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Big Sister: Advanced Mentoring SA/WA
Industry: Clean Energy & Construction
Location: SA & WA
Lead: Electrical Trades Union
Big Sister drives transformational change in the construction and clean energy sectors by implementing an access and retention program for women apprentices across SA and WA led by women, for women.
The project delivers a pre-vocational training program, mentoring, industry awareness events, and support for employers to improve gender equity in traditionally male-dominated trades. Big Sister will provide pre-vocational training for 80 women in SA, with 80% transitioning into new apprenticeships in the energy trades by 2028.
Partners: Energy Skills Australia, Electrotechnology Training Institute Ltd (WA), Nilsen (WA) Pty Ltd, NSG (BOFFA) Pty Ltd, Peer TC Pty Ltd & The University of Sydney.
Breaking Barriers: Women in Trades and Tech
Industry: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction and Digital and Technology
Location: National
Lead: Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
This project has 2 key initiatives: Breaking Barriers in Industry and Breaking Barriers in Training.
The industry initiative partners with companies, with the support of community organisations, to improve flexibility, workplace culture and gender equity in workplaces, reaching over 30,000 workers through the development, piloting and delivery of tailored trainings and action plans.
The Training initiative collaborates with TAFEs, Group Training Organisations (GTOs) and industry to deliver flexible, co-designed pathways for women into apprenticeships and technical roles.
Partners: The Australian Industry Group, Alstom Transport Australia, ARA Manufacture Pty Ltd, Asian Women at Work Inc, Bega Dairy and Drinks Services Pty Ltd, Bendigo Kangan Institute, CDC Victoria Pty Ltd, Central Highlands Group Training Incorporated, First Person Consulting Pty Ltd, Migrant Workers Centre Limited, South Metropolitan TAFE, TAFE Queensland, Technical and Further Education Commission, Thales Australia Limited, Tradeswomen Australia Foundation Ltd, UGL Engineering Pty Ltd, Victorian Trades Hall Council, Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd & Womens Health in the North Inc.
Building Futures: Breaking the Barriers for Women in the Plumbing Industry
Industry: Construction, Clean Energy
Location: VIC, QLD & NSW
Lead: Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC)
This project will create, promote and deliver a national training program within the Australian Plumbing Industry addressing the cultural and attitudinal changes needed to make the industry attractive, welcoming, and culturally safe for women.
This first focus of this project is for employers, by developing and implementing a national framework which supports a structured approach to promote the culturally safe environment, reduce gender discrimination and promote career pathways. The second is aimed at individuals, with an education program addressing the role an individual plays in promoting the change in current industry culture.
Partners: AMCA Australia OLD LIMITED, AXIS Plumbing NSW Group PTY LTD,
communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia - Plumbing Division, Cooke & Dowsett PTY LTD, Leemark Fire Protection PTY LTD, National Fire Industry Association of Australia LTD, The Master Plumbers & Mechanical Services Association of Australia, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, RAW Group, Master Plumbers' Association of Queensland (MPAQ)
Together We RISE (Respect, Inclusion, Safety, Equity)
Industry: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy and Construction
Location: National
Lead: Group Training Australia Ltd (trading as National Apprentice Employment Network)
As Australia builds toward a stronger future, we're missing a critical piece: women represent less than 8% of apprentices in male-dominated trades, yet make up 51% of the nation’s population.
Together We RISE works to transform this by partnering with GTOs across Australia through three interconnected pillars. We’ve started with Gender Impact Assessments that reveal real barriers and will inform a sector-wide Gender Equality Action Plan. We will then activate change through our soon to be launched RISE & Shine peer network; featuring Hard Hat Huddles for peer support and our Voice from Site Platform, connecting women apprentices nationally while amplifying their voices with senior leaders through our reverse mentoring program. Finally, we will build change that lasts through inclusive leadership training and cultural safety toolkits for GTOs, field officers and host employers.
Whether in construction, clean energy, or advanced manufacturing, RISE will work to ensure women experience an inclusive, safe and equitable apprenticeship journey no matter where they are, or who they are, across the country. Our goal: a 20% increase in female apprentice recruitment and retention, with 25% improvement in workplace inclusivity perceptions.
Partners: Women in Adult and Vocational Education (WAVE), Australian Workers Union (AWU) and Bendigo Kangan Institute (BKI).
