NAWIC SA: Empowering Women in Construction with Mentorloop
with Cassie Manser,
Chair of the Mentoring Committee for South Australia,
National Association of Women in Construction.
Mentorloop Impact Award Winner 2024
"Through mentoring, we are not only helping women succeed in construction, but we’re also creating opportunities for economic empowerment, helping them make life-changing decisions that will benefit them and their families for years to come. We are proud to be building a culture of mentoring that will support and sustain women in construction, now and into the future."
Leading the Way for Women in Construction
Hi, I’m Cassie Manser, Chair of the Mentoring Committee for NAWIC South Australia and a proud member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). It’s been an absolute pleasure to partner with Mentorloop for our mentoring program this year. The results have been outstanding, and the shift from past years has truly transformed our approach.
Our Challenges: A Volunteer-Led Program with Limited Resources
Prior to using Mentorloop, our mentoring programs faced several challenges. As a volunteer-led organization, we lacked the capacity and infrastructure to fully support the facilitation of mentor-mentee relationships. Past programs lacked ownership and the right tools to efficiently manage the mentoring experience, leaving volunteers to manually oversee every aspect of the relationships.
Additionally, our participants come from diverse companies with different IT systems, creating communication barriers. Getting people with different email domains and security setups to communicate effectively was a constant challenge. This made it difficult to create a sense of community or bring together our diverse stakeholders.
"Engaging Mentorloop allowed us to shift our focus away from the administrative burdens of facilitating relationships and toward enhancing the experience. We could spend more time organizing events, building networks, and creating meaningful connections among participants."
A Game-Changing Mentoring Program
The mentoring program for women in construction is one of the most valuable initiatives we run at NAWIC SA. We often say, “You can’t be what you can’t see,” and with women making up only 17% of the construction industry in South Australia—and just 3% in trades—the representation of women is still incredibly low. Many women in construction find themselves isolated in male-dominated environments, without other women to look up to or seek guidance from.
Our program plays a critical role in overcoming these barriers. It offers women, particularly young graduates and those returning to work after a career break, the opportunity to connect with senior female leaders in the industry. For our younger participants, it provides role models and a clear path forward in an industry where they might not have seen many women succeeding. For those returning to work post-maternity, the program helps them navigate work-life balance and career progression while managing family responsibilities.
The program has become a lifeline for women in construction, offering them the support, guidance, and networking opportunities they need to grow and thrive.
Ensuring Equal Access: A Free and Inclusive Program
Ensuring equal access to mentoring is a core principle for us. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to keep the program free and accessible to all members, from university students and graduates to mid-career professionals and senior leaders. Removing financial barriers is key to encouraging participation, especially in an industry where women already face significant hurdles.
Our incredible sponsors have been pivotal in helping us maintain this free offering, allowing everyone who wants to participate the opportunity to do so without restrictions.
Building a Culture of Mentoring in NAWIC SA
Our mentoring program has gone from strength to strength. This year, we’ve had to close enrollments because of the overwhelming demand, something we’ve never experienced before. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re seeing women from all parts of the construction industry engage with the program.
We’re expanding our reach beyond just tier-one and tier-two construction firms to include women in trades, where female representation is even lower. The program fosters a culture where women can see what’s possible, build their confidence, and set meaningful career goals.
The impact of our mentoring program goes beyond professional development. It creates a network where women can connect, support each other, and share experiences. In an industry facing critical skill shortages, supporting women’s participation and success is more important than ever.
Through mentoring, we are not only helping women succeed in construction, but we’re also creating opportunities for economic empowerment, helping them make life-changing decisions that will benefit them and their families for years to come. We are proud to be building a culture of mentoring that will support and sustain women in construction, now and into the future.
Scaling for Long-Term Success
We’re halfway through this year’s mentoring program, and the feedback has been incredible. We’ve seen more enrollments than ever before, with more participants than we have mentors, which is a first for our organization. The word is spreading, and the program’s success is evident.
Moving forward, I don’t want this to remain just a six-month pilot. I’m committed to making the mentoring program a year-long initiative, ensuring that it remains free and accessible to all our members. Our sponsors have been instrumental in allowing us to offer this program at no cost, and we plan to continue that.
In the future, we will expand our events, add more opportunities for participants to connect, and increase the committee’s engagement with members. We’re also seeing a downturn in the construction industry, with many organizations reducing their in-house professional development. By continuing to offer our program, we can fill that gap and provide vital support for women in construction.
Cassie Manser
Chair of the Mentoring Committee for South Australia, National Association of Women in Construction.
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The mentoring program has become a lifeline for women in construction, offering them the support, guidance, and networking opportunities they need to grow and thrive.
– Cassie Manser, Chair of the Mentoring Committee for South Australia,
National Association of Women in Construction.
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