Build Like a Girl

Our priority will always be our apprentices and women in trades.

Despite massive inroads being made to recruit more women into skilled trades in construction, the work needed to improve the culture in construction needs to be at the forefront of all of this.

On Thursday night we networked and celebrated apprentices enrolled at Canberra Institute of Technology and listened to them about what they needed and wanted.

It’s so vital we get this right. That we give these women voices and space to be heard and seen.

A huge thanks to our supporters who helped us put together the goodie bags, which included important information from The Fair Work Ombudsman on apprentices entitlements and rights.

As one apprentice stated “stop asking about my feelings and start giving me the information I need to make good choices”

The problem is, too many people who aren’t tradeswomen are taking up space and talking about things they have no firsthand knowledge of. This is wrong.

Elevate the voices of the next generation and we will be able get this right. And getting it right for them now, and the future generations is absolutely paramount if we we want to see the change we all keep talking about.

Thanks to Milwaukee Tool Australia & New Zealand Tool Kit Depot Bunnings Corinthian Doors Australia The Umbrella Collective Techtronic Industries Australia New Zealand Consumer/Commercial for your continued and unwavering support.

Thanks to she wear australia for the donation of a $239 voucher.

Thanks to Zonta Club of Canberra for sponsoring 3 x $500 scholarships.

But the biggest thanks goes to the apprentices for showing up, being themselves and being courageous and bold in reshaping male dominated industries every single day.

It’s !

We are shining the light on the need to attract more diverse people to trade apprenticeships and skilled rolls in the construction industry.

Australia continues to experience an increase in demand for skilled labour, which requires increased workforce participation, increased skill attainment and the employment of attraction and retention strategies.

A large part of addressing this issue is providing ample education and information about the career and training possibilities and opportunities that are available to all Australians.

National Skills Week aims to raise the awareness of the diversity of training and career opportunities available, pathways into training and education, and the importance of trades, skills and VET to today’s society.

We have decided to give a little gift to 50 of our female apprentices studying at Canberra Institute of Technology to let them know we are right there alongside them.

And who doesn’t love a goodie bag right? ;)

A big thanks to our supporters Bunnings Tool Kit Depot Corinthian Doors Australia
Zonta Club of Canberra she wear australia

TW: ON-THE-JOB HORRORS

Australia’s poor standing has been revealed in a new film, Digging Deeper: global experiences of workplace violence and harassment, which details workplace violence and harassment research conducted by independent charity Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

Builder Jo Farrell says, as a young apprentice, she was frequently propositioned by her male co-workers and avoided using onsite toilets after being spied on through gaps in the cubicles.

Farrell – the founder of Build Like A Girl, a not-for-profit supporting girls and women to work in trades, and this year’s ACT Australian of the Year – says little has changed almost 30 years later.

During a recent work site lunch break, she witnessed a young male tradie openly watch p**n on his mobile phone in direct view and earshot of fellow workmates.

Other women tradies have told Farrell of the terror of being sexually assaulted or harassed on the job – including some who were threatened with r**e while using the toilet.

In June alone, 70 notifications of workplace sexual assault were received by WorkSafe ACT, Farrell says. “That (number of notifications) straight away tells you that we have got quite an entrenched issue with that type of behaviour,’’ she says.

“It’s often dismissed (by the perpetrator) as banter or a joke but it’s not banter or a joke – it’s insidious.

“The construction industry, unfortunately, is over-represented with the type of people involved in that particular culture and behaviour (of abuse and harassment).

“There’s something wrong and something quite broken here.’’

It’s time for change. The time is now.

Build Like A Girl stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia and acknowledges them as the traditional custodians of our lands and seas.

We do not make this post to jump on the bandwagon once a year, or to take up space that rightfully belongs to indigenous Australians.

Rather we walk by your side, to witness your continued fight for recognition and reconciliation and seek to continue to learn and understand the oldest continuous culture on our planet.

For more information on the history of week please click on the below link;

https://www.naidoc.org.au/resources/educational

🖤💛❤️

Today I learned that a young lady who came along to an event I gave a keynote address to, had this tattoo designed and inked on her body.

Originally her wording was “Build or Die”, but after hearing my story, some of it resonated so much, that she decided our simple statement meant more to her.

As far as flattery goes, this is the pinnacle.

