The Tasmanian government has further backed the state’s Civil Contractors Federation as it seeks to encourage more women into the industry
Tasmania’s Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) will benefit from a state government grant to help women gain entry to the civil construction industry.
This follows a $4 million commitment over four years to the CCF by the Tasmanian government to build a ‘high vis army’, which was announced as an election promise earlier this year.
The most recent grant of almost $200,000 was part of the government’s Supporting Women to Succeed grants program, which 20 organisations across various industries received.
CCF Tasmania CEO Rachael Matheson says the entire community, not just women, will benefit from the initiative.
“As part of our program we will provide training opportunities for women, promoting the civil sector and help women not only get a job in the civil sector but to really thrive in the role,” she says.
“The government is investing significantly in infrastructure and we will need to increase our workforce by 25 per cent just to keep up. Clearly we need women to be a big part of that.
“The training will be delivered in partnership with TasTAFE and South East Regional Development Association and we will also be reaching out to girls to show them what opportunities there are for them in civil construction.”
Matheson’s reference to needing to increase the workforce by 25 per cent is timely, as it was this need that prompted the Tasmanian government’s earlier announcement of $4 million to the CCF.
Part of the money will be used towards developing a skills audit program to understand and fill gaps in the market.
CCF will also work with TasWater and councils to ensure a consistent pipeline of infrastructure-improving projects.