As the National Skills Summit shines a light on key industries’ workforce needs, the new ACT public schools’ Understanding Building and Construction Pilot Program (UBCPP) is encouraging female high school students to consider a career in construction

As the National Skills Summit shines a light on key industries’ workforce needs, the new ACT public schools’ Understanding Building and Construction Pilot Program (UBCPP) is encouraging female high school students to consider a career in construction.

A partnership between ACT Government and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the UBCPP is running in four ACT public high schools – Alfred Deakin, Calwell, Harrison and Mt Stromlo – working with more than 1100 students in years 7 to 10.

Alongside classroom lessons, there will be a professional learning excursion to the University of Canberra and work experience placement opportunities later in the program, while students really enjoyed a ‘Try A Trade’ Day at CIT a few weeks ago.

“It opened my eyes to more future career opportunities,” Sienna from Stromlo High says.

Her classmate Hannah agrees.

“This gave me some ideas on what to look at in the future. It has opened up and given me many more options that I can choose from that I didn't know I could do,” Hannah says.

UBCPP co-ordinator Sarah Ackerly says the program provides a clear pathway for interested students, from Year 7 right through to their future career if they like.

“In Years 7 and 8, the program is targeted at all students and is designed to start conversations, address bias and create a shift in industry perception,” Ms Ackerly says.

“The classes provide an introduction to the industry and present the broad career opportunities available to all students to remove the gendered bias female students may face.

“In Years 9 and 10, the program is an elective unit for female and gender diverse students to complete over one semester which provides a deep-dive into their personal understanding of themselves to best allow them to make fully informed career decisions. This includes a work-experience placement onsite.

“If the students wish to continue their career journey and learning experience within the construction industry in Years 11 and 12, they will be eligible to participate in the current school-based apprenticeship program provided by the Australian Training Company (ATC) in partnership with NAWIC ACT.”

Currently, only one in 10 people in the construction industry are women and less than 3% of apprentices and trainees in the construction, automotive and electrical trade industries are women.

NAWIC ACT co-president Meagan Higgins says it’s important to address that disparity.

“Though significant work and effort has gone in to increasing the representation of women in these industries, female participation remains low. Increasing the number of women in traditionally male dominated and higher-paid roles is an important step towards gender equity.”

Ms Higgins added that the UBCPP has received an “incredibly positive” reception locally.

“We’re really fortunate in the ACT to receive generous support from a broad range of industry partners committed to providing work experience placements.

“UBCPP provides high school students and their parents far greater awareness of the career options available in the construction industry. We’ve learned that parents often aren’t aware of the depth and diversity of opportunities available, and programs such as UBCPP provide a critical pathway to gaining hands on work experience and a taste for what a career in construction might offer.”

The UBCPP reflects the ACT Government’s commitment to increase the participation of women in traditionally male-dominated industries. The ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26 provides a strategic, comprehensive ten-year plan with three Action Plans sitting under it, the second of which - Equity Together: The Second Action Plan 2020-22 was launched in March 2020. Importantly, the Second Action Plan has committed to a target of 10 per cent female employment in the construction industry in the ACT.

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