Sector: Construction, infrastructure and renewables
Construction, infrastructure and renewables training.
Respect at Work with Build Like a Girl, plus NAWIC ACT mentoring.
We help builders, head contractors and engineering businesses meet their obligations and build sites people want to work on: Respect at Work with Build Like a Girl, mentoring for women in construction, and construction security for secure builds.
The obligations we help you meet.
Builders carry obligations for the people on their sites and, on secure projects, for the security of the facility. Our programs are built around them.
People and culture
- Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth): the positive dutySince 13 December 2022, employers must take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate, as far as possible, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, sex-based harassment, hostile workplace environments and victimisation.
- Australian Human Rights Commission compliance powersSince 12 December 2023, the Commission can inquire into and enforce compliance with the positive duty.
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)Since 6 March 2023, sexual harassment in connection with work has been expressly prohibited, and the Fair Work Commission can deal with disputes.
- Work health and safety lawsEmployers and other persons conducting a business or undertaking must manage psychosocial hazards, including sexual and gender-based harassment. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment (December 2023) sets out how. Our psychological safety workshops are one practical control.
Security on secure builds
- Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)Sets the protective security requirements non-corporate Commonwealth entities must apply, including physical security for the facilities built for them.
- Defence security requirementsDefence projects apply the Defence Security Principles Framework, and Defence industry participants may need to meet the Defence Industry Security Program.
- Your contract and construction security planSecurity requirements flow down to builders and trades through contracts and construction security plans.
Training alone does not meet these obligations, but it is an essential part of how you show them. This is general information, not legal advice.
In partnership
With Build Like a Girl.
Build Like a Girl is the national women-in-trades movement founded in 2020 by Jo Farrell, 2024 ACT Australian of the Year. Together we bring lived insight from construction, infrastructure and renewables, and specialist capability design, to Respect at Work training for builders and Tier 1 contractors.
Build Like a Girl
Construction, infrastructure and renewables insight, and women-in-trades expertise
- Deep understanding of construction, infrastructure and renewables sites and culture
- Respect at Work content designed for construction, infrastructure and renewables
- Experience supporting women to enter and thrive in trades
- A national women-in-trades network
Wisdom Learning
Capability design, assessment and evaluation
- Programs linked to your prevention plan and policies
- Digital modules, workshops and leader programs
- Assessment, records and evaluation
- National delivery, face to face, virtual or blended
Respect at Work for construction.
Practical training built around real site situations, for everyone with a part to play in preventing harm.
- All workers and site teamsA short digital module on what to do next, and onsite sessions built around real site situations.
- Leaders and supervisorsPreventing harm, recognising early signs and responding well when something happens.
- People who receive reportsReceiving, recording and responding to reports safely, fairly and consistently.
- Your prevention planTraining linked to your prevention plan, policies and reporting processes, with records and evaluation to evidence it.
Mentoring for women in construction.
The NAWIC ACT Mentoring Program, run by the ACT Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction in partnership with Wisdom Learning, won the Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) 2025 Excellence Award for Best Diversity and Inclusion Program. It supports women at every career stage, from students and apprentices to experienced professionals returning to work or stepping up.
- AITD 2025Excellence Award, Best Diversity and Inclusion Program
How the program works
- Structured mentor and mentee pairing, with one-to-one mentoring sessions
- Mentor upskilling in coaching, communication and leadership
- HBDI profiling to build self-awareness and communication across different thinking styles
- Face-to-face workshops on career planning and confidence, leadership, networking and navigating workplace challenges
- Networking events and the myWisdom digital mentoring toolbox
- Male champions who mentor, advocate for inclusion and challenge bias
What participants say
“Thank you so much for changing my life. Both professionally and personally.”
“The night about leadership vs mentorship really struck me and made me think long term about my career plans.”
Participants, NAWIC ACT Mentoring Program. Participant feedback.
Each year we evaluate the program and refine it using participant feedback and performance data.
Mentoring for your organisation.
We design mentoring programs around your projects, workforce and gender equity goals, so women in trades and site roles stay, progress and lead.
Construction security for secure builds.
On secure government and Defence projects, every worker needs to follow the rules and observers need to supervise the site. Our construction security program covers both.
- Everyone on siteConstruction security readyShort digital modules completed before site access, with completion records for your client.
- Security observersConstruction Security Observer programOnline pre-work, then face-to-face practice and a scenario-based capstone.
- Site security leadsConstruction Security LeadFor the people responsible for security across a project.
Why builders work with us.
What construction leaders tell us made the difference for site teams and the people who lead them.
- Built for site realitiesDispersed and changing teams, subcontractors and tight programs.
- Evidence beyond attendanceRecords, assessment and evaluation you can show clients and regulators.
- Industry insightBuild Like a Girl’s lived experience of construction, infrastructure and renewables culture in every program.
- Security-cleared trainersFor secure government and Defence projects, anywhere in Australia.
Programs on this page are tailored capability development. They are not nationally recognised training unless a qualification or unit code is shown. Nationally recognised training is delivered and assessed by Wisdom Learning Pty Ltd, RTO 88062.
Questions builders ask us.
Short answers to the questions organisations ask us about this work. If yours is not here, ask us.
Is policy and training enough to meet the positive duty?
No. The Australian Human Rights Commission’s guidelines make clear that training alone is unlikely to be enough. Organisations are expected to take a range of measures and to monitor whether they are working. We build training around real site situations and link it to your prevention plan, policies and reporting processes.
Can training be delivered to site-based teams?
Yes. With Build Like a Girl, we tailor Respect at Work training to site-based teams and the leaders responsible for them, with formats that work on site and online.
Do you run mentoring programs for women in construction?
Yes. The NAWIC ACT Mentoring Program, run in partnership with Wisdom Learning, won the AITD 2025 Excellence Award for Best Diversity and Inclusion Program. We also design mentoring programs for builders around their projects and gender equity goals.
Do you offer security training for secure construction projects?
Yes. Our construction security program includes digital modules for everyone on site, the Construction Security Observer program and Construction Security Lead, aligned to the Protective Security Policy Framework and your client’s requirements.
Is this nationally recognised training?
No. These are tailored programs. Participants who meet the assessment requirements of the construction security program receive a Wisdom Learning certificate.
Build sites people want to work on.
Tell us about your projects, your people and your obligations, and we will help you design the right program.
We respond to every enquiry within one business day.