The Queensland Government is investing $500,000 to support women into higher-skilled operator and technician roles as part of growing the state’s resources workforce.
The half-million-dollar commitment will help the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) deliver the Women in Resources: Empowering Development (WIRED) pilot program.
This program focuses on upskilling and reskilling women into advanced, site-based roles, especially as the state’s resources sector contributed more than $44 billion to the economy and supports more than 82,000 jobs.
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.
Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the investment was about backing a sector that drives growth for jobs and the state’s regional areas.
“We are backing one of Queensland’s economic powerhouses by delivering the skilled workforce it needs to keep growing,” Bates said.
“We are making sure women have clear, practical pathways into higher-skilled, higher-paid roles on site.”
QRC chief executive officer (CEO) Janette Hewson said WIRED was part of the council’s drive to attract and retain exceptional talent.
“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 on-site, we create a workplace culture where everyone can thrive.”
Early engagement across the sector has commenced, with the program expected to launch in mid-2026.
Read more about women making advances in the mining industry:
- Young female engineers reshaping mining’s future
- Rio Tinto’s Michelle Radley on leading Dampier Ports and driving cultural change
- MCA chief Tania Constable on mining’s evolving female leadership
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