Albanese Government investing in women to build Australia’s future

The Albanese Government is marking its commitment to increasing the female workforce in critical trade industries through the flagship Building Women’s Careers Program.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles announced 10 projects have received grants under the Albanese Government’s Building Women’s Careers Program.

Right now, women make up less than 8% of all female apprentices in male-dominated trades, and less than 5% of in construction.

Less than one third of apprentices in all trades are women.

The successful grant recipients include:

• Master Builders Australia’s Give Her a Chance project to tackle bias in the construction industry through education campaigns, mentoring programs, networking opportunities and best-practice resources and partnerships.
• Professionals Australia’s FemTech, which will address barriers preventing women from getting started in Industry 4.0 careers through initiatives that create a talent pipeline.
• And Future Energy Skills’ Transforming Gender Equity project, which will research, identify and address specific systemic and cultural barriers to women’s participation in clean energy apprenticeships, and transform workplaces through demonstrating the benefits of inclusive recruitment and workplace practices

Ten projects will receive a combined $45 million under the Building Women’s Careers program, to be invested in partnerships with some of the country’s biggest industry representatives including Australian Industry Group, Australian Workers Union, Multiplex, Bunnings, Viva Energy, Group Training Australia, and TAFEs across Australia.

Other projects funded under today’s announcement will focus on creating scalable, high-quality and inclusive training and employment opportunities for women, through partnerships with industry.

Projects include those that:

• encourage industry-wide male advocacy for women
• undertake targeted recruitment activities to boost participation
• provide tailored training packages that build skills
• implement national frameworks that guide industry action

The Building Women’s Careers Program was announced in the last budget as part of the Australian Government $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia package.

These partnership projects will address barriers for women entering, remaining and advancing in the traditionally male-dominated industries of construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital and technology.

More information on the projects is available on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher:

“Australia has one of the highest rates of industry segregation among advanced economies, which is why projects like these are so important.

“For too long, the focus has been on fixing women instead of fixing the barriers that hold women back. The Building Women’s Careers Program is one of the key ways the Albanese Labor Government is addressing this.

“By working with employer groups, peak bodies, and unions, we are driving real change across industry and creating safer, more respectful workplaces for all Australians.

“Building Women’s Careers Program will help ensure our plan for a Future Made in Australia delivers better jobs, fairer wages, and greater opportunities for Australian women.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

“Boosting women’s participation in the workforce is fundamental to addressing skills shortages building Australia’s future.

“Today I am sending a message that there is room for women and men on worksites and we’ll do everything we can to balance the scale.

“We are taking the important first steps to introduce new pathways for women to enter traditionally male-dominated industries and make industry workplaces safer and more equitable.

“These projects are tackling the structural and cultural barriers that often stop women from considering careers in these industries head on.

“By working in partnership across the community, we are working to ensures that these barriers are being addressed from all angles.”