Nailing It: Women in construction take on Canberra’s cold for a great cause

Posted on 28 May, 2025

Some of our city’s most respected tradeswomen and female construction leaders are preparing to sleep rough on one of Canberra’s coldest winter nights, to raise over $200,000 for our most vulnerable.

Women Building Change, a group made up of over 30 respected local women, will be participating together in this year’s 2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout. The money raised will directly fund essential services, emergency accommodation, and pathways to stable housing for countless local families and individuals struggling in the capital this winter.

These women know what it means to work in tough conditions – they’ve been doing it for years in a male-dominated construction industry. Familiar Canberra faces include Joanne Farrell, the founder of Build Like a Girl and 2024 ACT Australian of the Year, Ashlee Berry the Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia, Ginninderry’s Head of Sustainability and Community Development Jessica Stewart, and Christine Shaw, the Principal of Christine Shaw Properties.

Here’s where you come in.

On Thursday 5 June from 6 pm to 10 pm, Women Building Change is hosting Comedy for a Cause at Contentious Character – a fundraising event created to help them reach their goal of $200,000.

You’ll be treated to Caitlin ‘Sparkles’ Maggs, a comedian who brings her unique perspective as both an electrician and performer to the stage. Fresh from sold-out Comedy Festival performances, she’s returning to her hometown crowd with stories that’ll have you laughing while celebrating the women who are literally building change in our community.

Can’t make it on the night? Organisers have arranged for wine purchases to contribute to their fundraising tally, so you can toast to positive change from the comfort of your home.

Swapping their beds for a concrete floor to raise vital awareness for homelessness and housing insecurity, all of the money raised will go towards the Vinnies CEO Sleepout – providing hundreds of meals, bed and individual support programs to those in need. Tickets are $99 each and include comedy, grazing station, and good company.

And as the temperature starts to drop, in a city where we pride ourselves on looking out for each other, this initiative feels particularly Canberran. Whether you’re joining the laughter at Contentious Character, raising a glass at home or simply spreading the word, it’s an easy way to make a change.

Afterall, it’s called ‘Comedy for a Cause’ for a reason.

To book your spot:

1. Go to the Women Build Change fundraising page
2. Click “Sponsor”.
3. Enter $99 per ticket (e.g.1 ticket = $99,  2 tickets = $198, etc)
4. In the Comments section, write:
   Comedy for a Cause and the [number of tickets]
5. Tick the box to allow your name to be shown, and complete checkout

All proceeds go directly to the Women Building Change fundraising tally for the 2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout.