As Utility magazine joins Australia’s industries in celebrating the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD), here we spotlight two industry efforts to help women to break into male-dominated industries.
With encouraging stories today including a clean energy job announcement for women in Victoria and a push for gender representation in the construction sector, this year’s IWD is a timely reminder that breaking down industry barriers for women requires year-round focus and action.
Victorian Government: Clean energy job training to boost representation of women
The Victorian Government has signalled that jobs in a growing solar industry is an opportunity to boost representation of women, announcing new training and support measures in recognition of the 2022 International Women’s Day.
Minister for Solar Homes, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced subsidised apprenticeships, professional mentoring, and access to ongoing education to lift the number of women participating in the renewables industry.
“We’ve supporting and empowering women while encouraging the next generation to take advantage of the ever-growing opportunities created by Victoria’s thriving clean energy sector,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“Victoria is leading the nation as we transition to a renewable energy future with a cheap and reliable power supply – delivering investment and creating thousands of jobs right across the state.”
The measures come as part of the Victorian Government’s $11 million Growing our Clean Energy Workforce package.
Women are significantly under-represented in solar, making up less than one per cent of electricians, plumbers, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, solar designers and installers, and licensed electrical inspectors.
The Victorian Government will subsidise 50 per cent of the cost of new apprenticeships to help women enter the industry and provide apprentices a tool allowance along with six-monthly incentive payments.
Group training organisations Ai Group Apprentice Training Centre and Apprenticeships Group Australia will manage the apprenticeships.
For women working in related energy industries, free or low-cost training delivered by registered training organisations will be available to help transition to clean energy or to upskill in renewables.
The package also includes targeted support from industry group Tradeswomen Australia for women working in, entering or thinking of entering the solar industry through access to online workshops, conversational information sessions promoting a career in solar, and professional mentoring.
In addition to targeted support to increase the participation of women, the Growing Our Clean Energy Workforce package offers programs to upskill women and men already working in clean energy, as well as targeted safety and mental health first aid training.
Since launching in 2018, the Solar Homes program has supported up to 5,500 clean energy jobs across Victoria.
The landmark program has helped more than 200,000 Victorians reduce their carbon footprint through rebates for the installation of solar panels, batteries, solar hot water, zero emissions vehicles and heating upgrades.
For further information on training and support opportunities, click here.
TasWater proud to make representation milestone
The TasWater Capital Delivery Office (CDO) has embodied the ‘Break the Bias’ theme of the 2022 International Women’s Day, with the company celebrating its encouraging rate of employing women in the male-dominated construction sector.
A recent study undertaken by the University of New South Wales (2016) found an industry standard of just 12 per cent female representation in the construction industry.
TasWater CDO People Leader, Kate Blizzard, was pleased to report that women in the CDO make up almost twice that average, and that this figure is on the rise.
“Women represent around 23.7 per cent of our CDO work force. This is a figure we are all proud of,” Ms Blizzard said.
“We celebrate diversity and inclusion; it forms a dedicated pillar in our CDO People Plan, as part of this, we ensure our women have the support they may need to excel as we work to provide new infrastructure for communities across Tasmania.
One success story at TasWater CDO is that of Senior Project Manager, Amanda Allen (pictured) – the first female Senior Project Manager employed by the TasWater CDO.
Amanda chose to make the change from customer service into construction and has not looked back.
“It can be challenging working in a male dominated area but if you are really passionate about your chosen job, keep at it,” Mrs Allen said.
Ms Blizzard said, “We are extremely supportive of women in the construction industry and have a number of measures in place to help make the CDO a welcoming and attractive place to work.”
“We have a growing cohort of women who are progressing their careers in the construction industry with us.
“It is so satisfying to see them develop their professional experience as they take on new challenges in the supportive and caring CDO work environment.
TasWater and the TasWater CDO are always looking to improve workplace support.
“We welcome all potential candidates, female and male, to apply for our CDO roles,” Ms Blizzard said.
Women in utilities: year-round action necessary for change
IWD is an important opportunity to spotlight women working at the height of their field across the utility sectors, amplifying career milestones and stories of women.
Utility is proud to cover the successes of women in the industry.
However, the representation of women in sectors like construction and clean energy proves that these industries need year-round efforts to continue to break down barriers for women.
Furthermore, not all barriers for women are merely about entering into the industry, and hence won’t be captured by gender representation statistics: added industry scrutiny needs to explore barriers for women to stay in the workforce as well as progress to senior positions.
Explore our previous coverage of women making achievements across Australia’s utilities:
Normalising women in utilities
Getting more women into the water industry
Women in utilities: celebrating female leadership in the water industry
Women in utilities: Rebecca Sayles
Women in utilities: Charmaine Quick
Women in utilities: Kellee Ireland
Pictured: Amanda Allen, the first female Senior Project Manager employed at the TasWater Capital Delivery Office.
