Parents and Educators

It's important to know the facts when speaking to young women considering a career in construction to let them make an informed decision about their career. 

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Parents 

As a parent of a high-school student, you may have concerns about your child’s future career. Are they going to choose the right career? It’s challenging to know what the ‘right career’ is for each child. The opportunities in construction for a successful career may be better than what you think.

Why construction?

The construction industry is a large growth industry. The construction sector employs more than 1.1 million people in Australia. There are a diverse range of career opportunities available. If your daughter has some of the following qualities, an exciting career in construction may be the right option:

  • open to learning
  • mathematics and problem-solving skills
  • communication and reading skills
  • technology skills
  • interested in creating things
  • enjoy working in a team and being proactive.

What types of construction roles are available?

With the massive growth in infrastructure in Australia, there are many rewarding careers available. Some roles in the construction industry include:

  • Electrician
  • Engineering manager 
  • Civil engineer 
  • Painter 
  • Cabinet maker 
  • Bricklayer 
  • Scaffolder 
  • Carpenter
  • Plant operators
  • Contract administrator
  • Building designer
  • Project manager
  • Site supervisor
  • Environmental designer and many more!

For more detail on specific occupations, career paths and qualification requirements for roles, head to the Careers NSW website or Women Building Australia.

A woman is standing on a construction site smiling at the camera

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Women are welcomed and encouraged to pursue a career in construction

Has your child shown an interest in building or trades? Employers are continuing to realise the benefit of hiring and promoting more women in the construction industry.  Find more resources for parents below.

Educators

Construction jobs and career pathways 

Your role as a teacher or careers adviser is so important in guiding young women towards successful and rewarding careers. Some young women know what they want to do, others need more information, or are still exploring their options. 

When speaking to young women about a career in construction, it’s important to have the facts to help them make an informed decision.

With $112.7 billion infrastructure pipeline in NSW, the construction industry needs women to fill a range of roles, including trades and non-traditional roles to meet growing demand.

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A World of Opportunity in Construction

Consider young women’s strengths, interests and hobbies: 

  • Do they like making things with their hands? 
  • Would they like to do/have they done any VET units at school?
  • Are they creative and critical thinkers who like to solve problems? 
  • Are they doing, or considering STEM topics at school? 
  • Are they good communicators with leadership qualities? 

If the answer to some of these questions is ‘yes’, an exciting career in construction may be the best option.

Alice's Story

Alice works as a Graduate Site Engineer at the Randwick Campus Redevelopment. She started her career in the construction industry by studying Civil Engineering and Commerce at the University of New South Wales. We asked Alice questions about her pathway into the construction industry and experiences working on site.

Jessica's Story

Jessica works as a Project Engineer at the Randwick Campus Redevelopment. She started her career in the construction industry by studying Civil Engineering with Honours at the University of Wollongong. We asked Jessica questions about her pathway into the construction industry and experiences working on site.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can find answers to frequently asked questions about the construction industry on this page.

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