Women in Manufacturing

With new and rewarding opportunities emerging in advanced manufacturing, attracting, retaining and promoting highly skilled women into this sector is key to further innovation and growth.

Queensland manufacturers are recognising that increased diversity boosts productivity, fosters a more creative environment, and can improve morale and employee retention.

Encouraging more women to pursue a career in manufacturing is critical to the industry’s continued growth.

The Women in Manufacturing strategy will attract and retain women in the industry, with particular focus on increasing participation in traditionally male dominated roles.

The strategy will achieve this through four priorities:

  1. Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in the manufacturing industry.
  2. Building on our existing capabilities and skills to further women’s leadership and development.
  3. Boosting women’s participation in VET, building the STEM pipeline and promoting advanced manufacturing capabilities throughout secondary and tertiary studies.
  4. Celebrating and showcasing the women in Queensland’s manufacturing industry

Read the Women in Manufacturing strategy 2023 (PDF, 2.1MB).

2023 Women in Manufacturing events

Our Women in Manufacturing events highlight the importance of mentoring the next generation of women in industry and help establish supportive networks.

A key initiative of our Advanced Manufacturing 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan, each event features a panel of prominent female trailblazers from the manufacturing industry.

Our panellists will be discussing Queensland’s manufacturers’ ability to innovate, the impact a strong manufacturing sector has on the economy, and the opportunities and importance for women to contribute to and actively shape the future of the sector.

These events are aimed at women working in the manufacturing industry and female science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students. However, entry is open to both women and men.

For information on event details, or to register, click the links above or email Advanced.Manufacturing@rdmw.qld.gov.au.

Women in Manufacturing mentoring program

A key action of the Women in Manufacturing strategy is to provide career development support for women working in manufacturing.

The Women in Manufacturing mentoring program is how we’re delivering on this action.

The mentoring program matches students who identify as female and are working toward entering the manufacturing sector with experienced manufacturing industry professionals in a nine-month program designed to:

  • support female school students to plan a career in manufacturing and help them reach their development goals
  • provide a support mechanism for new entrants to manufacturing, sharing knowledge, experience and building personal and professional networks
  • encourage women into the manufacturing industry.

View transcript

Registrations for mentors and mentees are open now.

Diversity, equity and inclusion toolkit and Toolbox talks

The Queensland Government is committed to making the Queensland manufacturing sector an attractive place for women to work.

That’s why we’ve developed a diversity, equity and inclusion toolkit: to support Queensland manufacturers to foster an inclusive workplace culture and to help all employees feel that they belong.

The toolkit provides you with the tools to assess how you’re supporting diversity and inclusion in your workplace and provides strategies for attracting and retaining diverse candidates and becoming an employer of choice.

Download the diversity, equity and inclusion toolkit (PDF, 2.3MB).

Toolkit workshops will be delivered from July 2023 to June 2024 around the state. The workshops are aimed at middle and senior leaders in Queensland manufacturing companies who want to attract and retain a more diverse workforce.

On-site Toolbox talks are also available to participating manufacturers. These sessions are aimed at making sure shopfloor employees are part of the conversation about respectful behaviour toward women and creating a safe and inclusive workplace culture for apprentices and trainees.

To register your interest in participating in a Toolkit workshop or Toolbox talk at your premises, please email Advanced.Manufacturing@rdmw.qld.gov.au

Last updated: 30 Aug 2023