The Building Women’s Careers Program is driving systemic structural and cultural change.
About the Building Women’s Careers Program
The Australian Government is investing $60.6 million in the Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program to drive systemic structural and cultural change in training and work environments critical to a Future Made in Australia.
The BWC Program will fund both large-scale partnership projects, and smaller, place-based partnerships, to advance structural and cultural change to improve women’s access to flexible, safe and inclusive training and work opportunities in the key male-dominated industries and sectors of construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and digital and technology.
BWC Program Partnership Projects
The Building Women’s Careers Program is bringing together industry, employers, registered unions, training organisations and the community to deliver a suite of projects ranging from allyship programs that encourage industry-wide male advocacy for women, to rolling out flexible, national workplace policies benefiting all employees.
The BWC Program includes $54.5 million delivered through grant funding for these partnership projects.
Stream One Partnership Projects
The first 10 industry-led partnership projects have been announced under the $60.6 million Building Women’s Careers Program.
| Industry | Project Name | Lead Organisation | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction, Digital and Technology | Breaking Barriers: Women in Trades and Tech | Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union | National |
| Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction | Driving Gender Equity: Strengthening GTOs to Build Women's Careers | Group Training Australia Limited | National |
| Clean Energy | Transforming Gender Equity in Clean Energy Apprenticeships | Future Energy Skills Ltd | VIC, TAS |
| Clean Energy, Construction | Big Sister: Advanced Mentoring SA/WA | Electrical Trades Union | WA, SA |
| Construction | Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women | National Association of Women in Construction | WA, NSW, VIC |
| Construction, Clean Energy | Building Futures: Breaking the Barriers for Women in the Plumbing Industry | Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) | VIC, QLD AND NSW |
| Construction | Give Her a Chance | Master Builders Australia Limited | National |
| Construction | Women in Construction | Incolink | NSW, VIC, TAS, SA |
| Digital and Technology | Cyber5050 – Breaking Barriers for Gender Equality in Cyber Security | CyberCX Pty Ltd | National |
| Digital and Technology, Advanced Manufacturing | FemTech - Building Women’s Careers as Digital & Tech Professionals | The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (Professionals Australia) | VIC, QLD, NSW |
BWC Partnership Projects
Future Made in Australia - Building Women's Careers Program
Watch a short video regarding Future Made in Australia - Building Women's Careers Program
Women in Male-Dominated Trades Grants Program
Funding from the Women in Male-Dominated Trades Grants Program has been reallocated to the BWC Program.
This brings clear benefits, given the synergies between the 2 programs and the overall increase in funding now available through the BWC Program.
Government priorities and programs
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations consulted with stakeholders in July and August 2024 to inform the design of the guidelines to implement the program, which complements other government priorities and programs, including:
- National Skills Agreement
- Australian Skills Guarantee
- Employment White Paper
- Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce Report
- Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality
More information
- Minister’s Media Release – 3 March 2025
- Driving structural and cultural change to build women’s careers – Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher and the Hon Andrew Giles MP – 28 October 2024
- Investing in skills and training to support a Future Made in Australia – The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP - Media Release 14 May 2024.
- A Budget that works for women – Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher – Media Release 14 May 2024.