The Allan Labor Government is providing a grant to Gippsland Women’s Health, to support their work helping employers attract and retain women in traditionally male dominated workforces and to advance gender equality.  

Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins today joined Gippsland Women’s Health chief executive Kate Graham at local business Elecsome’s Solar Panel upcycling plant in Kilmany to announce the grant.  

Barriers to women’s entry into and advancement in industries such as energy and manufacturing can include inflexible working arrangements, a lack of paid parental leave, gender discrimination, sexism and sexual harassment. This has led to their underrepresentation in these workforces. 

Gippsland Women’s Health will receive the $100,000 grant to work with employers in Gippsland’s renewable energy industry to help them develop gender equality policies and deliver a mentoring program in collaboration with the Gippsland Community Leadership Program, Women in Industry and Women in Renewable Energy networks. 

The work of Gippsland Women’s Health is just one of the initiatives to address barriers to women’s participation and advancement in male dominated industries the Government will support with further grant announcements to be made soon.  

The grant to Gippsland Women’s Health is part of a second round of grants to develop strategies to boost women’s participation and equity in manufacturing and energy, which forms a key part of the Labor Government’s response to the Inquiry into economic equity for Victorian Women. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins 

“Supporting more women in Gippsland to enter, stay and progress in energy and manufacturing careers is a win, win situation for local women and employers. 

“This grant to Gippsland Women’s Health supports better economic outcomes for women in Gippsland and will help local organisations address skills shortages in some of the Victoria’s strongest growth sectors while contributing to driving greater gender equality across the state.” 

Quote attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio 

“We’re helping to create better workplaces that are easier for women to join, stay and thrive in including within the energy industry which is booming with new opportunity.”    

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh 

“It is fantastic that we can support Gippsland Women’s Health with this grant to enable them to work towards greater inclusion and advancement for women in the energy and manufacturing industries in Gippsland.”