Rising to the NAWIC Male Allies Challenge

In male-dominated industries, particularly construction, many women still face barriers that affect their safety, confidence and ability to stay in the job.

Championed by the TAFE Centre of Excellence Construction Tech, 42 TAFE Queensland trade staff successfully completed the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Male Allies Training and Industry Challenge.

Between June and July 2026, the staff undertook NAWIC's Male Allies in Action Course, demonstrating their commitment to creating safer, more respectful and inclusive workplaces across the construction industry.

The course equips participants with practical, evidence-based tools to respond effectively to real workplace situations, learning how to recognise inappropriate behaviour, speak up when something is not right, and promote respectful conduct within their teams and workplaces.

Steven Onn, Educational Team Leader based at the TAFE Queensland Acacia Ridge campus, joined the training because he believed everyone had a responsibility to create a workplace where people feel respected, supported and safe.

"I wanted to challenge myself to listen, learn and better understand the experience of others. Sometimes we don't realise the impact our words, actions, or even our silence can have on others. Training like this helps build understanding and awareness, and it encourages conversations that might not otherwise happen. The more we understand each other, the stronger our workplace culture becomes," he said.

Steven would like to encourage all men in the industry to step and complete the training.

"This is an opportunity to learn something new, hear different perspectives and think about how you can make a positive difference for the people you work with every day."

Metal Fabrication Sheetmetal Teacher Pietro Narducci, based at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus, said he found the training engaging, practical and highly relevant to the construction and trades sector.

"I absolutely loved the course which reinforced many things I’m already doing and taught me new things I wasn’t aware of. The videos were short and to the point, with no overload of information. The quizzes and module conclusions were great and really reinforced the content. I would highly recommend this course," Pietro said.

The TAFE Centre of Excellence Construction Tech supports NAWIC's Male Allies in Action Course as part of its commitment to growing diverse workforces and providing inclusive trade training pathways and equal learning opportunities for women.

TAFE Queensland trade staff who completed the course received a co-branded Centre and NAWIC shirt in recognition of their commitment to increase awareness and encourage conversations that contribute to lasting cultural change across the construction and trades sectors.

Although the challenge has concluded, the training remains available throughout 2026 and the Centre team continues to encourage participation.