One year ago, the AFLW and Australian construction company, John Holland, partnered to bring more women into the construction industry. Now, they’ve reached a major milestone with the recruitment of an entire squad of players working in diverse and flexible roles.
The 18 AFLW players come from nearly a dozen different clubs and work across John Holland’s national projects and offices, doing a broad range of flexible work, from building and infrastructure projects to corporate functions.
In August 2022, John Holland was announced as the official presenting partner of Workplay, the AFL’s leading careers and networking platform designed to empower female athletes in sport and business.
AFL General Manager Women’s Football, Nicole Livingstone, said John Holland’s support of the Workplay platform is enabling AFLW players to pursue careers on and off the football field, adding that this partnership “allows players to develop their careers outside of football, whilst thriving as AFLW players.”
“To have 18 AFLW players find flexible employment opportunities at John Holland is a great achievement and one that we look forward to growing as we continue to work together to challenge the norms, push boundaries and create positive change for AFLW athletes and our sport.”
John Holland CEO, Joe Barr said the 18 women in Workplay “are the faces of what’s possible with a purpose and values-led partnership.
Barr said John Holland is “incredibly proud” of what the partnership has achieved in 12 months.
“We have welcomed so many talented athletes into our business, with roles that allow them to foster meaningful careers and balance their commitments on the field,” he said.
“This is about so much more than having a job – it’s paving the way for a sustainable career in an industry that is crying out for cultural change. Partnerships like this one are truly changing the game.”
John Holland named Gold Coast SUNS’ captain, Tara Bohanna, and Western Bulldogs’ forward, Deanna Berry, as official partnership ambassadors.
“When you look at the names we’ve welcomed into our business – we’re talking about athletes who are at the very top of their game, and the benchmark of the AFLW competition,” said John Holland EGM Building & Development, David Lehmann.
“What really excites me is that these women bring so many transferable skills to our projects and offices – and help foster a culture where everyone can be empowered at work.”
The 2023 AFLW Season is set to commence in September.