Women in Construction and Infrastructure Participation Target

The Government of South Australia is seeking your valued input on the development of new targets to increase women's participation in construction trades and on-site roles within South Australian Government major projects.

South Australia faces significant workforce pressures, with up to 20,000 additional workers needed to deliver major government and private sector projects. Despite strong industry growth, the sector continues to experience low apprentice transition and completion rates and a very low representation of women in trades, where female participation is around 2-4%.

Data shows that women remain underrepresented in construction apprenticeships, qualified trades and onsite roles. Improving women's participation presents a major opportunity to address workforce shortages and strengthen industry diversity.


Background

The State Government has requested that the Industry Advocate John Chapman OAM prepare Women in Construction participation target/s which will be subject to approval by the Treasurer, Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP. It is intended the target/s will be embedded in the Tailored Industry Participation Plans (TIPPs) for government construction projects above $50 million. TIPPs are developed collaboratively between my office and the relevant Government Agencies and currently include targets for labour hour, apprentices, trainees, long term unemployed and Aboriginal workers.

We are seeking feedback from businesses and community to ensure that any target/s introduced are both achievable and effective. We invite you to provide feedback on the:

  • Scope

  • Design

  • Timeframes

  • Implementation considerations

  • Potential support

  • Risks and opportunities


Have your say by:

  • Completing the Women in Construction and Infrastructure Participation Targets Survey (see below)


What's next

Your survey contribution will directly inform the final Industry Advocate recommendations on targets for approval by the Treasurer, ahead of the proposed implementation date of 1 July 2026.

The Government of South Australia is seeking your valued input on the development of new targets to increase women's participation in construction trades and on-site roles within South Australian Government major projects.

South Australia faces significant workforce pressures, with up to 20,000 additional workers needed to deliver major government and private sector projects. Despite strong industry growth, the sector continues to experience low apprentice transition and completion rates and a very low representation of women in trades, where female participation is around 2-4%.

Data shows that women remain underrepresented in construction apprenticeships, qualified trades and onsite roles. Improving women's participation presents a major opportunity to address workforce shortages and strengthen industry diversity.


Background

The State Government has requested that the Industry Advocate John Chapman OAM prepare Women in Construction participation target/s which will be subject to approval by the Treasurer, Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP. It is intended the target/s will be embedded in the Tailored Industry Participation Plans (TIPPs) for government construction projects above $50 million. TIPPs are developed collaboratively between my office and the relevant Government Agencies and currently include targets for labour hour, apprentices, trainees, long term unemployed and Aboriginal workers.

We are seeking feedback from businesses and community to ensure that any target/s introduced are both achievable and effective. We invite you to provide feedback on the:

  • Scope

  • Design

  • Timeframes

  • Implementation considerations

  • Potential support

  • Risks and opportunities


Have your say by:

  • Completing the Women in Construction and Infrastructure Participation Targets Survey (see below)


What's next

Your survey contribution will directly inform the final Industry Advocate recommendations on targets for approval by the Treasurer, ahead of the proposed implementation date of 1 July 2026.

  • Women in Construction and Infrastructure Participation Targets - Public Consultation Survey

    The Office of the Industry Advocate is developing participation targets for women in construction trades and on-site roles on South Australian Government major projects. This survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Your responses are anonymous and will inform the design of new targets to be embedded in Tailored Industry Participation Plans (TIPPs) for government Infrastructure and construction projects above $50 million.

    Take Survey
Page last updated: 16 Apr 2026, 02:06 PM