Stage 4 - Women in Construction
Year 8 Introduction to Building and Construction
The Year 8 program introduces students to the building and construction industry using a series of lessons adapted from the ACT Government’s resources. Schools are encouraged to follow the ACT lesson sequence and use the provided materials, which include lesson plans, student workbooks, and teacher guides.
The program covers topics such as career development, industry roles, personal skills and values, sustainability, workplace safety, and gender diversity. It aims to build students’ awareness of career options and help them explore their interests in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Schools have the flexibility to adapt lessons to suit their local context while aligning content with the NSW curriculum. Professional learning and support are available to assist teachers with delivery.
Feedback from NSW schools will be gathered to help improve the program and consider its wider introduction across the state.
The NSW Department of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø is pleased to offer Year 8 students an introduction to the building and construction industry. This program uses resources adapted from the ACT Government’s pilot program, designed to support early career education and promote gender equity in a traditionally male-dominated field. It also aligns with NSW curriculum priorities like sustainability, workplace health and safety, and inclusive learning.
NSW schools will use lesson plans, student workbooks, and teacher guides developed with partners such as NAWIC and the National Careers Institute. While the core materials remain the same, schools can tailor the program by linking lessons to the NSW syllabus, including local industry examples, and fitting the timing to their own schedules. Teachers will have access to professional development and curriculum support.
The program covers key topics such as career development, a variety of jobs in construction, personal values and skills, sustainability, workplace safety, and gender diversity. Students engage in hands-on activities, research tasks, and discussions to explore their interests and plan future pathways in the industry.
Resources include PowerPoint presentations, interactive videos, and a student booklet that encourages reflection and career exploration. Schools are encouraged to follow the structured lesson sequence but can adapt delivery to their context. Feedback from participants will help improve and possibly expand the program across NSW.
This initiative supports students in understanding the building and construction industry, challenges stereotypes, and helps them think about their own futures with confidence.
This lesson sets the foundation for the program by exploring what the building and construction industry is, why it matters, and how students can begin thinking about their own career pathways. It encourages curiosity, challenges stereotypes, and introduces key concepts like career development, industry roles, and future opportunities.
Lesson 1 - Introduction to Career Development and the Building and Construction Industry (856.5 KB)
Supporting PowerPoint resource: Lesson 1 – What is the Building and Construction Industry (304.1 MB)
Students explore the wide range of careers involved in building and construction, from planning to completion. Through interactive activities, they will discover both familiar trade roles and lesser-known professional occupations such as project managers, designers, civil engineers, certifiers, and construction lawyers. This lesson broadens students’ understanding of the industry and highlights diverse career pathways.
Lesson 2 - Occupations in the Building and Construction Industry (5.5 MB)
Students will be introduced to the difference between a career and an occupation, and begin to reflect on their own interests, values, and aspirations. Through guided activities and discussions, they’ll learn how personal passions and relationships can shape future career choices. This lesson encourages self-awareness and helps students connect what they enjoy doing with potential pathways in the world of work.
Lesson 3 - What is a career? (755.1KB)
Students will explore personal and work-related values and how these influence career choices and decision-making. Through reflective activities, they will identify values that matter most to them and consider how these can guide their future pathways. This lesson builds self-awareness and ethical understanding, helping students connect their values to meaningful work.
Lesson 4 - Values (834.4 kb)
Students will learn what skills are and how they’re developed through life, education, and work. Through a hands-on ‘Building Challenge,’ they will explore key employability skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem solving. By taking on roles like project manager or engineer, students will reflect on their own strengths and abilities and how these relate to careers in the construction industry.
Lesson 5 - Skills and abilities (865.1 KB)
Students will investigate a range of occupations within the building and construction industry using online career resources. By researching roles that align with their interests, values, and skills, they will gain insight into job responsibilities, required qualifications, and potential career pathways. This lesson builds digital literacy and encourages informed career exploration.
Lesson 6 - Specific occupations – research task (890.7 KB)
Students will explore the concept of sustainability and its growing importance in the building and construction industry. Through a hands-on ‘Sustainable Building Challenge,’ they’ll design and create products using recycled materials, gaining insight into eco-friendly practices and sustainable design. The lesson also introduces careers and initiatives that support environmental responsibility in construction.
Lesson 7 - Sustainability (4.1 MB)
Students will examine gender roles and stereotypes in the workplace, with a focus on the building and construction industry. Through discussion, media analysis, and group activities, they will explore the importance of diversity, gender balance, and inclusion. The lesson encourages students to challenge assumptions, understand historical patterns of gender segregation, and consider how they can contribute to a more equitable future in the workforce.
Lesson 8 - Gender and diversity (2.7 MB)
Students will explore the importance of Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) and learn how to advocate for their own wellbeing in professional environments. Through scenario-based activities and multimedia resources, they will examine key concepts such as duty of care, identifying hazards, using personal protective equipment (PPE), and understanding workplace rights and responsibilities. This lesson empowers students to be proactive and informed about safety in the workplace.
Lesson 9 - Safety, rights and responsibilities (1.3 MB)
Supporting PowerPoint resource: Lesson 9 – Workplace Health and Safety
In the final lesson, students will consolidate their learning and begin mapping out their future career pathways. They will reflect on their interests, values, and skills, and explore options such as apprenticeships, VET, TAFE, and university. The lesson introduces the role of career practitioners and encourages students to think about what they want to have, do, and be in the future, empowering them to take the next step with confidence.
Lesson 10 - Career planning (772.9 KB)