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 decided to build the solution from the ground up.
This week, AWIC officially completed its first Skilling Queenslanders for Work: Construct Your Future program, marking a major milestone in its long-running mission to support, mentor, and skill women who want to step into the industry but don’t always know where to begin.
And judging by the feedback, energy, and momentum coming out of the pilot program, this won’t be the last time we hear about Construct Your Future. In fact, more rounds are already locked in for 2026 and the demand is growing.
A Program Built for Real-World Confidence
What makes Construct Your Future stand out is its practical, hands-on focus. This wasn’t a theory-heavy course that keeps participants in a classroom. Instead, it blended personal development, employability skills, and genuine industry exposure in a way that felt accessible and energising.
Over the span of the program, participants had the chance to:
- Build a resume that genuinely reflects their strengths
- Practice real interview scenarios
- Improve financial and digital literacy (one of the biggest barriers to entry for new workers)
- Get involved in practical construction-focused activities
- Hear directly from industry leaders who shared their stories, challenges, and lessons learned
For many participants, it was the first time they had ever been in an environment where construction felt not only possible, but welcoming.
The Queensland Government funded the program through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, and TAFE Queensland played a key role in delivering the training. Together, the partnership has created a blueprint for what accessible construction training can look like when the student experience comes first.
Why Programs Like This Matter
The construction sector has been working hard to address its workforce shortfall, yet women still make up only a small portion of the industry. The missing piece isn’t just recruitment, it’s confidence, exposure, and support.
Many women simply don’t know where to start. Others want to enter the industry but lack the networks, practical skills, or understanding of what jobs are out there. That’s where AWIC has stepped in.
By bringing women together in a structured, encouraging environment, Construct Your Future helps break down the mental and practical barriers that often stop someone from taking the first step.
And importantly, the program doesn’t paint a glossy picture of the industry. Participants practice real scenarios, hear honest stories, and learn the skills that actually make a difference when applying for entry-level roles.
This isn’t just training, it’s a pathway.
Bringing Industry to the Table
One of the standout features of the program was its industry involvement. AWIC secured work experience placements with three supportive businesses:
• The Woodworkers Company (Moorooka)
• Lyndons Pty Ltd (Salisbury)
• Schuster’s Painting
These companies didn’t just offer placements; they opened their doors, shared their knowledge, and gave participants genuine exposure to a live working environment.
For many women, this hands-on experience was the defining moment, a practical way to see whether construction felt like the right fit.
It also gave employers the chance to meet enthusiastic, motivated talent who may go on to become apprentices or part of their workforce.
Programs like this matter not only for participants but for an industry desperate for committed new workers. Having employers step up to support and mentor newcomers is exactly what strengthens the construction pipeline.
Hearing Directly From Industry Leaders
Another powerful part of the program was the opportunity to hear from people actually working in the sector.
Industry leaders came in to share personal stories, the good, the challenging and the rewarding parts of building a career in construction.
For participants, these conversations helped break down stereotypes and showed them that the industry is big, diverse, and full of opportunities far beyond what many people expect.
From carpentry to estimating, procurement to painting, project support to logistics, construction is not a one-lane highway. This program made that clear.
What Happens Next?
Given how strong the response has been, AWIC has confirmed that Construct Your Future will return in February, March, and April 2026, with expressions of interest already open.
These future rounds are expected to grow, both in scale and in partnership opportunities, as more employers recognise the value of supporting new entrants into the industry.
For AWIC, this is just the beginning. The long-term vision is to build a self-sustaining pipeline of skilled, confident women who can step into a broad range of trades and construction careers, not because they were pushed, but because they were supported.
The expression of interest page is live here:
https://awic.org.au/construct-your-future-program-expression-of-interest/
A Win for Participants and a Win for the Industry
Construction doesn’t just need more workers; it needs new voices, new perspectives, and a workforce that reflects the communities it serves.
AWIC’s first Construct Your Future program proves that with the right structure, support, and industry involvement, women can not only enter construction, they can thrive.
This pilot didn’t just give participants skills. It gave them belief, direction, and a clearer understanding of what’s possible. And if the early signs are anything to go by, the ripple effect across the industry will be significant.
From building confidence to building careers, this is how you grow the future of women in construction.
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