The Building Women’s Careers (BWC) Program is providing $60.6 million for partnership projects that drive systemic structural and cultural change in training and work environments crucial to the Future Made in Australia initiative.
The first 10 BWC Program grants have been announced today by the Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Andrew Giles.
$45 million in grant funding is being allocated to 10 industry-led projects dedicated to fostering on-the-ground support for flexible, safe and inclusive work and training practices.
These projects will aim to address barriers for women entering, remaining and advancing in the traditionally male-dominated industries of construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital and technology. Minister Giles acknowledged the significant impact these grants will have in addressing barriers for women.
“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 ensure that these barriers are being addressed from all angles.”
These industry-led partnership projects bring together employers, training organisations, community organisations, unions and women’s services. The projects will focus on creating scalable, high-quality and inclusive training and employment opportunities for women.
A list of the industry-led projects selected is available below, congratulations to all recipients!
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| Allyship in Action: Transforming Culture to Attract and Retain Women | A multi-pronged culture change project to address systemic barriers to the participation, retention and advancement of women in construction and encourage industry-wide male advocacy for women. |
| Cyber5050: Breaking Barriers for Gender Equality in Cyber Security | Addresses the systemic barriers to women’s participation across the cyber security workforce to achieve gender parity. |
| Breaking Barriers: Women in Trades and Tech | Partners with companies to improve workplace flexibility, culture and gender equity, and collaborates with TAFES, GTOs and industry to deliver flexible, co-designed pathways for women into apprenticeships and technical roles. |
| FemTech: Building Women’s Careers as Digital and Tech Professionals | Creates opportunities for transformative change through a talent pipeline and addressing systemic barriers for women in the Digital and Tech industries. |
| Driving Gender Equity: Strengthening GTOs to Build Women’s Careers | Empowers GTOs to drive change in male-dominated trades like civil construction, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing by addressing barriers for women to support career success. |
| Women in Construction | Comprises training and employment for 1,500 women in skilled construction roles, wraparound services to support success, and worksite interventions to address cultural barriers. |
| Building Futures: Breaking the Barriers for Women in the Plumbing Industry | Creates a national framework and training program within the Australian plumbing industry addressing the cultural changes needed to make the industry welcoming and culturally safe for women. |
| Transforming Gender Equity in Clean Energy Apprenticeships | Addresses the clean energy skill shortages through the design and implementation of gender equity apprenticeships and innovative changes to training and employment norms. |
| Big Sister: Advanced Mentoring SA/WA | Drives transformational change in the construction and clean energy sectors by implementing an access and retention program for women apprentices led by women, for women. |
| Give Her a Chance | The project will create an environment where women actively consider, succeed and thrive in the construction industry, empowering influencers such as male advocates to shift culture and foster a collective effort to improve workplaces. |
Learn more about these exciting projects via the Building Women’s Careers page.
Background
The BWC Program was announced as part of the government’s $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia package.
The BWC Program will fund both large-scale partnership projects, and smaller, place-based partnerships to advance structural and cultural change.
Projects will be delivered through two streams:
- Industry/Sector-led partnership projects
- Community-led partnership projects
More information
- Read the Minister’s media release
- Visit the Building Women’s Careers Program page
- Learn more about the Future Made in Australia initiative