And as a fellow tattoo enthusiast, I’m so stoked that my dream to change the narrative and meaning behind any statement that ends with “Like A Girl” into a positive one, has just been done in a spectacular way.

There is power in storytelling and by being vulnerable and open, you can inspire others to do the same.

Whether you’re into tattoos or not, empowering others is our absolute obligation, and I’m pretty chuffed that I’ve been able to do that in some small way.

What a privilege.

Congratulations to the ACT team for taking out 3rd place in the and Charity cricket match.

A big thank you to for donating the raffle prize, and for their continued support of women in construction (and sport!).

A heartfelt thanks to for our team shirts.

Today helped raise much needed funds for our great friends at and delivers on our promise to .

Lastly, days like today don’t just happen on their own, so a special thank you and our immense gratitude goes to , , brett and especially the team who made today a fantastic celebration of sport and construction.

2023 you were a roller coaster ride and at times, we didn’t know which way it was all going to go.

But like always, we trusted the process, surrounded ourselves with absolutely phenomenal people and at all times we continued to strive to make things better - no matter how small, or insignificant those attempts sometimes seem.

We built a charity house and raised over half a million dollars for people who so desperately needed it in our community.

We shone the harsh spotlight on the ridiculously low participation of women in trades and we were given a platform to yell louder and harder than we ever have.

It’s been epic.
It’s been heartbreaking.
Bit it’s been so worth it.

Ultimately we are grateful.

Grateful to live in a country without war or conflict. Grateful we can speak loudly and openly about our challenges and hopes for the future.
And so grateful we can do what we do each day.

Despite being incredibly tired, we are preparing for 2024 and will meet each challenge head on and ready to make the construction industry a better place.

Thank you so much for your support.

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Last week our founder was recognised for her work with one of the highest honours imaginable.

Whilst the shock is still wearing off, and the imposter syndrome gets shoved firmly back in the bottom drawer, we pause for a moment to reflect on everything that has brought us to this point.

There is still so much work to do in this industry to see positive and meaningful change to happen to open the door to a range of diversity, not just for women.

Construction is the 3rd largest employer in Australia.

It remains the most male dominated sector.

Our industry is a reflection of our society and how we view women’s worth and value.

Despite a huge amount of work by various organisations, women’s participation and retention rates are declining steadily (since 2016).

Enough is enough. So here is our message:

Stop telling women what we can and can’t do.

If you want this industry to change for the better for everyone, either be a part of the solution or get out of our way.

We will be embracing this amazing opportunity, and the platform it brings to elevate women’s voices, businesses, organisations and most of all their achievements to show what we can do.

As Maya Angelou once said “What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.”

It’s been a whirlwind few months for us here, and our founder is taking time out to renovate her house, plan for some upcoming programs and revamp our website.

We will be offline for a short couple of months while we do some life admin. Whilst we will be having limited interaction with socials, if you need us in a hurry, just drop a DM. We will do our best to get back to you.


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What a story to tell, to the young women and girls who will play football and represent Australia in the future.

How we watched giants of the game change the hearts and minds of people everywhere.

How their empathy, compassion, grit and determination shone bright each and every moment.

How they became names mentioned over the dinner table, and on construction sites, and in politics because they galvanised a nation to believe that women can do whatever they want to do, and to shoot for the stars.

The Matilda’s of the future will stand on the shoulders of this team, and what a team they are.

One more game to go.

Till it’s done.

On Thursday night, there was a monumental shift in Women’s sport.

Whilst everyone was caught up in the Matilda’s game fever, we probably took for granted just how far - and how hard fought - we have come as a society.

This number represents more than just crowd attendance.

It represents respect.

It represents engagement.

It represents equality.

We are not all the way there yet. There are still issues of pay, injury support and treatment both present and future, and post-career pathways, BUT;

This really brought a tear to our eyes and we cheered loudly as those courageous women, standing on the shoulders of those who came before them, made our nation, and every woman in it damn proud.

You don’t have to be a football fan to see that this type of outspoken, unapologetic advancement is loooooonnnng overdue.

And quite frankly, we are totally here for it!

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We love this poem by .

It’s powerful.
It’s honest.
It’s what we live every day.


