- Published:
- Monday 18 January 2021
The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring new career opportunities for forty women who will soon begin training as municipal building surveyors thanks to funding from the Victorian Budget 2020/21.
Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane today joined the Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous, Darebin City Council Mayor Cr Lina Messina and Darebin City Council CEO Sue Wilkinson to meet with Grace Tan one of the 40 women who will receive funding to train to become a municipal building surveyor.
The $6.3 million Women Building Surveyors Program attracted widespread interest from councils and council staff. Of the successful applications, 28 councils have already identified a female staff member to take up the opportunity, while another 12 will recruit in coming months.
Of the successful councils, 17 are rural, five are regional cities and 18 are in metropolitan Melbourne.
The candidates will begin an Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying or Bachelor of Building Surveying this year, and gain work experience with their councils as well as attending professional development events and opportunities through program partner LGPro.
The Women Building Surveyors program has been established to improve the gender balance in the construction industry, fill a skills shortage and drive construction stimulus projects as a key part of the state’s economic recovery.
Employed by councils, municipal building surveyors issue permits that allow construction work to commence and ensure that work complies with legal requirements and building codes.
They also carry out inspections to ensure work is completed correctly and issue occupancy permits or certificates of final inspection.
For more information on the program, including a list of the successful councils, go to localgovernment.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane
“This is all about offering women career opportunities, boosting gender equality in the construction sector and helping support Victoria’s economic recovery.”
“It’s great to see such a strong uptake for the program from councils across the state and I look forward to meeting some of the successful candidates in the next few weeks.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous
“Congratulations to Grace at Darebin City Council for being selected to participate in the Women Building Surveyors Program. Greater gender balance across the workforce benefits everyone – it makes our councils and communities stronger.”