International Women’s Day: More than a cupcake

Every year as we come back to work in January, my inbox quickly fills with requests, invites and promotions for International Women’s Day as workplaces across Australia prepare to take space and pause to acknowledge women… writes EWIT General Manager Melinda Davis

There are morning teas, breakfast events, purple cupcakes and well-meaning messages of appreciation amongst the mix.

And while recognition matters, International Women’s Day was never intended to be a symbolic gesture or a box-ticking exercise.

We are always asked, why do we need an International Women’s Day?

The answer, it exists because inequality still exists.

Nowhere is this more evident than across the trades, construction and manufacturing sectors, industries that remain critical to Australia’s future, yet continue to underrepresent women, particularly on the tools and in leadership.

EWIT General Manager Melinda Davis.
Image: Joni Anderson

Whilst planning your organisation’s International Women’s Day, it’s worth asking a more uncomfortable but necessary question: are we creating real change, or are we just handing out cupcakes?

Trades are facing a perfect storm, skills shortages, an ageing workforce, increased infrastructure demand and fierce competition for talent. At the same time, women continue to make up only a small percentage of the trade workforce with progress slow in this area.

This isn’t because women lack capability, resilience or interest. It’s because the systems, cultures and workplaces they’re entering were never designed with them in mind.

Not just a gesture

International Women’s Day matters because it forces us to stop and look at that reality. It reminds us that progress hasn’t happened by accident, it has taken a village, and it won’t continue without intention.

For women in trades, the barriers are still very real: limited access to opportunities, outdated stereotypes, inflexible work structures (for parents in general), poor site culture, and a lack of visible role models.

These challenges don’t disappear because we acknowledge them once a year. They require consistent effort, leadership and accountability.

Celebrating women is important. Acknowledging achievements matters. But celebration without action doesn’t shift culture, improve retention or create safer workplaces.

Too often, International Women’s Day becomes a standalone event rather than a catalyst for long-term change.

We hear inspirational quotes, but recruitment practices stay the same. We applaud women’s resilience, but don’t question why they’re still expected to be resilient just to survive.

Real change requires more than good intentions. It requires honest reflection on how our workplaces operate, who they work for, and who they unintentionally exclude.

At Empowered Women in Trades, we believe International Women’s Day should be a checkpoint, not the finish line.

If we want to see real progress in the trades, men must be part of the conversation and the solution.

SEE MORE: Tradie Tough Tests

Some of the strongest advocates for women in our industry are men who challenge poor behaviour on site, mentor female apprentices, push for flexible work options and use their leadership positions to open doors.

Providing flexibility for family units, opening options for better access to work-life balance.

Look after humans, and we all win.

International Women’s Day shouldn’t be women celebrating women in isolation. It should be an opportunity to recognise women and the men who actively support them.

Equity isn’t about taking opportunities away from anyone, it’s about making sure opportunity is genuinely available to everyone.

At EWIT, we work across the entire pipeline: from early exposure in schools to supporting women already working in trades. What we’ve learned: attracting women is only half the job. Retaining them is where the real challenge lies.

Women leave trades for many reasons: isolation, lack of support, limited flexibility, unsafe or unwelcoming environments, and the exhaustion that comes from constantly having to prove themselves.

International Women’s Day is a chance for organisations to ask some important questions:

Do women feel safe and supported in our workplaces?
Are our policies designed for real life, not outdated assumptions?
Do women see pathways for progression and leadership?
Are we listening to feedback, and acting on it?

If the answer is “not yet”, that’s not a failure. But ignoring the question is.

This International Women’s Day, look to invest in actions that support women 365 days of a year and provides ongoing impact. Some ideas:

Join the EWIT Alliance

Becoming part of the EWIT Alliance is a commitment to long-term impact.

Alliance members invest in education, advocacy, connection and real pathways for women and girls into trades.

It’s about being part of a village that shares responsibility for change and backs it with action.

Donate to organisations that support women

Charities and social enterprises working in gender equity rely on funding to deliver programs and reach communities.

Financial support directly translates into opportunities, education and impact.

Support female-founded small businesses

Where you spend your money matters. Supporting women-led businesses strengthens economic independence, leadership visibility and long-term sustainability for women across all industries including trades.