Although strides are being made towards gender equality, the journey is slow. Statistics from the official International Women’s Day organisation reveals at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity. This equals roughly around five generations from now.
And, despite the mining sector recognising ways women shape company culture, drive performance, and influence the overall work environment — as Mining.com.au previously revealed — there are still unique challenges that exist within the industry for women that are left neglected.
International Women’s Day was on 8 March and women were celebrated and acknowledged across the globe, with International Women’s Day.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Mel Sanderson, non-executive director at American Rare Earths (ASX:ARR), says International Women’s Day is a reminder of the history of women in mining.
“From days when women were limited to feeding the miners, doing laundry to today, when women work above and below ground as engineers, geologists, accountants and senior executives, including an occasional CEO,” Lawson says.
This year’s official theme — Accelerated Action — calls for swift and decisive steps to address the systemic barriers and biases that continue to hinder women’s progress.
In mining, there are many distinct issues workers face in the industry. However, particularly in remote locations, there are several unique challenges women experience in the mining industry.
Isolation challenges
When it comes to prospecting for minerals and resources, the exploration area can be extended far into isolated locations. As a result, essential utilities like water and electricity are limited or may not be available at all.
The Queensland Resources Council CEO Janette Hewson says resource operations are primarily based in regional and remote locations, and as such, there are challenges around availability for accommodation and access to services such as health, education, and daycare.
“These impediments exist for both women and men,” Hewson tells Mining.com.au.
“In particular, limited access to childcare can present a significant challenge and the QRC is a strong advocate for more childcare facilities in regional and remote areas to help address this issue.”
Regional, rural, and remote families are on the verge of burnout due to the lack of childcare centres and care in the communities.
A 2024 report released by The Parenthood reveals 86% of families living in regional, rural, and remote communities are struggling to access childcare options.
For example, Moranbah, a coal mining town in the Isaac region of Queensland, reportedly had one of Australia’s lowest unemployment rates at 1.6% in 2019, largely due to the limited access to childcare.
Resource and research unit Childcare Canada says families were spending up to 18 months on waiting lists to access childcare, with some parents unable to accept job offers because of the lack of childcare availability.
And as a result, as Brooke DeLong, Director of Scandium Canada (TSX-V:SCD), says “we will continue to miss out on having those people as part of our trusted teams when we leave out or fail to attract a significant portion of people from participating in mining.”
Another report, commissioned by mining giant BHP (ASX:BHP), highlights the desperate need for childcare places in its coal mining regions, such as Moranbah, Dysart, Blackwater, and Emerald.
BHP says there are an estimated 822 childcare places required in these communities, which is more than the 605 approved places.
Additionally, there are an estimated 508 after school care facilities needed, with only 306 currently available. On the other hand, even if childcare facilities are available and affordable for parents, the amount of places available are still reduced due to a lack of staff.
For example, Regional Development Australia’s Childcare Services Development Report 2024, reveals that one of the childcare facilities in the Far North region can accommodate up to 90 children, but only service 59 due to the lack of staff with suitable qualifications.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Pacgold (ASX:PGO) Non-executive Chairman Caoilin Chestnutt says the sector needs to position itself more competitively.
“Flexible working placers, friendlier rosters, working from home or hybrid working arrangements,” Chestnutt says.
However, although there is always room for improvement, Chestnutt notes that the mining sector is enhancing its competitiveness to tailor the needs of women.
“I think the pandemic did wonders for us. Hybrid working arrangements certainly suit women, particularly women with young families,” she says.
“Also, often some companies are paying parenting benefits. It’s not just maternity allowance anymore — it is a parenting allowance so it can be shared by either parent. I think that is a fantastic move.”
Similarly, companies such as Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) are doing their part at making more childcare facilities available to its workers.
In 2024, the company developed its own daycare centre exclusively for children of employees in Osborne Park.
