Queensland supports women in technical mining roles
The Queensland Government is investing $500,000 to support the women in resources: empowering development (WIRED) pilot program.The program, delivered by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), focuses on upskilling and reskilling women into advanced site-based roles to strengthen Queensland’s resources workforce and support more women into higher-skilled operator and technician roles across the state.The WIRED program will deliver targeted training for roles including machinery operators, plant technicians and site supervisors while supporting women transitioning into higher-level operator and technician roles.Early engagement across the sector has commenced, with the program expected to launch in mid-2026.Queensland Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Minister Ros Bates says the investment is about backing a sector that drives jobs and regional growth.“We are backing one of Queensland’s economic powerhouses by delivering the skilled workforce it needs to keep growing,” she said.“We are making sure women have clear, practical pathways into higher-skilled, higher-paid roles on site.“When you expand opportunities in a $44b industry, you strengthen the entire economy.”In the Australian resources sector, women now represent a larger portion of roles but there is still major room for growth with the percentage of women holding roles in the mining sector fluctuating between 22 – 23% since 2024, according to the Federal Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).QRC chief executive Janette Hewson says WIRED is about enabling and retaining women in technician and operator roles to move into site-based leadership roles.“Our vision is an industry where women with technical skills have a clear pathway to more senior roles and can thrive in these roles long-term,” she said.“By supporting women who are working onsite, we create a workplace culture where everyone can thrive.”
