Girl Power: Innovative School Program to Drive Female Participation in Construction Sector
SYDNEY, NSW: Multiplex’s grassroots primary school initiative is supporting future female participation in the construction sector, as the global contractor seeks to boost early interest in construction careers amongst young girls. Over 600 Year 5 and 6 students in New South Wales have now participated in the Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program, with a further 1,000 students set to complete it by the end of the year.
The milestone coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl on October 11 - a day promoting education, equal opportunity and human rights for girls across the globe.
Female participation in construction is critical for the future of the sector. Master Builders Australia (MBA)’s ‘Future of the Workforce’ report recently revealed that the construction sector needs an extra 130,000 workers by the end of 2024 to overcome its current skills shortage.
According to MBA, the construction industry continues to grapple with critical skills shortfalls, with women making up just 13.6 per cent of the sector’s workforce - despite it being the second-largest industry employer in Australia. It also highlights that occupations with a strong gender imbalance, like construction, are more likely to be in shortage.
The Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program aims to spark an early interest in construction amongst young girls by challenging biases and stereotypes around women in the construction industry. It was successfully piloted at Panania North Public School in South-West Sydney in 2023 and has since expanded into 28 schools this year.
Centred around a one-day workshop, the ground-breaking program provides students the chance to use creativity, planning and problem-solving skills to overcome construction challenges. Activities include group scenes, high-energy challenges and creative experimentation with LEGO bricks, all with the support and guidance of Multiplex staff.
324 girls and 325 boys have participated at schools in Sydney’s West, South-West and Northern suburbs so far. By the end of 2024, the program will have reached some 1,500 students.
“We’re thrilled with how much the Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program has grown. What started as a pilot program at just one school in Sydney will have reached more than 30 schools by the end of this year,” said Multiplex Design Manager and Jump Start mentor, Natalie Haydon.
“With our industry facing an ongoing skills shortage, we hope this initiative will inspire girls to consider careers in the built environment from an earlier age – and contribute to a paradigm shift for our industry,” she added.
Throughout each workshop, boys and girls are guided by female Multiplex mentors to build their understanding of construction careers, terminology and processes. This approach benefits both boys and girls by providing female role models and showcasing female leadership in construction.
Students are acquainted with real-life high-profile Multiplex construction projects, such as the new Sydney Fish Markets and Western Sydney Airport, to foster early interest in the sector. Parents and caregivers are also given take-home materials to extend the program’s messaging into the home.
10-year-old Queeness Gutierrez, from Bexley in Sydney’s South, participated in the Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program. She also took part in LEGO Australia and Multiplex's Unstoppable Academy, a mentorship program designed to empower girls to shake up stereotypes and shape a future defined by innovation and imagination. The program allowed Queeness to gain invaluable industry insights and practical hands-on exposure to highlight the creative career pathways available, as she continues to nurture her passion for the field.
As an aspiring engineer or construction manager, the Schools Program encouraged Queeness to follow her passion - and inspire other girls in the process.
“I've always enjoyed being creative and building LEGO sets. This program showed me that working in construction allows you to use that creativity to solve problems and bring amazing projects to life. Even though there are less women than men in construction, girls can still follow their dreams and be part of the industry,” said Queeness.
Jump Start Juniors is an extension of Multiplex’s successful ‘Jump Start’ initiative, a formal program connecting young women with opportunities in the construction industry. Jump Start offers tertiary and trade programs to girls in Year 11 and 12, providing site tours, hands-on training and pathways to a career at Multiplex.
“Jump Start originally began as a pathway for young women who are leaving high school, which gives them the inspiration and tools they need to launch their career in construction. To see the Jump Start program grow, and to then see the launch and success of Jump Start Juniors, has been so rewarding,” said Ms Haydon.
“We’ve received great feedback from our participants so far, and it has been so encouraging seeing primary students engage with the program material.”