The Queensland Government has launched its Women in Manufacturing Apprentice Awards in time for Manufacturing Month, to celebrate leading female apprentices in the industry.
Nominations are now open for the awards, which celebrate Queensland’s leading female apprentices who demonstrate strong leadership capabilities in the workplace.
The awards are part of the Women in Manufacturing Strategy, launched earlier this year.
‘Leading Apprentice Award’ and runner up – the ‘Highly Commended Apprentice Award’ for 2024 have opened for nominations, with recipients to be announced at the annual International Women’s Day Women in Manufacturing Breakfast in 2024.
The winner will receive $10,000 and the runner-up, $5,000, with the prize money to support the winners with the cost of items such as tools, uniforms, education or career development courses.
The Leading Apprentice Award is sponsored by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, and the Highly Commended Apprentice Award is sponsored by Manufacturing Skills Queensland.
The Awards are seeking to promote the strength of women in manufacturing, but also help attract more women into the sector.
The Women in Manufacturing Strategy aims to attract, train and retain more women in the manufacturing industry by focusing on increasing participation in traditionally male dominated roles, to achieve more diversity in the industry right across Queensland.
One manufacturer who is leading the way in increasing women in their workforce is steel supplier and manufacturer, BlueScope Steel.
Roughly 30 per cent of the company’s workforce is women, which they attribute to proactive employment diversity policies, and the company is committed to maintaining a 40 per cent gender balanced Board and executive team, driving increased representations across all levels of the organisation.
Queensland Minister for Manufacturing, Glenn Butcher, said “There is plenty of evidence that tells us greater diversity in the workforce leads to greater resilience, lower turnover and better results and outcomes.
“It’s a win for everyone. We know our manufacturers are busy and need more workers. We want to grow the number of women in the manufacturing sector because we know that it is crucial to seeing more businesses grow and thrive.
“By raising the profile of women in manufacturing, we can grow the number of women we see entering the workforce.
“As I’ve said before – you can’t be what you can’t see so we want to promote the incredible role women are playing in manufacturing so we see more women employed in manufacturing businesses across Queensland,” Mr Butcher said.
Nominations for the Women in Manufacturing Awards can be made here.
Featured image: Queensland Minister for Manufacturing, Glenn Butcher and manufacturers. Image:Queensland Government.
