk about, the outsider. But Kim Allen will have none of it. “Most plasterers don't actually choose to enter the industry,”...
Last week we brought you the story of the Prime Minister’s commitment to give construction apprentices $10,000 to solve the capacity crisis. On the whole, the $626.9 million announcement was greeted favourably by the major...
Amanda Bulow is a construction industry professional, and founder and CEO of Awesome Women In Construction Estimating a job is a critical part of any project and getting it wrong can lead to financial and reputational damage. While many professionals have their...
LATEST NEWS
A $12 million adjoining purchase has grown one of the Gold Coast’s most constrained beachfront sites by half. The interesting part is what GRAYA chose to do with the extra land. Most developers expand a site to fit in more homes. GRAYA has done the opposite. The...
Mathew Vanstyn built a 15-person patio and renovation business by knowing exactly how big he wanted it to be. His refusal to chase scale is a lesson in risk management most builders learn the hard way. Most builder failure stories share a common thread. The business...
From the start of the new financial year, almost any roof job on a single-storey home in SA becomes high-risk construction work. For most residential builders, the day-to-day change is simple: a Safe Work Method Statement now has to be in place before the work starts....
A new bill before Queensland Parliament would let the state compulsorily acquire private land to help deliver projects of state significance. Owners keep their right to compensation, but the usual avenues to contest the underlying decision on its merits would be...