You can purchase your own copy via Etsy store and we encourage you to support female owned businesses. Please do not copy, share or post without credit (and payment!) to the author!

Girls Who Build introduces young readers to the world of construction, inspired by the real women who do the work every day. Each page features a specific construction job and a strong female character who isn’t afraid of a little hard work. From Lucy the Laborer to Winnie the Welder, learn what it takes to build our homes and cities from this inspiring group of girls. This picture book challenges gender norms, celebrates diversity, and shows readers that girls can do anything – including construction work.

Now Available! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126515779-girls-who-build

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Stoked to be on-site this morning testing the Strathnairn Charity House with the powerhouse known as from Kane and .

No surprises, she (the house… and Jo and her awesome team) passed with flying colours.

That means this 7.4⭐️ home (designed, built and tested by women) will perform even better than predicted.

The grand opening is this Thursday! Stay tuned to find out more — to be styled, marketed and sold by women.

All proceeds from the auction will be directed to women’s charities via .

Can’t thank Jo enough for the effort she has put into driving this project through incredibly challenging times. This woman deserves a very well-earned rest (after a charity cricket match on Friday night!!!).

Happy Mardi Gras and World Pride!

We believe you should love who you want to love and be who you want to be.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous peoples of Australia. They are not one group, but rather comprise hundreds of groups that have their own distinct set of languages, histories and cultural traditions.

On 26th January British Captain Arthur Phillip declared sovereignty over Australia. This was after it was previously declared “terra nullius” meaning land belonging to no one.

Now, just for a second, imagine you were already here.
Living quietly generation after generation. And all of a sudden Britain turned up and decided to squat on your land for eternity?

Here we are, a couple hundred or so years later and we have this mentality that we can’t change anything, despite the fact those ships and people changed everything.

We love Australia.

I have traveled to a lot of places, and I can absolutely say Australia is the best country in the world. We are flawed and imperfect and still figuring out how to recognise the past and move forward into the future.

Part of that is having the courage to acknowledge that what happened to our First Nations people was wrong. And that we have this rare opportunity to actually fix things to some extent. To be respectful and empathetic enough to try and do better.

This bu****it, selfish, obstinate rhetoric of “the date shouldn’t matter” or “get over it” or even worse “we give you so much money” should not even enter the debate.

I see comments on Facebook from people I know, good people, who struggle to understand that there are no ways to change history. What’s done is done.
But there are ways to make amends, to be better and more caring and kind in our effort to respect and acknowledge people who deserve that. They deserve to be seen and heard. For their stories to be told as much as anyone else’s.

The privilege we have allocated to ourselves is not ours to own.

Our histories are complicated and confronting and need to be told. Honestly and openly with both sides to be heard.

And once that is done, let’s agree on a date that is meaningful for everyone. That includes everyone. And stops this damaging and destructive perception that we are somehow better because of the colour of our skin.

We love seeing the kids rock our caps in the wild. We love the Two Sheds Workshop Woodwork for women and kids programs even more! Check them out if you haven’t already on the link below ⬇️

https://twoshedsworkshops.com.au

On guard! Great work by these kids on their swords and sporting Build Like a Girl caps!

Well that’s a wrap for us! What a year 2022 has been!

A big thanks to everyone who has supported, cheered and encouraged not just us, but the many women who took their first steps into a trade job.

Despite all of the challenges our industry has faced, we continue to see collaboration, robust discussion, and most importantly - action for women wanting to start a trade.

For 2023 we wish everyone a safe and relaxing break, and look forward to a new year with new opportunities and possibilities.

We are hanging up the hammer for a few weeks of well deserved rest! Merry Xmas!

We were thrilled to meet some of the amazing young folk involved in the Evolve Housing / Joseph Affordable Homes / program this morning and see first hand what a compassionate and caring approach can yeild when deployed with such dedication and tenacity.
A big thank you and shout out to the wonderful Belinda Clarke, Ben Wilson, Mel, Adrian, Bec and the team for helping to better our industry each day. We look forward to coming back with The Healthy Tradie Project and our ambassadors next year!

The accolades keep coming for one of our amazing ambassadors Julia B.

Jules has won the trifecta by taking out the ACT tradeswoman of the year and the National Apprentice of the year with NECA Group, as well as Tradeswoman of the year with .

