Gerald Lynch
The state government is offering sweet incentives to encourage women into traditionally male-dominated manufacturing and energy industries.
On Wednesday, October 25, Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins and Parliamentary Secretary for Jobs Bronwyn Halfpenny, along with Pascoe Vale Girls College students, cashed in their golden tickets, visiting Nestle’s Campbellfield factory to announce an investment of $840,000 to encourage women in manufacturing industries to pursue senior positions.
Students from the Pascoe Vale Girls College were taken on a tour of the Nestle factory, viewing production facilities and manufacturing processes, as well as having the chance to hear from and ask questions of female workers at the Campbellfield factory.
The funding is part of a $2.7 million package to support the energy and manufacturing sectors to attract, recruit and retain women.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has partnered with TAFEs, girls and non-binary school students to deliver hands-on visits by tradeswomen, visit workplaces, careers and jobs expos, participate in ‘try a trade’ activities and school-based apprenticeships and work experience.
AMWU secretary Tony Mavromatis spoke to the shift in culture and tradition required for young women to be able to utilise job opportunities that are waiting to be taken across Victoria.
“This is going to being something exciting. It is changing tradition, it is changing culture, but women should be given the same opportunities as males,” he said.
“Yes there are challenges, but we’re saying what are those challenges, let’s deal with them and let’s see more women in manufacturing.”
Programs from the National Association of Women in Operations and The Australian Women in Solar Energy will be delivered to encourage girls and non-binary school students to consider careers in the renewable energy sector.
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins spoke in front of students and workers, and emphasised the importance of women chasing jobs in these industries.
“Increasing the number of women working in our manufacturing and energy industries will help resolve workforce pressures and improve gender equality,” she said.
“This funding will scale up existing programs to support women to have meaningful careers in the manufacturing and energy industries across our state.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Jobs and Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny was also excited by the intiatives in raising awareness of the jobs available to women.
“Increasing the number of girls and women in trades makes workplaces more inclusive and increases opportunities. All Victorians should be able to work in jobs they choose regardless of their gender,” she said.
