we are
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WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT — advancing women in the construction industry by Elizabeth De Castro Diaz & Patricia Tahitahi Design Manager & Materials Coordinator, CPB Contractors for CPBJH JV & NAWIC Members
As part of the $6.7B West Gate Tunnel Project, CPB Contractors and John Holland have committed to reach a 20% participation target of women in the project. To reach this goal, the joint venture established the West Gate Women in Construction Committee (WGWIC) to provide a platform to drive change and support the advancement of women in construction. The aim of the Committee is to reach and maintain this target in blue and white-collar roles, as well as provide support and recognise the achievements of women on the project. The Committee is dedicated to educating and advising the project team on issues regarding gender equality. It also rewards positive behaviour to allow women to grow and develop their careers and profile, making way for more women in the industry. REACHING THE TARGET With support from project leadership, the West Gate Tunnel Project has exceeded the set target with up to 27.7% of women on the project at the highest peak. Although this percentage has fluctuated throughout the life of the project (one reason for this was the impact of COVID-19) the Committee has been instrumental in ensuring the targets are met and women are retained. RECOGNISING AND CREATING AWARENESS Since its creation in 2017, the Committee has regularly organised events and developed initiatives to provide networking opportunities, recognition and support to women on the project. Internal newsletters and the intranet are a continuous platform to promote our women and to raise their profiles on the project. One of the yearly events that is now part of the life of the project is the International Women’s Day commemoration. This year we had Michelle Garrity, a labourer on the project, share her journey in construction, how she has faced the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry 68
and how the project provides a safe work environment for her to develop her skills. We also had Sarah Hosking, an AFLW player with the Richmond Tigers, who spoke about her experience in sports and the various ways she has experienced gender bias and how she has overcome them.
Jess Holmes, Gina Stapp, Patricia Tahitahi, Sarah Hosking, Jo Bradshaw and Kirby Bentley at the International Women’s Day 2021 event
Another big event for the Committee is the October Breast Cancer Campaign. Every year we have seen participation grow. In 2020 we organised a partnership with Breast Cancer Network Australia and we presented them with a significant donation from the project team members. This was a particularly special year for the event, given one of our women had been diagnosed and was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time. Big Pockets and Big Hearts, our Fundraising Committee, coordinated events year-round including BBQs, and collected an incredible $9,420. The end of year WGWIC Awards have also become a highlight of the Committee’s initiatives. The awards recognise the achievements of women who are making a difference in the way the project operates. With four categories, the awards are a special platform to reward women, at different stages of their careers, and for their individual contributions. The Committee is always encouraging women working on the project to network through organised events, such as the popular Christmas in July. We
THE NAWIC JOURNAL
