Central Coast’s ManufactHER aims to boost female representation in manufacturing workforce

A new project aiming to improve how women “are hired, supported at work, and promoted into leadership roles” at manufacturing companies has been launched at the Central Coast.

According to a statement from skills minister Andrew Giles (pictured) and others on Tuesday, the ManufactHER: Empowering Women, Transforming Advanced Manufacturing project is being delivered and led locally by Central Coast Group Training (CCGT.) It was awarded $920,000 through the federal government’s Building Women’s Careers (BWC) program

Activities led by CCGT cited include implementing workplace policies to promote flexible work arrangements, creating a mentoring network to attract and support women, outlining clear progression pathways in the industry and establishing workplace initiatives including delivery of workshops on themes including gender-sensitive leadership, respectful workplace practices, and safety.

“This project is all about reaching women at a grassroots level and showing them what’s possible in the industry – work that is critical to Australia’s future, and that is adaptable to different needs in people’s lives,” said Giles.

The release added that it will develop “toolkits, policy templates and case studies,” that will help inform “a potential rollout” for initiatives throughout the industry nationally.

ManufactHER is one of 20 partnership projects backed through BWC. The $60.6 million program funds partnership projects aimed at promoting “structural and cultural change to improve women’s access to flexible, safe and inclusive training and work opportunities” in identified male-dominated industries: construction, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital and technology.

More on BWC’s initiatives within manufacturing, as well as its industry partners, is available here.

Picture: Andrew Giles at a VanHomes site tour and discussion (credit Linkedin/VanHomes)

Further reading

Celebrating female manufacturing leaders on International Womens Day

We need more female leaders in senior technical roles

Women a winner in Vic gov manufacturing grants