Building women’s careers and Australia’s future through community-driven projects

The Albanese Government is further delivering our commitment to increase the number of women working in critical industries, today announcing the second wave of projects funded through the Building Women’s Careers Program.

Under the second tranche of the Program, 10 community-led, place-based projects will share $9.5 million in funding.

The projects are spread across all Australian states and territories, improving women’s access to flexible, safe and inclusive training and work opportunities.

The partnerships are with leading-edge organisations including Building Women, Women in Technology WA, Network for Educational Workplacements, Central Coast Group Training, Tradeswomen Australia Foundation, Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation, Griffith Skills Training Centre, South West TAFE, Master Builders Association of Tasmania and the Technology Council of Australia.

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

Stream two builds on the 10 industry-led projects announced earlier this week.

All 20 projects are being delivered in partnership to address the 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, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher:

“Programs like these make a crucial contribution to supporting women into male-dominated trades and making sure they can succeed and be safe in these important industries.

“This also helps to narrow the gender pay gap and boost critical workforces.

“The Albanese Government will always focus on improving women’s economic opportunity, whether it’s funding programs like this, delivering tax cuts that are fairer for women or putting in place reforms to help close the gender pay gap.”

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

“Boosting women’s participation in the workforce is fundamental to addressing skills shortages so that we can keep building Australia’s future.

“We are taking the important first steps to create new pathways for women to enter traditionally male-dominated industries and make industry workplaces safer and more equitable through our flagship Building Women’s Careers Program.

“You can’t be what you can’t see, and the projects I’m announcing today focus on driving community engagement, reaching women at a grassroots level.

“We’re doing this to address the structural and cultural barriers that far too often stop women from even thinking about starting a career in construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital technology.”