IN FOCUS
WOMEN IN TRANSPORT
Transdev has made the commitment to make a 100 per cent improvement to its current female recruitment figures in 12 months.
TRANSDEV SUPPORTING WOMEN IN TRANSPORT To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, local bus operator Transdev is working hard to change the face of public transport and the transport industry more broadly, it reports.
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n the past four years the company has recruited 76 female bus drivers and five female maintenance staff, it confirms. Recently, it launched its Women in Transport initiative with a goal to “make a 100 per cent improvement to their current female recruitment figures in 12 months”. At its Bankstown Depot event, managing director Robert Macey announced the initiative. “We want to remove the barriers and make a career in public transport more accessible for women,” he said. “We are working to create mum-friendly driver and workshop rosters to provide greater flexibility and working with councils 24
to improve on-the-road amenities for women. “We are also establishing mentor groups and expanding our community engagement to partner with local women’s charities to support them as and where possible,” he added.
THAT’S A WRAP! East Hills MP Wendy Lindsay and Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Councillor Khal Asfour were also in attendance to support the announcement. To mark the occasion and promote its female recruitment efforts, one of Transdev’s coaches was wrapped in purple and features two female employees, bus driver Fenella Davidson
and mechanic Callie Milne. While public transport is traditionally a male-dominated industry, Transdev is doing its bit to encourage more women to join their ranks in all roles, it states.
PROUD WOMEN New bus driver Davidson made a career change last year and hasn’t looked back, she explained. “When I started training there was another female in the group and we really leaned on each other, which was super helpful,” said Davidson. “For the whole journey so far the men have been really great. They’re always there to offer advice and the management team have been awesome.”
ABC March 2021 busnews.com.au
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16/03/2021 10:45:33 AM