The daycare, opened five days a week, offers a supportive environment for MinRes employees’ children at an all-inclusive cost of no more than $20 per child per day.
“We want to make it easier for our working parents to balance their job and family commitments and to help ease the transition for those returning to the office after parental leave,” MinRes Director Andrea Chapman says.
For My Sisters
This brings up another pressing issue faced by women working in remote locations within the mining industry, such as period care.
According to Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s (AusIMM) Women in Mining Report 2021, 86% of women have been caught out in the field without period care products, while 62% of them will leave work immediately to get the supplies they need.
Martin says in the field, period care is not something that male staff have to experience.
“We have to know what to do and what to take, knowing the conditions of your field course or area are going to be like. For example, does the area have clean running water?,” she says.
Organisation like For My Sisters, which provide biodegradable period care kits tailored for remote mining operations, are an example of the tangible solutions that help to alleviate these challenges.
Having more of these solutions available for women makes such a difference, as Martin says when she first started working in remote fieldwork, a female colleague had spoken to her about a kit to take with her.
Sanderson adds that issues surrounding women’s unique health needs can also be a struggle in remote and isolated locations.
“Especially preventive care such as mammograms or vagina exams may be unavailable,” she says.
Sanderson adds that in parallel to physical health, feelings of loneliness and feelings of isolation or fear can be a problem.
“Sadly, aggression and even attacks sometimes have taken place and sometimes the woman is afraid even to mention being bullied or sexually harassed for fear of repercussions,” she says.
According to a 2022 report by the Australian Human Rights Commission, mining has the fifth highest incidence rate of workplace sexual harassment, with almost a third (32%) of mining workers experiencing it.
Changing the conversation
Chief Executive Women CEO Lisa Annese says physical and psychological safety can be a concern in the mining industry while also discouraging women from pursuing or staying in these roles.
“Addressing these barriers requires systemic change, strong leadership, and a commitment to building inclusive, equitable workplaces,” Annese says.
Another persistent barrier for women in mining is the lingering notion that the industry is a ‘boys club’. Scandium Canada’s Brooke DeLong says there are setbacks and deterrents to progress.
“Some of the biggest barriers are outdated mindsets,” she says.
“Clinging to traditional mindsets or practices — so while we advance, there are steps back. Women are so used to this.”
Q2 Metals (TSX-V:QTWO) CEO Alicia Milne shares a similar perspective that there is a perception within the industry that mining is only for men because it is dirty, labour intensive, and rough.
“The reality, as we know, is that yes, there are some parts of the mining industry that are dirty and rough but there’s many parts of it that aren’t,” Milne says.
“Not to mention some women aren’t afraid of dirty and rough work.”
DeLong points out that the conversation around attracting top talent to the sector is often limited by outdated assumptions about who belongs in mining.
“We will continue to miss out on having those people as part of our trusted teams when we leave out or fail to attract a significant portion of people from participating in mining,” Delong says.
“We often hear that to change the culture, we must change the conversation.”
Australian Women in Mining and Resources’ (AWIMAR) is one of the many organisations helping to drive this change. AWIMAR is committed to fostering inclusive environments that enhance professional growth and opportunities for women, as well as drive innovation, productivity and sustainability.
In addition, the Department of Communities has worked in partnership with the Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety to deliver the Respect in Mining Program, as part of the suite of initiatives under the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety Program.
The Respect in Mining Program is designed to support small and medium mining organisations to increase awareness and knowledge of the gendered drivers of violence, the impact of gender inequality on women’s safety and economic security, and the impact of gendered division in leadership and decision making.
Reflecting on International Women’s Day, President of Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences in Australasia (WOMEESA) Erin Martin says the day is about reflecting on the ongoing barriers faced by women.
“We’ve made strides in things like parental leave in many organisations for mums and dads, there are a lot of initiatives to promote women, as well as encourage and support women in higher positions where they may have been overlooked previously,” Martin tells this news service.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: IWD
