Senator Katy Gallagher emphasized that the Building Women’s Careers Program is designed to address barriers hindering women from thriving in workplaces.
The Australian government has introduced the Building Women’s Careers Program and is inviting organizations to apply for partnership grants. This program will receive an investment of $60.6 million to boost women’s participation in vocational education and training (VET) and the workforce.
The initiative aims to create partnership projects that improve women’s access to skilled and well-paid careers while also addressing skills shortages in the economy. Specifically targeting fields that are traditionally male-dominated such as construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital technology.
Senator Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women, highlighted the program’s objective to overcome barriers and empower women to excel in these sectors.
Potential projects under this program may involve implementing strategies such as modifying workplace and training cultures to create safe environments free from discrimination and harassment. Additionally, developing flexible rostering arrangements to support both men and women with caregiving responsibilities is a key focus.
Supporting women in gaining relevant experience and VET qualifications that lead to senior or higher-paid roles is encouraged. The program will also consider expanding successful initiatives that have boosted recruitment and retention across multiple sites, either state-wide or nationally.
Partnerships Key to Program Success
Partnerships will be crucial in delivering these projects, requiring collaboration between industry, employers, registered unions, training organizations, and community groups.
Grants will be available for both industry-led and community-led projects, with large industry-led projects needing a minimum of four partner organizations employing over 1,000 individuals collectively. Community-led small-scale projects will require at least three project partners.
Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles emphasized the importance of making every job accessible to all individuals. He highlighted the program’s approach to promoting flexible, safe, and inclusive work and training practices through collaborative efforts from various stakeholders.
Applications for the Building Women’s Careers Program are set to open on Nov. 14 and close at 5 p.m. AEDT on Dec. 2.
National Gender Pay Gap Analysis
The national gender pay gap currently stands at 11.5 percent, as per data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in August. This data reveals that for every dollar earned by men, women earn 89 cents, translating to $231.50 less per week for women. Over a year, this gap accumulates to $12,038.
Former Employment Minister Kevin Andrews presents a different perspective, suggesting that most surveys and research on income differences fail to delve into the reasons behind gender disparities in the workforce such as job choices and hours worked.
“It does not examine the underlying reasons for the differences.
“Instead, companies are being named and shamed for a misleading assessment of their whole situation relating to men and women,” he added.
