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Vocational education and training (VET) has a long history in Australia, however the 'official' history of women as active participants in VET and the relationship between women and VET in Australia is an unfolding story, much of which is located in contemporary times. This report takes the form of a critical literature review focusing on the multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral arena encompassing the broad field of women and VET. It does not purport to represent a definitive view of women and VET, but intends to indicate the breadth of the field and highlight selected contemporary debates and challenges. It is drawn from many different academic disciplines from both within Australia and overseas, and includes the work of individuals, research teams, diverse community groups and government and non-government organisations. Show less

This paper reviews literature related to the intersectionality of gender and educational attainment, with a special focus on the circumstances surrounding the Australian Indigenous population. Using two sources of data, the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), [the authors] conducted difference-in-difference analyses to better understand differences by gender between the non-Indigenous and the Indigenous in school attendance, school persistence and test scores. Gender differences across the outcomes analysed were generally larger for the Indigenous than for the non-Indigenous. Specifically, relative to Indigenous males, Indigenous females were more likely to achieve higher test scores, to complete Year 12 and to attend school. [The] results highlight how implementing policies that recognise that Indigenous males and females often require support in different areas and through different means will be better suited to improve educational outcomes.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

This paper outlines the results of research conducted with women enrolled at TAFE NSW's Illawarra Institute to train in manual trades traditionally dominated by males. The research is informed by the author's 14 years as a trade painter and decorator, and her experience as a trade teacher. 16 women from 10 trades (electrical, carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing, painting and decorating, signcraft, boiler-making, fitting and machining, automotive spraying and butchery) took part in the research, representing 34 per cent of the women training in non-traditional trades at Illawarra Institute. The findings of the report confirm the importance of informal networks in securing apprenticeships for women. Factors which supported these women to overcome obstacles were a love and passion for their chosen trade and a high level of tenacity and perseverance. Additional findings refute negative myths and gender-discriminatory statements about the capability of women to be effective tradespeople, such as their physical ability or the lack of childcare and family issues. Employer support was found to be crucial in helping women succeed in their trades and in guiding future gender shifts.

This paper is the result of a 2008 NCVER New Researcher Award. Show less

This project researched the needs of women returning to work (women returners) and entering training, as well as women seeking or engaging in retraining. It forms a stand-alone small scale investigation that is part of a larger project with a focus on women, work and lifelong learning. The research investigated the views and experiences of women returners and women retraining, what their aspirations are, how they view education and training, what their experiences have been, and what policy directions and programs would best suit education and training for women, especially that associated with vocational education and training (VET). This research confirms the significance women place on education and training; that they perceive it as an important foundation for economic well being through improved labour market outcomes. Programs offered through the adult and community education (ACE) sector receive favourable comment, including a suggestion that ACE offers a good model for delivery of VET related courses. Women returning to paid work, or seeking retraining embrace the concept of lifelong learning, but it does not always provide the anticipated benefits. A major theme throughout the research is the lack of appropriateness of the VET system to the needs of these women users and the negative impact of withdrawal of services that offer support for their participation. Lack of focus on women in general, and especially on older women seeking VET is noted. It is evident that the vocational sector needs to better cater and improve service delivery for women to enable their engagement with the VET system. [The report makes] recommendations for improving VET training for such women.

Excerpt from publication reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

This book examines the critical and important issues associated with women at work. It investigates these issues at the level of government, of business, and of the individual, and this enables an evaluation of the progress of women at work within the institutional and legislative framework in Australia. The book deals with a number of emerging trends such as superannuation, pay inequality, gender regimes, negotiation, and contemporary issues in leadership. It also examines more recently changes in legislation such as the introduction of the Fair Work Act 2009, the impact on women at work based on these changes and the proposed changes to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act. Although the scope of this work relates to generic issues for women at work in Australia, the content has far reaching policy and practice implications for women in most countries, particularly women at work in the Asia Pacific region. The chapters are as follows: Women and work in Australia: a theoretical and historical overview / Marian Baird; Trends in women’s participation in the Australian workforce 1900-2010 / Juliet Andrews and Juliet Bourke; Gender pay equity issues in Australia: patterns and causes / Peter McGraw; Work, life and women in Australia / Barbara Pocock; Diversity management / Robin Kramar; Legislated frameworks and future challenges / Angela Knox and Patricia Todd; The future isn’t what it used to be: women, work and the ‘new’ retirement / Geraldine Lamont, Mike Rafferty and Susan Ryan; Getting to the heart of gender equity in executive roles: applying job design principles to achieve gender equity outcomes / Juliet Bourke and Juliet Andrews; Executive women, gendered behaviour and adaptive social structures / Peter A. Murray; Women’s leadership and mentoring / Wendy McCarthy; Representations of gender and leadership in Australian television drama / Jane O’Sullivan; Sugar ‘n’ spice and all things nice: gender and strategy choices in negotiation / Mara Olekalns and Carol T. Kulik.

