The 2018 National Association of Women in Construction's International Women’s Day Scholarship has gone to industrial designer, researcher and design educator, Dr Phillippa Carnemolla. 

The scholarship provides funding for a research paper that will benefit and empower women in the Australian construction industry. Dr Carnemolla, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, will examine high school girls’ perceptions of careers in the construction industry and trades.

The NAWIC scholarship is now in its 10th year, and is valued at $20,000.

Design furniture, lighting and accessory company, CULT, funded the award this year.

Clockwise from top right: Richard Munao, Managing Director of CULT, Natalie Galea (2016 winner), Dr Phillipa Carnemolla (2018 winner), Sara Prendergast (2017 winner), and Sarah Hogan, NAWIC NSW President. Image supplied.

The NAWIC received a record 19 applications this year, said NAWIC’s National Chair, Helen Badger. Other shortlisted candidates included:

• Deidre Dennys, who proposed investigating the impact of taking maternity leave on women and their partners, and the challenges of returning to work, and
• Sally Hsu and Sarah Zhang, who proposed examining the "talent diversity drivers" that support mid-career women in the construction industry.

Richard Munao, director of the scholarship's sponsor CULT, said the judges were impressed with the scope of Dr Carnemolla’s research.

“The research will look at girls’ opinions of the construction industry, and also investigate their parents’ perceptions to understand the role they play in girls’ career choices,” he said.

“Recommendations from the research results will enable NAWIC and broader construction networks to better engage with school-aged girls and communicate the potential for a construction career for women,” said Munao.

Last year’s winner, Sara Prendergast, finance manager with Downer, examined ways to attract women into traditionally male-dominated operational roles in the construction industry.

Prendergast's finding included the importance of:

• “cascading reporting” from executive to crew level on gender diversity to “change the view of who is accountable for attracting women to operational roles”,
• casting a wide net to attract female employees,
• being clear on role requirements, 
• ensuring both internal and external labour hire agencies have key performance criteria attached to gender diversity, and
• communication across the organisation.

“The $20,000 scholarship gave me the time and support to undertake this important research. I’m passionate about giving women opportunities to be self-sufficient. This is not just good for the individual women. The benefit of gender diversity is not just the diversity of thought women bring to the table, it is the culture and governance that creates stronger businesses," said Prendergast.

Read more about women in construction:

Tackle gender pay gap with more women in construction

Women in construction recognised at awards night

A call for equality in the construction industry