Transforming Gender Equity in Clean Energy Apprenticeships
Location: VIC & TAS
Lead: Future Energy Skills Ltd
This project will address the clean energy skill shortages through the design and implementation of gender equity apprenticeships. The project will include applied research methods to identify and address specific systemic and cultural barriers to women’s participation in clean energy apprenticeships.
The project will inform a best practice model that can be adopted across the sector and encourage employers to become part of the solution by trialling changes in employment, cultural norms and training arrangements.
Research will inform the development of online support tools for employers. Case study exemplars will demonstrate a scalable model that can increase female apprenticeship participation across the apprenticeship ecosystem.
Partners: Electrical Trades Union, Bendigo Kangan Institute, NECA - Victorian Branch, NECA Education and Careers Ltd, TASTAFE, The Busy Group Ltd, Tradeswomen Australia Foundation Ltd.
Rise & Build: Empowering Women's Careers
Industry: Construction, Clean Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technology
Location: Riverina Murray region, NSW
Lead: Griffith Skills Training Centre Inc
This project tackles gender and cultural barriers in construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital technology, creating sustainable career pathways for women.
By combining tailored training, workforce development, and recruitment solutions, it aims to break barriers, enhance diversity, and deliver lasting opportunities in the Riverina Murray region of NSW.
Partners: Workfront Pty Ltd, Education Services International Supply Group Pty Ltd, Regional Development Australia – Riverina, Proway Livestock Equipment Pty Ltd, Flip Screen Mining Pty Ltd, John Holland Group Pty Ltd, Riverina Group Training and Employment Ltd, Compact Incorporated, NSW Business Chamber Limited, CPB Contractors Pty Limited and Spotless Facility Services Pty Ltd.
EmpowerHer Pathways: See what you can be
Industry: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Construction, Digital and Technology
Location: Hunter region, NSW
Lead: Network for Educational Workplacements
You can’t be what you can’t see!
Led by the Network for Educational Workplacements in conjunction with industry leads such as TAFE NSW, Gamuda Berhad and John Holland Pty Ltd, EmpowerHer Pathways: See what you can be will create sustainable, gender-inclusive pathways in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, construction and digital technology.
With our training and industry partners, we will promote non-traditional career paths to women, helping them see the potential for great careers in these industries.
By addressing real and perceived gender, geographic and industry-specific barriers, and establishing a mentoring network to support entry, retention, and career advancement in currently male-dominated fields, we will significantly increase skilled, high-paying careers for women.
Partners: Aboriginal Advancement Alliance Pty Ltd, AGL Macquarie Pty Limited, AMPControl Limited, Gamuda Berhad, John Holland Pty Ltd, Hunter Multicultural Communities Inc, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Regional Development Australia- Hunter, Singleton Council, TAFE NSW.
Great South Coast Construction Careers for Women Program
Industry: Construction, Clean Energy
Location: South-West Coast region, VIC
Lead: South West TAFE
Led by South West TAFE, alongside South West Local Learning and Employment Network Incorporated, Hansen Yuncken Australia and Ausnet, the Construction Careers for Women Program will deliver a set of resources, activities and courses that will develop the construction sector’s capacity to attract, train and retain women in the workplace.
A Gender Inclusivity Employment tool kit with sample policies, procedures and templates, employer workshops, information sessions and employer leadership programs is a key project feature.
A range of women-only and mixed gender training programs with short courses to full qualifications will be offered with industry visits and speakers. Supporting those initiatives will be a regional equity coordinator role and a Women’s Community of Practice.
The program will run from Warrnambool, with activities also in Portland, Hamilton and Colac.
Partners: Hansen Yuncken Australia Pty Ltd, AUSNET Pty Ltd, South West Local Learning and employment Network Incorporated
Powering Her Pathways
Location: Gippsland region, VIC
Lead: Tradeswomen Australia Foundation Ltd
Powering Her Pathways will set the entire region up for success, addressing barriers women face to succeed at each step of their clean energy career–awareness, recruitment, retention, VET environment and workplace culture.
The project will simultaneously support participating women, address VET training environment structural barriers, and build inclusive and equitable workplaces.
With strong regional partnerships, national expertise and local knowledge, this partnership will tailor a clean energy VET training program for women, provide a pathway for skilled jobs and equip the three employer workplaces to build best practice gender inclusive environments. A blueprint of success will be provided for national implementation.
Partners: Engie, Gippsland Institute of Technical and Further Education.