29 April 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
Girls in Property program continues to support gender equity in the industry
The Property Council’s Girls in Property program will officially kick off for 2024 in NSW on Wednesday 1 May. Over 300 students from 17 public schools will be taking part in the program across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra and Hunter regions.
Property Council’s NSW Deputy Executive Director, Anita Hugo, said it has been fantastic to see the program continue into its sixth year.
“Through this initiative, we hope to raise awareness of female participation in the property industry and provide students with information about a career in property,” Ms Hugo said.
“We have a range of wonderful and experienced industry mentors taking part in the Sydney, Illawarra and Hunter programs who will assist the girls to develop a property project which they will present to their peers and industry representatives.
“There just aren’t enough women working in property and construction – with this program we hope to empower these students to consider the property industry as a career choice, to boost diversity, creativity and innovation for the future.”
Ms Hugo said the Property Council of Australia was a true advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion and champions the participation of women in the property industry.
“This program is just another way we can work with industry leaders to support diversity and provide the opportunities and positive influences that women need to succeed,” she said.
The Property Council’s Girls in Property program will commence in Sydney at Grosvenor Place, on 1 May 2024, followed by Illawarra at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus on 9 May and Newcastle at the University of Newcastle on 23 May 2024.
The students will take part in a range of activities including:
- Learning about the property and construction industry while hearing from a diverse panel of women as they share insights on their careers within the property industry.
- Understanding more about education options and pathways that can lead to a career in property and construction.
- Work with mentors in developing real-life projects within the commercial, residential and retail asset classes to present to their schools.
- Take part in a range of industry site tours across Greater Sydney.
- Attending an awards event and Property Council Industry Business Lunch.
Background Information
- Over 300 girls from 17 public high schools are taking part in the 2024 program across Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra regions.
- Now in its sixth year, Girls in Property brings together the biggest property companies to work closely with schools, universities, and the NSW Government to empower more women to choose to work in the property and construction industry.
- 48 per cent of participants in the first two years of the program spoke a language other than English at home. 19 per cent of participants lived in areas of higher socio-economic disadvantage.
- When girls were asked to identify what jobs they thought were available to women working in property before the program, common responses included:
- Real Estate (92% of respondents)
- Architecture (80%)
- Interior Design (57%).
- When girls were asked the same question after attending the program, a wider range of careers were mentioned including:
- Construction (77% of respondents up from 39% in baseline)
- Planning (72% up from 20%)
- Engineering (66% up from 41%)
- Marketing (50% up from 26%)
- Business (42% up from 24%)
- A significant proportion of girls were interested in learning more about school and university study options to assist them to enter the property industry.
- All schools involved in year one and two of Girls in Property reported an increase in students selecting HSC subjects in the areas of science, mathematics, or design.
Event Details
- Wednesday 1 May, 9am-1pm, Grosvenor Place, 227 George Street, Sydney New South Wales 2000,
- RSVP through media contact, Anita Hugo
ENDS
Media Contact: Anita Hugo| 0439 253 710 | [email protected]