Wellness in Infrastructure (WII) exists because of its people. As a volunteer-led movement, we know that lasting change in the construction industry doesn’t start with policy, it starts with individuals showing up to make a difference.
With National Volunteer Week (May 19–25, 2025) shining a spotlight on the theme “Connecting Communities,” there’s never been a better time to celebrate the people powering our mission.
Every project we’ve launched, every story we’ve shared, and every site we’ve reached has been made possible by volunteers.
Since 2018, they’ve been the ones starting conversations, creating training tools, offering peer support, and helping others navigate challenges that once felt impossible to speak about. They’re not working behind the scenes, they’re leading from the front.
Grant Fuller from Alchemie and a co-founder of WII has recently said: “I’ve seen our volunteers’ dedication create an inspiring movement and bring about meaningful changes. It’s a privilege to work alongside such passionate individuals devoted to making a positive difference.”
While the construction industry is known for strength and innovation, mental health data reveals a harder truth. The 2023 follow-up industry survey by Prof. Luke Downey and Swinburne University found that depression, anxiety, and stress among workers exceed national norms by 60%, 70%, and 50% respectively.
Closing this gap takes more than awareness, it needs peer leadership, lived experience, and trusted voices to tackle the root causes of poor mental health in our industry. WII Chairperson, Rebecca Dickson, explains why we must act:
“The construction industry is an exciting place. There is a lot to celebrate, but the rates of suicide and poor mental health are dismal… I’d like to see a significantly more effective response to this state of affairs.” – Rebecca Dickson, from Pinsent Masons and WII Chairperson.
Volunteers don’t just contribute, they transform. Whether they’re sharing lived experience, developing wellbeing tools, or mentoring future leaders, they bring heart to every aspect of our mission.
What unites them is a shared belief that we can do better, and that wellbeing should never be a luxury in high-risk industries.
As Will Phillips shares, volunteering offers purpose, growth, and the chance to lead from where you are:
“Volunteering in this area is a chance to make a positive difference by supporting others and driving change. It’s rewarding to contribute to something bigger than yourself.” – Will Phillips, BMD and WII Subgroup Lead.
Education is one of our most powerful tools and volunteers are our best teachers.
Through personal storytelling, workshop delivery, and peer-to-peer learning, volunteers help others understand mental health in a way that’s relatable, practical, and stigma-breaking. They bring wellness into real conversations, on real job sites.
As Ellen Connor puts it:
“Knowledge is key. If people understand mental health and wellness better, they’re empowered to make healthier choices and support those around them.” – Ellen Connor, FSC and WII Subgroup Lead
Our volunteers know that supporting others starts with taking care of themselves. That’s why we prioritise whole-person wellbeing, focusing not just on crisis response, but sustainable change that targets the causes of poor mental health.
“Joining WII means we have industry people with real industry experience, focusing on our industry colleagues with a common understanding – that mental health is just as important as physical health.” – Penelope Arnold, GS E&C and WII Working Group Volunteer.
And for Surbhi Sharma, wellness means staying connected to what really matters:
“Wellness means the ability to feel a positive attitude towards waking up every day, going to work, and seeing the people you love. It’s about making time for enjoyable activities, incorporating fun into the workday, and working with people who support you.” – Surbhi Sharma, Terra Verde JV and WII Subgroup Lead
There’s a long-standing myth in the construction world that stress, burnout, and mental overload are just part of the job. Our volunteers are actively dismantling that belief, through action, advocacy, and example.
They know that the way things have always been, isn’t the way they have to stay, and are committed to sustainable change
As Campbell Warren explains: “There are so many things that people say are just part of the industry that we work in… But we’ve seen change in some areas. So, we can never just say, ‘because that’s the way we’ve always done things.’ It’s defeatist thinking.” – Campbell Warren, Laing O’Rourke and WII NSW & QLD Working Group Chairperson
“We need to do better. This way of working simply isn’t sustainable. If we want to attract and retain talent in the industry, we must prioritise wellbeing and create healthier workplaces.” – Emily Trevaskis, Alchemie & WII National Working Group Chair.
Whether you’re part of the senior leadership team or someone who cares about improving our industry, there’s a place for you at WII. Volunteers are the reason Wellness in Infrastructure has grown into a Nationally trusted voice for wellbeing in the industry. The more voices we add, the louder and more impactful we become.
Want to make a difference? You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to show up.
Let’s build an industry where health, connection, and community aren’t the exception, but the expectation.
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