A dichotomy is emerging in Australia’s mining sector in which women are almost on par with their male counterparts for feeling respected within the company of which they work yet a fifth of women do not feel respected by the industry that employs them.
Data from the Australiasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) underscores the ongoing gender disparities within the mining sector. According to AusIMM’s 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Survey, 89% of men and 85% of women feel respected in their company, but a fifth of women do not feel respected in the mining industry.
The survey reveals a significant gender divide in perceptions of the mining industry’s inclusivity. While 43% of men rated the sector as very inclusive, only 24% of women shared the same view. On the other hand, 19% of men rated the sector as not inclusive, while 39% of women shared the same view.
These findings reflect broader industry challenges, as at the end of FY2022, the mining industry was considered Australia’s least diverse sector with women only making up 20% of the workforce, as reported by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
Globally, women represent an estimated 8-17% of the mining workforce, further indicating how widespread the underrepresentation is, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
To combat these disparities, the mining sector is focusing on attracting a new generation of talent, particularly young people, into the industry.
Beyond the disparities concerning respect, a recent survey by the Australian Geoscience Council has revealed that 42% of respondents have no awareness of earth science as an area of study, while 55% were unaware of geoscience.
This lack of knowledge, paired with the underrepresentation of women, poses a barrier to fostering diversity and inclusion.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Joanne Bergamin, Women in Sustainable Energy and Resources (WISER) Chairman says that the key to attracting young women into the workforce is knowledge.
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” she says.
“Many of my network has taken the time to visit schools and universities to talk to girls about our great industry.
“On a more strategic level, WISER has partnered with UNIQ You, whose vision is to enable high school girls to understand the career opportunities available in under-represented sectors like ours.”
UNIQ You is focused on connecting high school girls and educators with women working in roles and industries underrepresented by women, to increase their exposure, access to, and their confidence to engage with, careers, and pathways they otherwise might not have considered viable options because of their gender.
In 2023, six out of 10 girls reported a high increase in their interest in pursuing careers in male-dominated industries after having conversations with UNIQ You.
Scandium Canada’s (TSX-V:SCD) Director Brooke DeLong echoes the need to start these conversations at an earlier age, which could help the disparate levels of respect if younger people enter the mining sector much earlier.
“We need to go where the conversations are being held or can be held: at schools, within communities, in person, and online,” DeLong says.
“We need to promote all types of mining role models — women who work in engineering, safety, laboratories, finance — in all the diverse and rich environments that exist within modern mining.”
This collective drive for change will be highlighted at AusIMM’s 2025 International Women’s Day Event Series held from 27 February to 14 March.
AusIMM’s theme for the 2025 event series, ‘Driving Positive Change Together’, reflects the shared responsibility of every individual and organisation in the sector to break down barriers and build an inclusive environment for everyone.
The series takes place across Australian cities and will bring together industry executives and women in mining to collaborate and share stories, strategies, and insights on building a more inclusive and sustainable future.
AusIMM has also partnered with UN Women Australia for a series of discussions held during the event. The event will also be highlighting UN Women’s programs such as Second Chance Education, which aims to provide a holistic solution to women who have missed out on educational opportunities.
Second Chance Education has already supported more than 113,000 women globally, through gaining confidence and creating a better future for themselves.
This year’s Women’s Day Event Series is the seventh series AusIMM has run, which includes lunches across the nation, as well as new regional events in Kalgoorlie and the Hunter Valley region.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: AusIMM