Summary from publisher’s website with additional information. Show less

Major transformations in the gender division of labour have been occurring in most industrialised countries. Strong employment growth in 'female jobs' and higher rates of employment for women are the foremost among these changes. An overall decline in men's participation in the labour market is another. To date, most studies of occupational sex segregation, and its inverse, occupational sex integration, have focused on women's experience of work and the labour market. In contrast, this paper uses the results from a detailed case study of four strategically chosen female dominated occupations to understand the processes that operate to entice or positively impact on men's willingness and ability to enter occupations that are normatively regarded as female.

Findings indicate a number of factors operate on both the supply and demand sides of the labour market to facilitate men's integration into 'feminine' occupations. Gender essentialism is central to many of these. Importantly however, the processes, while facilitating men's integration into gender atypical jobs, in the main actually reinforce male gender essentialism and result in gender segmentation within female dominated occupations. The paper concludes by discussing the implication the findings have for existing theorising about occupational integration.

Abstract from publisher's website. Show less

This report describes a research project which examined the implementation of vocational education and training reform and the impact these reforms have had in relation to women's ability to effectively access and participate in non-traditional training opportunities. Observation began through case studies of women employed in entry-level training positions in the electronic and automotive industry Australian Vocational Training System (AVTS) pilot programs. These were selected due to their identification as future growth industries, and also due to their very low female participation rates. Information was gathered through: a literature review; participant surveys; and structured interviews with participating female apprentices, trainers and organisers of the training program, employers and relevant funding organisations. Detailed descriptions of each of the two case study sites are given, along with the findings obtained from each. Other sections of the report consider the pilot project outcomes and suggest strategies for a new system. Findings from the research indicate that the implementation of the AVTS can facilitate women's employment and training - if access and equity considerations are viewed by industry as being central to the new system.

An article describing this project further is indexed at TD/SA 46.10. Show less

This background paper argues that women are under-represented in the Australian manufacturing industry, making up just 27 per cent of the manufacturing workforce as of February 2015. Not only are women not employed in traditional manufacturing roles, they are also not employed in the higher paid, higher skilled occupations that are needed in a modern Australian manufacturing industry. The majority of female employees are employed as clerical and administrative workers (27 per cent) or labourers (20 per cent). The paper notes that Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) considers women to be an under-utilised resource in the manufacturing industry. It begins with a snapshot of women in the manufacturing industry and then reviews Australian statistics on employment of women by industry, barriers to employment of women in manufacturing, Australian and international research, and government policies and funding programs, and industry programs aimed at encouraging women to enter non-traditional occupations.

The paper concludes that the successful attraction and retention of women into the manufacturing industry and also into the engineering trades is vital for the sustainability of Australian manufacturing and the future of engineering. However, the majority of initiatives in Australia continue to focus on the construction and resources industries. It is argued that there continues to be a real lack of research around women working in the manufacturing industry in Australia and in particular the 'traditional trades' within manufacturing. Areas where research continues to be needed are recommended.

Edited excerpts from publication. Show less

This report provides a snapshot of the working lives of women in Australia and the United States. The analysis spans education, the nature of labour force engagement, gender gaps in paid and unpaid labour, women's representation in corporate leadership, and the national policy frameworks and organisational policies which contextualise and can leverage gender equality and inequality. The analysis is based on publicly available data from official sources. At the national level, the majority of data came from the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. For cross-country comparisons, data came from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Economic and Family Databases. It shows that Australia has caught up to - and on some measures surpassed - the United States in female labour force participation and in relation to women's representation in senior and strategic organisational roles.

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Over 1000 members of the Australian business, government and not-for-profit community responded to the survey about their use of flexible work arrangements and their perceptions of their organisations. In order to advance gender equality in the workplace, flexible work arrangements must be available to and actively supported for both genders. Currently less than 50 per cent of Australian organisations have a workplace flexibility policy and even when such policies exist, there are barriers to effective utilisation. The right culture and active support are fundamental to improving employees' experience of flexible working.

Male and female respondents to the latest Bain-Chief Executive Women Survey agreed that proof of the potential to progress one's career, visible commitment by the [chief executive officer] CEO, leadership and colleagues, and respect for boundaries are the most important factors in their experience of flexible working. Where flexible arrangements are widely used, all employees are four times happier than in organisations with no flexible options. However flexible work arrangements are not driving advocacy or confidence for men, despite strong interest in their uptake.

[The authors] have identified several key actions to normalise and accelerate the success of flexible working. Organisations must: (1) actively encourage and role model the uptake of flexible work arrangements; (2) ensure flexible arrangements are supported and working successfully for both genders; (3) create the right culture and support employee priorities of career progression, visible support from the CEO, leadership team and colleagues, and respect of boundaries; (4) create clear policies around promotion and compensation when working flexibly; and (5) ensure technology and an agile work environment are in place and working well.

Excerpts from publisher's website. Show less