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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-24 Daily Xml
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WOMEN AT WORK INITIATIVE

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:53): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the Women at Work initiative.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Members may be aware that the Rann government has committed to the development of a promotional campaign to encourage women to access training in high-demand, non-traditional industries such as mining, defence and construction. Will the minister provide the chamber with an update on the progress of the election commitment?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises) (14:54): I am absolutely delighted to inform members that we are making progress with this particular election commitment, now known as the Women at Work initiative. The Office for Women is working with the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology and Department of Education and Children's Services to develop a campaign. The first project under the Women at Work initiative is the Powerful Pathways for Women program (Powerful Pathways) with ETSA Utilities.

Powerful Pathways includes training for 15 women in the northern suburbs commencing in March 2011. The training program comprises a Certificate II in Women’s Education, Certificate I in Information Technology and Certificate I in Electrotechnology, culminating in 10 days of practical training at the ETSA training centre at Davenport near Port Augusta. Upon completion of the training, I understand that ETSA will offer suitable applicants an apprenticeship, hopefully putting them on the path towards a successful career in the electrotechnology industry.

The program has been collaboratively developed by ETSA Utilities, Playford Alive and the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology through TAFE SA Adelaide North Institute and South Australia Works, with significant support also from the Office for Women. I feel that the program could prove to be an excellent model to help us work on removing the barriers to increased women's participation in the traditionally male-dominated electrotechnology field, and I understand that ETSA has indeed stated that women can excel in electrotechnology jobs if given the opportunity and equipment with the right skills to support them.

I want to put on record my commitment to encouraging women to access training in high-demand, non-traditional employment areas, and I am very proud to have the Office for Women work alongside ETSA Utilities, as well as DFEEST, in supporting this particular program. The initial pilot program will commence in March 2011 and is open to women living in the northern region of Adelaide. It is fully funded by the program partners to ensure that it is accessible to all women in the northern area, regardless of their circumstances. The program will run full time (Monday to Friday) from 7 March to 8 July 2011, with further information being available from Northern Futures. I am advised that the joint partners continue to liaise with other industry organisations to determine future projects under the Women at Work initiative.

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