Could you be the future of civil construction in Canberra?

Posted on 1 April, 2019

This new 10-week program aims to encourage women to build a career in construction.

If you’re a woman between 17 and 55 years old looking for a rewarding and challenging career, the Women in Civil Construction training program could be just the jumpstart you need.

Ginninderry’s training and employment initiative, SPARK, will partner with Master Builders ACT and several of ACT’s civil construction contractors, to deliver this initiative. It’s a full-time program that includes a mix of theory and hands-on learning, thanks to a four-week work placement.

Emma Sckrabei was named the 2019 ACT Women of the Year for her work breaking down barriers for women in construction, so it’s no surprise she’ll be leading the Women in Civil Construction program in her role as Ginninderry’s Training and Employment Manager.

According to Emma, the civil construction industry in Canberra is currently experiencing a skills shortage, with the average age of those in the sector sitting around 45-years-old. To help revitalise the workforce, she hopes the program can recruit some exciting new faces.

“You don’t know what you don’t know, so running this program will give us an opportunity to introduce a different cohort to the sector to experience what it would be like to work day-to-day in the industry,” she says. “You have to see it, smell it and touch it to see if you like it as a career.”

Civil construction offers dynamic and interesting roles across the planning, design and creation of major infrastructure projects. Of course, we know that women are equally suited to, and capable of, a career in construction. But Emma says it can be difficult to know where to start pursuing such a male-dominated career.

“From my experience, the biggest barrier for women entering the construction industry is lack of education and awareness. If you don’t see women in the civil construction sector then how do you know what the pathways and opportunities are?”

This program starts out with seven units of the Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations, along with White Card and Asbestos Awareness certifications. Other workshops will focus on health and wellbeing and time management. Graduates who successfully complete the program will be guaranteed jobs at the end of the program.

Emma knows what it’s like to jump into an exciting but demanding opportunity. She moved from Adelaide to Canberra to establish Ginninderry’s SPARK initiative in 2015 and, although it was a challenge, she says it has led to some of her proudest professional moments. Her advice to other women starting out in the industry shows the same can-do attitude.

“You will learn more from your mistakes than your successes. Treat your work relationships like your friendships, show an interest in people’s lives and be real, because relationships are key to a happy life. And in the words of my boss David Maxwell, accept that chaos will occur and you won’t always have the answers.”

This program is funded by the Australian Government’s Launch into Work program. Job seekers on the jobactive, Transition to Work and ParentsNext caseloads are eligible to participate at no cost. Individuals not on these caseloads may still be able to participate but will be required to undergo an eligibility check. The training will be delivered on site at Ginninderry from Monday 29 April.

If you’re interested in learning more, you will need to attend an information and selection session on Thursday 11 April from 10.30am to 12.30pm. To book a place and check your eligibility, please contact Ashleigh at Ginninderry on 1800 316 900 or ashleigh@ginninderry.com 

the essentials

What: Women in Civil Construction information session
When: Thursday 11 April 2019 10.30am – 12.30pm
Where: Uniting Care Kippax, Corner Luke Street and Hardwick Crescent, Holt
Web: ginninderry.com

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