Powering Her Pathway

TWA is launching a pioneering initiative aimed at directly addressing systemic barriers women face in clean energy careers, at the same time creating a sustainable framework for industry-wide transformation.

Powering Her Pathway is being collaboratively delivered with key partners TAFE Gippsland and global energy leader ENGIE Aus, whose expertise and commitment will be instrumental to the project’s success.

The project will operate across multiple Gippsland locations, including Morwell, Loy Yang, Yallourn, and Hazelwood.

Whether you’re a business looking to increase the participation of women in your clean energy project, a woman interesting in a career in this exciting, new industry, or a Gippsland community organisation wanting to get involved, we want to hear from you.

Why Powering Her Pathway?

Despite progress in workplace gender equality, Australia’s clean energy industry remains severely imbalanced.

Women represent nearly half (47.2 per cent) of the overall workforce yet comprise only 26 per cent of the energy industry workforce, with a mere five per cent in hands-on trades roles.

The sector also has an average gender pay gap of 17.1 per cent – significantly above the national average (WGEA). Persistent cultural and systemic barriers including recruitment bias, workplace discrimination, inadequate facilities, and limited career pathways continue to undermine women’s participation and advancement in trades.

How will Powering Her Pathway work?

Powering Her Pathway takes direct aim at these challenges in four ways:

1: Specialised Training: Establishing a tailored Vocational Education and Training (VET) framework specifically designed for women entering clean energy careers.

2: Direct Employment: Training and placing 30 women in skilled clean energy positions across the Gippsland region.

3: Industry Transformation: Partnering with regional employers to build inclusive, equitable workplaces that support women’s long-term success.

4: Regional Economic Impact: Strengthening Gippsland’s position in Australia’s clean energy transition while addressing critical skills shortages

What will Powering Her Pathway deliver?

Powering Her Pathway is implementing a specialised Vocational Taster program tailored to regional women’s specific needs and circumstances, as well as providing hands-on facilitation for Gippsland’s clean energy organisations to identify and eliminate systemic barriers.

We’re creating career pathways by developing clear, accessible routes for women to enter and advance in the clean energy sector.

Importantly, Powering Her Pathway will create a sustainable framework, through partnerships between project stakeholders, national advocates, and local organisations, and develop a best-practice blueprint for replication across other male-dominated industries and regions.

Get in touch

There are many ways businesses, women interested in careers in a clean energy trade, and wider community organisations can get involved with Powering Her Pathway. Let’s start the conversation.