The government has launched the Career Revive program, run by KPMG, to help up to 30 medium to large regional companies find better ways to attract and retain skilled women.
Career Revive is a $1.5 million initiative as part of the Coalition government’s 2018 Women’s Economic Security Statement, which aims to invest $151.4 million to improve women’s workforce participation and economic security.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said the government was committed to helping more women become competitive in the labour market.
“Since we have been in government there has not only been a record number of Australians in work, there has been a record number of women participating in the workforce,” Ms Cash said.
Women in regional areas can experience barriers that make it harder for them to return to work such as access to childcare, transport, training and development.
“Career Revive will offer expert advice to regional business on how to support and attract women back into the workforce by improving their business practices and policies,” Ms Cash said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the Career Revive program will provide rural and regional women with greater choices for paid work.
“We are committed to boosting the confidence of women returning to paid work and their financial independence, as well as supporting businesses to retain skilled women workers,” Ms Payne said.
The Career Revive pilot will work with business to test what interventions help break down the barriers women face when returning to work. Each year for the next three years, 10 medium to large regional businesses will benefit from expert business improvement advice and support provided by KPMG.
The first 10 businesses to be chosen are ALS Industrial, Australian Paper, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, DON – a division of George Weston Foods, KEECH Castings Australia, Kingston Estate Wines, Regional Australia Bank, Sandvik Mining and Construction Australia, Total Fire Solutions (Australia) and the University of Wollongong.
