New pilot initiative makes hiring women a priority for regional businesses

A new Morrison Government initiative to help skilled women across regional Australia get back into the workforce started this month.

The Career Revive pilot program, run by KPMG, will help up to 30 medium to large regional companies find better ways to attract and retain skilled women.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, the Hon 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,” Minister 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.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon 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.

“This initiative is one of a range of measures under our Government’s Women’s Economic Security Statement that invests $151.4 million to improve women’s workforce participation and economic security.

“We know that when women do well both professionally and personally, our economy and nation prospers.”

The Career Revive pilot will work with business to test what interventions help break down the barriers women face when returning to work.

The following 10 businesses have been selected to participate in the 2019 intake of the Career Revive pilot initiative:

  • ALS Industrial Pty Ltd
  • Australian Paper
  • Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty Ltd
  • DON – a division of George Weston Foods
  • KEECH Castings Australia Pty Ltd
  • Kingston Estate Wines Pty Ltd
  • Regional Australia Bank Ltd
  • Sandvik Mining and Construction Australia
  • Total Fire Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd
  • University of Wollongong

Career Revive is a $1.5 million initiative as part of the Coalition Government’s 2018 Women’s Economic Security Statement.

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