Women on construction sites welcome NSW funding boost to increase numbers
Ashley Schulz has been the only female carpenter on every construction site since her apprenticeship and she is ready for that to change.
A $57.4 million state government funding boost is aimed at transitioning more workers into construction, and one part will be to put tools in young women’s hands.
The four-year program will partner with 139 high schools to give girls real life experience.
For Ms Schulz the benefits for the industry are clear.
“You definitely need more women in trades,” Ms Schulz said.
“We have a different way of thinking about tasks, we problem solve differently and can resolve conflict because we’re not as angry.”
She is one of 30 women on site at Meadowbank, in Sydney’s north west, working for Roberts Co as they construct a primary school and high school in the education precinct.
The company, which has more than 130 staff has up to 30 per cent female representation after its CEO Alison Mirams made a concerted effort to employ more women.
One of those women included project engineer Jen Dang who started her career eight years ago in a “trial by fire”. “It was intimidating, the language that was used, the looks that I would get, even if I was just walking on site,” Ms Dang said.
Finding a mentor and participating in a program to help other young women enter a trade industry has helped spur her on.
“I have more confidence now, when you have a good team, you can get through some of those tough times that happened.
“I was really thrown in the deep end when I started, and now I have someone to go to, to help me.”