Extension to give organisations time and resources to make lasting change
The Australian government has announced that it is extending for another two years its grant program aimed at advancing gender equality in gender-segregated industries and workplaces.
In a statement, the government said the Advancing Gender Equality in Gender Segregated Industries grant program has received a $28.5 million investment to extend it from 2025-26 to 2027-28.
"Gender segregation is a barrier to women's economic equality and a driver of the gender pay gap. Extending this program gives organisations the time and resources to deliver lasting change," said Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth.
The program funds employers and employee representative organisations to trial initiatives that address gender segregation in workplaces.
Leading employer and worker groups across Australia are eligible to apply for the programme, while current grant recipients can also apply for the extension.
Program extension
According to the Federal Government, the extension expands access to resources, training, and programmes for women. It also:
- Generates robust evidence on best-practice approaches
- Addresses structural barriers that limit participation and contribute to workforce shortages
"This extension reinforces the Government's commitment to creating safer, more respectful and more equitable workplaces. It's about ensuring women have equal opportunities to enter and remain in jobs," Rishworth said.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) welcomed the extension in a statement.
"Addressing our gender-segregated workforce will create safer, fairer workplaces and a stronger economy for both workers and businesses," said ACTU president Michele O'Neil in a statement.
"Investing in evidence-based projects will harness Australia's economic potential by empowering women to pursue their dream jobs without being locked out by structural barriers."
Gender segregation in Australia
Gender segregation refers to the uneven distribution of men and women across jobs, industries, and workplaces.
In Australia, data from Jobs and Skills Australia earlier this year revealed that around 70% of occupations in the country have had the same gender segregation intensity since 2006.
Only 21% of Australian employees worked in gender-balanced occupations in 2021, according to the JSA, which described the situation as a "serious challenge."
Gender segregation has also been cited as a key driver of the country's gender pay gap, which currently sits at 21.1%, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
"Addressing it is the next critical frontier to improving gender equality and closing the gender pay gap," said WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge in a previous statement.
The Federal Government's grant program addressing gender segregation is part of its national strategy, Working for Women, to achieve gender equality in Australia.
