The Queensland Government is investing $500,000 to strengthen the state’s resources workforce and support more women into higher skilled operator and technician roles.
As part of the investment, the Queensland Resources Council will be able to deliver the Women in Resources: Empowering Development pilot program. The program is focused on upskilling and reskilling women into advanced site-based roles.
The program, expected to begin in mid-2026, 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.
This news comes after International Women’s Day (8 March), in which Mining.com.au highlighted the growing importance of women in the sector.
At a national level, the numbers show significant change. Tania Constable, CEO of advocate for the resources sector the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), explains that in 2020, roughly 17% of Australia’s mining workforce were women.
“That has gone to 22% and that is incredibly powerful in terms of just the progress,” Constable tells this news service.
“Going back to early 2003-2004, we had about 9,300 [women]. Now we’ve got over 52,000 women in a workforce of 280,000 direct employees. That is a 480% increase in that time.”
Queensland’s resources sector contributes more than $44 billion to the economy, supporting more than 82,000 jobs. The state has been facing a critical workforce shortage and weak industry engagement, which the government has been working directly with industry to fix.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates says the Queensland Government’s latest 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,” Bates says.
“When you expand opportunities in a $44 billion industry, you strengthen the entire economy.”
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Queensland Resources Council
