I work at Speedpro where there are several women in leadership roles. There is another woman on site with me, Chloe, in her 20s. She started out as a spotter. Then she got her boom and telehandler licence and now she is the main telehandler on the rail jobs. The job is becoming more secure for her, and she has a stronger sense of contributing to the work.
When companies supply their workers with more tickets, the workers themselves feel like they are bringing something of value to their company.
Men network a lot for work through activities outside of work. As women that doesn’t happen so much which is why I appreciate the union women’s groups.
Shelly
With the help of trailblazers like CFMEU women’s officer and carpenter, Lisa Zanatta, there are more women working in this landscape, especially on the big build and government jobs. The guys are more familiar with seeing women on the scene now. It’s true that it’s like the first day of school for any person starting on these big sites. Everyone gets nervous and is trying to figure out where to sit and have their lunch at break etc. But we are all in it together. There is so much that we relate to with one another; family life, the sleep deprivation that parents experience, what you do on the weekends etc. It’s not just your hard skills that you bring to work but soft skills too. Bring your authentic self to work – your quirks, your interests. It’s refreshing for everyone! And it makes good conversation starters in a day.
The celebration of our industry really is the diversity and the journeys you go on with the people who you are building and working with.
