During his visit to Northern Grampians Shire Council today, Victorian Minister for Local Government, Shaun Leane, spent time with Isabella Fuller, Council’s cadet employed through the Women Building Surveyors Program.
The two-year program is a $6.3 million initiative run by Local Government Victoria in partnership with LGPro, councils and training providers.
The funding has opened opportunities for 40 women employed by Victorian councils to enter into what has been a historically and predominantly male field of building surveying.
Through the State Government program, Council received $150,000 in funding to train and subsidise the employment of the WBSP cadet, Ms Fuller. She has commenced a Bachelor of Building Surveying through Victoria University and is now a Municipal Building Surveyor (MBS) cadet within Council’s Community Safety and Amenity Team.
“This program is an opportunity for councils to create jobs and meet a growing need for surveyors, while also giving women the chance to build a local career in construction,” said Minister Leane.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor, Tony Driscoll said the government’s investment had helped to solidify council’s commitment to gender equality and to meet the chronic shortage of building surveyors across Victoria.
“We are very grateful to the State Government for funding and subsidising the training and employment of Ms Fuller through their Women Building Surveyors Program,” Mayor Driscoll said.
“This initiative has enabled us to provide an opportunity for a woman to become a fully qualified professional Municipal Building Surveyor and assist council with a significant number of exciting residential and non-residential building projects that require building approvals in our shire’s growing economy.”
Women Building Surveyors Program (localgovernment.vic.gov.au)
