A group of Illawarra students are taking part in a program that aims to champion the participation of women in the property and construction industry.
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Now in its third year, the Property Council of Australia's 'Girls in Property Program' for 2019 kicked off on Thursday.
This initiative features 300 girls of diverse backgrounds from 13 public schools - spanning across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra and the Hunter region - taking part.
The program aims to enable students to experience and tour world-class developments, meet industry leaders and get involved in real life property projects with mentors from the Illawarra property industry.
This year, 17 students from Dapto High School are taking part in the program.
One of the students who elected to participate in the 2019 program was year 10 student Rachel Matthews.
Rachel said she'd had a long-time interest in law, and had recently been exploring the legal aspect of the property industry as a potential career.
"I'm interested in the different transactions between larger companies," she said.
"Working with larger businesses and corporations, just making sure everything that's happening is the best possible outcome for everyone."
Rachel said the program had provided some direction as to how best pursue this line of work.
She also said the initiative had afforded her a better understanding of the range of occupations involved within the property industry, "and all the different opportunities for everyone".
Property Council Illawarra regional director Michelle Guido said it was fantastic to have Dapto High School involved in the program.
"Through this initiative, we hope to raise awareness of female participation in the property industry and provide students with information about a career in property," she said.
"We also have three wonderful and experienced female mentors from the Illawarra taking part. These include Jennifer Macquarie from Fountaindale Group, Holly Howell from GPT and Polin Daawood from Frasers, who will assist the girls to develop a property project which they will present to their peers in June.
"There just aren't enough women working in property and construction.
"Only 28 per cent of leadership roles are held by women. With this program we hope to empower these girls to consider the property industry as a career choice, to boost diversity, creativity and innovation for the future."
The program began on Thursday at Western Sydney University's City Campus in Parramatta. and will run over three separate days until June 20.