The NSW Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program is a first of its kind, competitive grants program, which provides seed funding for pilot projects aimed at removing obstacles for women to enter or remain in the construction sector. Through the Program, which is open to all construction industry groups, the NSW Government has invested in 34 pilot projects, with findings from grant recipients demonstrating replicability and scalability across a range of initiatives.
The Judging Panel commended Infrastructure NSW and the NSW Department of Education, along with all participants in the Program, for the pioneering approach to addressing challenges to women joining and remaining in the construction workforce. The Panel noted the examples of initiatives funded under the Program which are now being replicated more broadly, and recognised the role that the Program has played in providing an avenue for industry to trial innovative ideas, with the aim of boosting the number of women in construction trades and non-traditional roles.