Women's Health in the South East (WHISE) welcomes the Victorian Government's launch of the Women in Manufacturing Strategy, acknowledging this as a vital first step towards achieving gender equity within a sector that has historically underrepresented women. WHISE celebrates this initiative while also encouraging the Government and stakeholders to ensure that its implementation is inclusive to harness the strengths and contributions of all women.
"The strategy must reflect a commitment to valuing the diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives that women bring, regardless of their intersecting identities or backgrounds," emphasised Kit McMahon, CEO of WHISE who highlighted the importance of embedding an inclusive and strengths-based approach into the strategy's implementation.
WHISE, a leading advocate for gender equality and health equity in Southern Metropolitan Melbourne, recognises that providing women with equitable access to work and learning opportunities in manufacturing will have dual benefits. It will not only enable women to thrive in the sector but also drive growth and increase productivity in the region's manufacturing industry.
"The Women in Manufacturing Strategy is an exciting and necessary step forward; we must ensure that this plan supports and empowers all women—not just those who already have access to resources and networks.
"Women from marginalised communities possess incredible resilience, skills, and talent that are often overlooked. It's crucial that we deliberately take action to reduce barriers to all work and create opportunities for all women to participate and succeed. This not just good for women, but for everyone"
The "Nice Work if You Can Get It" project, led by WHISE in collaboration with South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) and Chisholm TAFE, is a key initiative under the Victorian Government's Women in Manufacturing program. This project aligns with the strategy's priority area of "Support for economic equity and leadership opportunities." It focuses on uncovering and addressing both systemic and practical obstacles to gender-equal apprenticeship pathways and employment in manufacturing.
Through partnerships with industry and education providers, the project aims to create empowering opportunities that enable women to thrive in the manufacturing sector.
"Through our work on the Nice Work if You Can Get It project, we are working with our partners to identify and address the barriers to equity in manufacturing in our region," said McMahon.
"It is our mission to ensure that women from all walks of life can see themselves thriving in industries like manufacturing, where diversity is celebrated and strengths are acknowledged."
WHISE urges the Victorian Government to implement this pivotal stage in the State's gender equity transformation in a way that tackles all forms of discrimination. This approach is essential for building sustainable, inclusive workplaces where women from all backgrounds can fully realise their potential.
