For many women, the residential building industry can still feel like a world they have to be invited into. As a joint initiative with HIA and MiTek, She Builds The Future is helping change that. Inspired by the children’s book The House That She Built, the program is designed to inspire, educate and promote diversity across home building by showing females the wide range of careers available in the industry.

The website brings the Australian edition of The House That She Built to life, turning the book’s message into practical career information. Explore roles across trades, design, manufacturing, project support and business management.

Each profile explains what the job involves, why it matters, how to get qualified and what a pathway into the role could look like. Most importantly, it pairs that information with real stories from women already working in residential building.

That combination is what makes the program work. It does more than list careers; it helps readers picture themselves in them. Whether someone is practical, creative, analytical, organised or entrepreneurial, She Builds The Future shows there’s a place for those strengths in building a property.

Boots on

For women who want a hands-on career, the ‘boots on’ pathways are some of the most visible and rewarding in residential building. These are the plumbers, carpenters, concreters, painters, bricklayers and other trades who turn plans into homes. The work can be physical and fast-moving, but it also relies on precision, problem-solving, teamwork and pride in a job well done.

Licensed plumber Jasmine Turnball of QPlum and Gas in Queensland knows the satisfaction of solving practical problems every day. Working mainly in residential maintenance, she responds to blocked drains, hot water issues, low water pressure and leaks.

‘I help resolve problems for people every day,’ she says. ‘I get to finish my day knowing I’ve helped someone.’ For Jasmine, plumbing offered the variety she wanted. ‘I knew an office job wasn’t for me from a young age,’ she says. ‘Plumbing covers such a broad scope I knew I wouldn’t be bored.'

Concreter Lizzie Eaton, who works for Plunkett Homes in WA, found a similar sense of purpose in a trade that suited her love of fitness and working outdoors. ‘When I chose concreting as a trade, I didn’t realise it was like doing a workout all day and getting paid for it,’ she says.

Inspired by another woman working in the trades, Lizzie wanted to show that females could take on roles rarely associated with them. ‘There’s no limit to what girls can do these days,’ she says. ‘Don’t be afraid to get involved and find a trade you love.’

Trade pathways often begin with an apprenticeship, supported by formal qualifications such as a Certificate III and the licensing requirements that apply in each state or territory. They can also lead far beyond the tools: into supervision, estimating, training, specialist contracting or business ownership.

For women who like to learn by doing, ‘boots on’ careers offer skills for life and a direct role in shaping the homes Australians live in.

Boots off

Not every building career happens on site. The ‘boots off’ side of the industry includes architects, interior designers, estimators, contract administrators, building surveyors, land developers and other professionals who help plan, cost, coordinate and deliver a home before, during and after construction.

Production estimator Kadeen Power of Ultra Living Homes sees her role as a critical link between a client’s vision and a buildable, affordable project. ‘A construction estimator plays a crucial role in assessing the costs associated with materials, labour and other expenses in home building,’ she says.

Estimators review drawings, specifications, regulations and supplier information so builders can quote accurately and manage budgets. ‘It’s truly amazing to see how a fully functional home can come to life from just an idea, a budget and a set of plans,’ Kadeen says.

Rachel Hobson’s land development role for Mount Margaret Estate is another example of how broad the industry can be. Working across this residential estate in North Queensland, she helps launch land stages, supports buyers, manages marketing and contracts, and works with consultants, engineers and councils.

‘Land development is a field where you can really shape the future – quite literally,’ Rachel says. Her advice to other women is direct: ‘Take up space – your perspective is needed, and your voice belongs in the room.’

These careers suit people who enjoy detail, communication, creativity and coordination. Some begin through university or diploma study; others grow from trade experience into project support or management.

Together, they show that residential building is not one job, but an ecosystem of connected roles. For women who want to influence how homes are designed, approved, costed and delivered, ‘boots off’ careers offer meaningful ways to help build better communities.

Be the boss

For many women, a career in building becomes a pathway to leadership. Being the boss might mean running a small trade business, managing a residential construction company, supervising sites or coordinating teams, timelines, clients and suppliers.

Bella Rogers, owner of Safehold Projects, shows how trade skills can evolve into business ownership. A carpenter by trade, she now works across estimating, operations and hands-on carpentry for custom residential builds and high-performance homes.

‘I love the variety; every day is different,’ Bella says. ‘You are constantly learning and problem solving.’ Although she once planned to study fine art, she found the same creativity in construction. ‘The creativity I craved from fine art is now reflected in a larger, more physical form,’ she says.

Construction administrator Hayley Ashton also demonstrates how leadership can happen through coordination and support. In her role at Ultra Living Homes, she assists site supervisors, collates certificates, provides client updates and helps troubleshoot daily issues.

‘No day is the same – I am constantly learning,’ she says. Hayley enjoys the mix of customer service, problem solving and construction, and believes women can find roles that match their strengths. ‘There are so many avenues in construction,’ she says.

Leadership pathways may require trade experience, business training, project management skills or formal construction qualifications, depending on the role. But the common thread is confidence: the willingness to make decisions, lead teams and keep projects moving. She Builds The Future helps women see that the industry does not just need workers; it needs owners, supervisors, organisers and decision-makers too.

Building what comes next

She Builds The Future works because it makes opportunity visible. By combining career information with lived experience, HIA and MiTek are helping open doors for the next generation of builders, tradespeople, designers, manufacturers, project leaders and business owners.

To continue the conversation at home, in schools or in the community, The House That She Built (Australia edition) can be ordered online – free! The book introduces young readers to many women involved in building a dwelling and reminds them that the future of the industry can be built by anyone with curiosity, confidence and the right pathway.