Empowering Women’s Jobs in Clean Energy, Construction
The Albanese Labor Government is supporting more women into clean energy and construction jobs through a new ‘by women for women’ apprentice mentoring program.
Launched today, the Big Sister: Advanced mentoring program will bolster the number of women completing apprenticeships in the clean energy and construction sectors across South Australia and Western Australia.
Funded through Labor’s Building Women’s Careers (BWC) program, under the $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia package, and in partnership with the Electrical Trades Union, Big Sister aims to increase the rate of female apprentices by 50 per cent by 2028 and reduce women apprentices’ non-completion rates.
Currently, women comprise less than eight per cent of all apprentices in male-dominated trades and women’s participation in the energy workforce and energy-related apprenticeships is one of the lowest across all sectors.
The project is inviting employers to become part of the solution by trialling changes in employment and cultural norms.
The project will focus on:
The project will access existing networks through a partnership between the Electrical Trades Union, ECA Training, Electrocomms and Energy Utilities Industry Skills Council, Nilsen WA, PEER, NSG BOFFA and the University of Sydney.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth, said the Government is working to close the gender gap.
“This program is a great example of our commitment to addressing these barriers and providing woman in these fields with the tools and mentorship they need in their apprenticeship journey.
“As a Government, we are improving women’s economic security through improved access to work and training in all fields, particularly trade sectors,” Minister Rishworth said.
Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles, said Boosting women’s participation in the workforce, is fundamental to addressing skills shortages to build Australia’s future.
“This project recognises that meaningful cultural change can only occur via a collaborative approach that starts from the grassroots and builds upwards.
“Through initiatives in our BWC Program we are working to ensure these barriers are being addressed to introduce pathways into traditionally male-dominated industries,” Minister Giles said.
The Building Women’s Careers Program is delivering 20 partnership projects that address barriers for women entering, remaining and advancing in the traditionally male-dominated industries of construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital and technology.
https://ministers.dewr.gov.au/rishworth/boosting-jobs-women-clean-energy-and-construction-sectors