The Nice Work if You Can Get It project offers a powerful example of how cross-sector partnerships can disrupt gendered barriers in TAFE pathways and male-dominated industries. Led by Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) in collaboration with Chisholm Institute and the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA), the project undertook a comprehensive Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) of Chisholm’s Engineering and Manufacturing departments. This initiative, funded through the Victorian Government’s Women in Manufacturing and Energy program, tackled the systemic causes of female underrepresentation in technical education and manufacturing careers.
The GIA process involved co-designed workshops, deep data analysis, student engagement, and policy alignment. It surfaced entrenched challenges including cultural exclusion, lack of female leadership, and unsupportive work placements. The project developed and implemented a multi-phased strategy including leadership alignment, gender-responsive teaching practice, inclusive industry partnerships, and ongoing evaluation mechanisms.
This presentation will share the insights, outcomes, and implementation approach of the project – highlighting the transformative potential of embedding GIAs into vocational education practice. We will also reflect on the success factors behind the partnership model: aligning shared goals, co-designing practical interventions, and ensuring lived experience is central to change.
The audience will gain a clear understanding of:
The presentation will be delivered jointly by project leads from WHISE and Chisholm Institute