WOMEN IN ELECTROTECHNOLOGY 2021 IS SHAPING UP TO BE A YEAR THAT IS SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN IN ELECTROTECHNOLOGY AND ALLIED TRADES, ON SEVERAL FRONTS. The NECA Women’s Network was established to bring like-minded women from the electrotechnology industry, under the one roof, to network, share knowledge and experiences, and create a supportive network. To kick start the year, NECA together with our partner Protect, hosted our prestigious 2021 Women’s Network event, celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD). The event brought together over 175 women connected to the electrotechnology industry, making this our largest women’s event to date! The buzz in the room at the Metropolis was electric [pun intended], as attendees delighted in the simple pleasure of stepping out and reconnecting face-to-face, after a challenging year of lockdowns in Victoria. As the sun shone through the floor to ceiling windows, the smiles grew wider, bread was broken and the inspiring conversations flowed, despite the 12-month COVID-19 hiatus. It was clear to see and hear at the NECA IWD event, that attendees were happy to be working in the industry. They were challenged and proud to overcome the issues they have been presented with, including workplaces that were
not open, receptive, or equipped to have women. Attendees were proud to be ‘on the tools’ and leading teams in predominately male-dominated workspaces. They have demonstrated that gender does not stop them from performing the task at hand.
“From challenge comes change…… so let’s all choose to challenge the way we think and challenge the status quo.”
One of the biggest “status quo challenges” in our industry is gender diversity. Women have consistently comprised only 2% of workers in the The International Women’s Day theme Australian construction sector over for this year was #choosetochallenge, the past 30 years. The electrotechnology industry figure is about 3%, with our industry lagging behind other traditionally maledominated industries, Big Build Apprenticeships (BBA) will provide employment The Jobs Victoria Fund provides such as mining and and training opportunities for more apprentices and businesses, sole traders, social engineering. So, trainees, and ensure a pipeline of skilled workers to enterprises and organisations the challenge is deliver the Government’s Big Build program and a skills with wage subsidies of up to out there for all of legacy for Victoria. The program will provide up to 1,500 $20,000 over 12 months to take us - individuals, opportunities for apprentices and trainees each year on new, eligible staff including businesses, NECA and going forward, ensuring apprentices and trainees can women aged over 45. The subsidy government – to play kickstart their careers on some of Victoria’s biggest amount paid will depend on each a part in increasing projects, such as the North East Link and the New employee and whether the job is our industry’s Footscray Hospital projects, with an expansion onto full-time or part-time. diversity profile and other major projects over time. Find out if you are eligible: building a strong Find out more: jobs.vic.gov.au/about-jobs-victoria/ pipeline of women apprenticeships.educationapps.vic.gov.au our-programs/jobs-victoria-fund within our industry.
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