The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has been running its Male Allyship Program since 2023, in partnership with Lysander.
This self-paced, online, five digital module course aims to build awareness and knowledge – exploring key concepts, engaging in interactive learning experiences, and developing actionable plans to drive cultural change within workplace teams and organisations.
By participating in this program, we aim for men to:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of gender disparities, biases and challenges faced by women in male dominated industries.
- Recognise the importance of male allyship in creating inclusive workplace culture and fostering diversity.
- Acquire practical skills and strategies to support and advocate for women, challenge biases and promote gender inclusivity.
- Explore individual and collective roles in fostering gender inclusion, including personal, social, societal and organisational levels.
- Commit to implementing action to promote gender inclusivity, advocate for change and shift the culture.
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All NAWIC members can access the program for free, just by signing into the NAWIC website. Further details on NAWIC membership are available on our website.
An organisational pathway is also on offer for employers who want to offer employees and stakeholders an in-person learning opportunity to compliment the online course. Delivered face-to-face at a venue convenient to the employer, the organisational pathway centres interactive dialogue, reflective exercises and collaborative learning activities exploring workplace experiences and current challenges.
Allyship Training in Action
By Carol Pease, National Education Coordinator, NAWIC:
Last week, a group of enthusiastic and engaged men from TAFE QLD gathered for a transformative Male Allyship workshop, aimed at promoting gender equality and providing support to women in the construction industry. I was fortunate to be amongst the group, learning from their experiences. The workshop, held at TAFE Acacia Ridge, was a resounding success, with participants eager to learn and make a difference.
1. Workshop overview
The workshop, organised by Lysander and with assistance from TAFE and NAWIC, featured a series of interactive sessions facilitated by Vanya Hinton. The primary objective was to educate the group of men on the importance of being allies to women in the workplace and to equip them with practical tools to support their female colleagues.
2. Participant engagement
From the outset, the participants demonstrated a genuine eagerness to learn and engage. There were several impactful sessions where attendees practiced exercises to address various topics such as gender bias, leadership impact and driving change. The lively discussions that followed showcased the participants’ commitment to fostering a more inclusive work environment.
3. Key takeaways
By the end of the workshop, participants had gained a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women in the industry. They left with actionable strategies to advocate for gender equality, such as mentoring female colleagues, challenging discriminatory behaviour, and promoting inclusive policies and approaches within their organisations.
Comments from the day
The feedback from the day reflected the experience and I was thrilled to be there representing NAWIC. Feedback included:
‘It was a great workshop’
‘Thanks, you so much for the training it was extremely helpful to help with understanding the challenges and providing strategies to help new apprentices in the trade’
‘The workshop was very informative and an enjoyable seminar’
‘The program is a powerful reminder of the role men play in bridging the gap between inequity and bias toward women in the construction industry. Moreso, I believe the program highlights where we sit as individuals on the archetypes of allyship, not only in our work life but also in our personal lives and where we can make changes’
‘I enjoyed the course and found it really interesting and insightful’
‘It was a great day, and I enjoyed the workshop’.
Take-aways
Along with identifying further work and resources to support construction work sites, the group concluded with ideas and potential tools to further use on construction sites and in training environments to drive positive change.
The Male Allyship Workshop was a powerful reminder of the crucial role men can play in advancing gender equality. As these newly empowered allies return to their workplaces, their commitment to supporting women can be evident in their daily interactions and decision-making, supporting meaningful change to create a more equitable industry for all.