• Salary : $115,604.02 (excluding superannuation)
• Employment Type : Fixed-term contract commencing 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
• Location : South Brisbane 

About the QLD Women Rise Project

The QLD Women Rise Project is a strategic initiative under Priority Area 3 of Working for Women – A Strategy for Gender Equality funded by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Department) for a 12 month period.

Building on the Government’s recent workplace reforms and best practice gender equity practices, the project will focus on women employee’s access to flexible work options, ensuring safe and accessible workplace amenities at workplaces, and identifying and addressing specific health and safety risks that disproportionately affect women in gender segregated industries. 

These initiatives are intended to help increase women’s participation and improve retention of women employees by helping make these target industries more attractive and accessible to women, including by providing a road map to scale up successful initiatives beyond the project term. 

The project will be undertaken through a combination of tailored research into the identified industry sub-sectors, the development of tools and resources and education and training to support up to four pilot worksites trials.  A key aspect of the project is the provision of a final report with key recommendations to help drive the development of innovative solutions to create safer and more inclusive workplaces and upscale gender equity across the identified sectors.

Role Purpose

The Industry Advisor will play a critical leadership role in advancing gender equity in the construction, transport, and maritime industries by working directly with women, employers, unions, and industry associations to implement, evaluate, and scale workplace pilot initiatives.

Four Industry Advisors will be appointed, each responsible for providing direct oversight and guidance to up to four pilot workplaces, ensuring the successful co-design and integration of flexible work policies, improved workplace amenities, and gender-sensitive WHS risk management practices. They will liaise between the project team and industry stakeholders, ensuring pilot initiatives are practical, scalable, and aligned with long-term gender equity reforms.

Through workplace engagement, training facilitation, and industry advocacy, Industry Advisors will champion inclusive policies, share best practices, and drive cultural change within their sectors. 

They will highlight barriers to women’s participation, demonstrate the business case for genderequitable practices, and advocate for sustainable reforms that benefit both workers and businesses.

Key Responsibilities

Workplace Pilot Implementation & Oversight

• Provide hands on guidance to pilot workplaces, helping to ensure successful implementation of gender equity initiatives.
• Work with employers, unions, and employees to identify workplace-specific barriers to women’s participation and develop tailored strategies to address them.
• Facilitate the integration of flexible work policies, safe and dignified amenities, and gender sensitive WHS risk management practices.
• Gather workplace feedback to refine and improve pilot initiatives, ensuring they are practical, effective, and scalable.

Industry Engagement & Advocacy

• Act as the key liaison between the project team, employers, unions, and industry associations.
• Participate in and contribute to Union Women’s Conferences, committee meetings, and industry workshops to promote project initiatives and foster cross-sector collaboration.
• Advocate for industry-wide adoption of successful pilot initiatives by presenting case studies, sharing insights, and influencing policy discussions.
• Promote gender equity initiatives as business-enhancing strategies, demonstrating benefits such as improved productivity, workforce retention, and workplace culture.

Training & Capacity Building

• Collaborate with the Education and Training Officer to support the rollout of training across pilot workplaces and industry sectors.
• Participate in an intensive train-the-trainer program to enhance industry-wide knowledgesharing.
• Participate in delivering training to union organisers, workplace delegates, and health and safety representatives, equipping them with tools to drive ongoing change.

Thought Leadership & Cultural Change

• Act as a trusted industry voice in promoting the benefits of gender-equitable workplace policies.
• Facilitate workshops and discussions to shift industry perspectives and encourage greater collaboration and investment in gender equity initiatives.
• Share firsthand insights and success stories to inspire broader adoption of inclusive workplace practices.

Contribution to Final Project Evaluation

• Provide key learnings, challenges, and recommendations to support the final project evaluation and report.
• Advocate for sector-wide policy reforms based on evidence from workplace pilots.
• Ensure that gender equity initiatives trialled in pilot workplaces are scalable and sustainable beyond the project’s lifespan.

Key Selection Criteria                                                                                                                        

Essential:

• Extensive experience in industry engagement, or gender equity advocacy.
• Strong understanding of the construction, transport, or maritime industries, including barriers to women’s participation.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders, including employers, unions, and industry bodies.
• Experience in developing and implementing workplace policies, particularly in flexible work, WHS, and gender equity initiatives.
• Strong facilitation skills, with experience in workplace training and leadership development.
• Ability to translate research and pilot findings into practical, scalable solutions.

Desirable:

• Experience working in the construction, transport, or maritime industries.
• Experience in project management and workplace reform initiatives.
• Familiarity with union engagement, regulatory frameworks, and enterprise agreements.
• Knowledge of workplace health and safety issues affecting women.

Next steps

Click Apply Now to submit your application. 

A position description is attached.