Congratulations Jules! You’re a trailblazer and an all round star!

NECA is recruiting new apprentices right now: go to www.necatraining.com.au in NSW, QLD and the ACT, or contact your local NECA branch

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The NSW Government has announced a fee-free skills program: "The Summer Skills program has been designed specifically with school leavers in mind. The program allows you to dip your toes in to the vocational training world by exploring courses that interest you and help to gain valuable skills to take with you wherever you want to go."
If you'd like to upskill take a look at the list of available opportunities near you here: skills.education.nsw.gov.au/initiatives/summer-skills
Some include barista, RSA, white card, forklift driving, the list is long.

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Without the SPARK JobTrainer Women in Trades program, the lives of Marielle Kuipers and Siobhan Nelson would look quite different than they do today.

Read about Siobhan and Marielle's SPARK story via link in bio.

The program was made possible by JobTrainer, a jointly funded initiative of the ACT and Australian Governments, and was delivered as a collaboration between Ginninderry, , , , and the

HUUUUGE thanks to our amazing Sparkies Empowered Electrical Solutions] and their awesome suppliers for supporting our project!

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A huge thank you and shoutout to M-Elec — Designed for Australian Electricians] for spending the morning with our Empowered team AND most importantly the generous donations they have made to the Strathnairn Charity house 🏠
We are so excited to see it all installed!



M-Elec — Designed for Australian Electricians]

Our website is back up and running!
We are still working on our jobs board, Tradie registry, and other content, but there is some helpful info to check out.

You can find us at buildlikeagirl.org.au

Thank you to .allan_ for her help with our website!

We want to see more female tradies. Sounds simple right?

So why do women make up less than 2% of all tradies in Australia?

Why do 74% of first year female apprentices leave?

We need to do more to support women in construction, so they don’t just sign up - but stay long term.

The NSW Government is looking at new ways to encourage more women to consider getting into the trade and construction business.

NSW executive director of training services, David Collins, says the ‘Have Your Say’ consultation is seeking to understand what information is most important when people consider recommending a career in trades for women and girls.

“Increasing female participation in the trade workforce is crucial to the economic prosperity of NSW as women play a vital role in addressing skills shortages in key industry areas and occupations in NSW,” he explains.

For more information on the Women in Trades Strategy, or to participate in the Women in Trades initiative, visit the below link:

https://lnkd.in/gvZd7whe

https://lnkd.in/gsXZCK4Q

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I love my job, nothing beats it. The feeling of dirt and dust covering your face and hair, sweat turning everything on your skin to mud as you work and the challenge of fixing difficult problems. If you want job satisfaction, try a trade.

Let’s be honest.
It’s hard to be “On” all the time.
Be kind to yourself.
Let it go at the end of the day.
Know that your tribe is behind you.
Just keep

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🎶Happy 2nd Birthday to Us! 🎶

2 years ago we decided that change wasn’t happening quickly enough in the building and construction industry for women.

We decided that we were done with the talking about the same old problems and decided we would focus on fixing it.

We decided that equality was our mission, integrity was our value and seeing a greater number of female tradies was our vision.

In two years we have helped 16 women gain an apprenticeship (and who are loving it), established a pipeline of employers and are ramping up with fellow organisations to deliver more pathway programs.

None of it easy. And sometimes the challenges seem insurmountable, but we know that this change is so very much needed, and we won’t be giving up any time soon!

Our logo might have changed a bit, but the reason we are here hasn’t!

Refrigeration Apprenticeship Program is now open and taking applications for their 2023 intake!

What to expect?

4 years of training both on the job and at your registered training organisation (RTO).
8 weeks formal training at TAFE per year for the first 3 years, with the final year of the apprenticeship learning full time on the job.

Everyday working alongside experienced tradespeople who will assist and support you in your learning and Development.

There is a thorough recruitment process, including psychometric testing, self video and panel style interviews to ensure they find the best suited people who understand what to expect and how we they will work together to set them up for success

They expect to be launching their next annual recruitment campaign in September 2022 with an expected start date of late January 2023.

Females currently make up 30% of their refrigeration mechanic workforce and they aim to increase that percentage this year!

Applications for our Apprenticeship Program are now open. Please see below links to apply:

https://grads.woolworths.com.au/page/refrigeration-apprenticeship-program/