The Richmond Football Club and infrastructure construction company Fulton Hogan have kicked off a new partnership that will provide the club’s women with access to flexible career pathways.
The partnership will help remove the stress of players finding employment and give players the financial means and workplace flexibility to focus on playing football at both AFLW and VFLW level.
The partnership was formally announced in May, with Fulton Hogan already employing Richmond AFLW players Iilish Ross, Holly Whitford and Tayla Stahl as Construction Trainees on its Metropolitan Roads Program Alliance.
Fulton Hogan Alliance Manager Dean Riha, said the partnership with Richmond would offer female footballers the flexibility to work around their rigorous training schedule.
“Fulton Hogan has a real focus in increasing the number of women entering the construction industry,” he said.
“By offering flexible career pathways within our business, we are not only helping female footballers to fund their AFLW dreams, but we’re also providing the industry with role models of which young women and school-aged children can aspire to.
“This will help boost awareness of viable career options for women in construction and that can only be a good thing for the industry and our own workforce.”
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said he was thrilled the Club was able to form a partnership that would provide female players with a meaningful career pathway outside of football.
“We are invested in helping all of our players to prosper on and off the field and this partnership gives our girls the opportunity to build a career in construction with excellent mentor programs and pathways.
“Until such time as we can have full time professional AFLW players, we recognise that our players will require additional support to supplement their on-field pursuits. Partnerships with organisations such as Fulton Hogan, and their flexible approaches to work arrangements are valuable to our Club, the ecosystem of AFLW and most importantly, our players.
“It is fantastic that the girls are able to again serve as brilliant role models to the next generation whilst promoting gender equality in another industry.”
Fulton Hogan is working closely with a number social enterprise organisations to provide opportunity for those from a range of backgrounds to create a diverse and balanced workforce. For more information on current vacancies visit https://www.fultonhogan.com/join-our-team/job-vacancies/
