Victoria’s manufacturing industry took the spotlight at the 22nd Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, where the government announced a new initiative, Making it Equal: Victoria’s Women in Manufacturing Strategy, to promote gender equity in the sector.
Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins congratulated the winners and finalists, emphasising the significance of the new strategy.
“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of this year’s Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, who play a critical role in creating Victorian jobs and growing our economy,” she stated.
According to the government, Victoria’s manufacturing sector is a substantial contributor to the state’s economy, valued at $33.5 billion and employing over 260,000 people across nearly 24,000 businesses.
Despite this, the representation of women in the industry has only grown from 29 per cent to 33 per cent over the past two decades.
The Making it Equal strategy aims to improve recruitment and advancement opportunities for women in manufacturing, a field where they have historically been underrepresented.
“This new strategy is not only a major step in creating real opportunities for women to thrive in a historically male-dominated space, but a chance to future-proof our industry and make it more resilient to skill-shortages,” Hutchins added.
The Labor Government is backing Victorian manufacturing through various initiatives, including the $20 million Manufacturing and Industry Sovereignty Fund, the Industry and R&D Infrastructure Fund, and the Made in Victoria – Manufacturing Growth Program.
At the awards night, Knoxfield-based Stahl Metall was inducted into the Hall of Fame as the 2024 ‘Leader in Manufacturing,’ recognized for its innovative work in producing customized harnesses and boxes.
Latinka Cubbitt, co-owner of Catten Industries, was awarded the title of Woman Manufacturer of the Year for her significant contributions to the precision sheet metal fabrication industry.
Three new categories were introduced this year, with Australian Defence Apparel, Modscape, and Alstom being honoured as inaugural leaders in Textile, Clothing and Footwear, Construction Technologies, and Gender Equality and Inclusion, respectively.
For a full list of winners from the awards night, visit: business.vic.gov.au/halloffame.
To read the strategy and access practical tools for employers, industry, unions, and training providers to support gender equality in manufacturing, visit vic.gov.au/women-in-manufacturing.
