Women's Health in the South East (WHISE) has called for urgent, gender-transformative reforms to Victoria's education and training systems in a submission to the Victorian Parliament's Inquiry into Student Pathways to In-Demand Industries.
Drawing on local research, workforce partnerships, and program evaluation, the WHISE submission reveals that systemic gender inequality—manifested through unsafe training environments, cultural bias, and entrenched structural barriers—is a major obstacle to building an inclusive, skilled workforce in Victoria's most in-demand sectors.
"Women are not underrepresented in trades and technical industries because they lack interest or ability," said Kit McMahon, CEO of WHISE. "They are underrepresented because the system was never built with their full participation in mind. It's time to stop asking women to adapt to broken structures and instead transform those structures so everyone can thrive."
The submission centres on two leading WHISE initiatives—Training for Respect and Nice Work if You Can Get It—both of which demonstrate how coordinated, intersectional approaches can shift systems and cultures in education and industry. These projects offer a practical roadmap for how to eliminate gendered violence in VET settings, promote safer learning environments, and improve retention for women in trades and technical careers.
Among its key recommendations, WHISE is calling for:
- A zero-tolerance approach to workplace gendered violence, supported by enforceable sector-wide codes of conduct;
- Curriculum reforms to embed gender equality and respectful workplace training into VET courses;
- Clear career pathways, leadership accountability, and equity-focused procurement requirements;
- Culturally safe and inclusive support for regional, disadvantaged, and culturally diverse students.
"We need to dismantle the myth that the solution is to 'fix women' or help them 'fit in,'" McMahon said. "Real reform means changing the system so that students of all genders—regardless of postcode or background—can access meaningful, safe, and sustainable pathways into the jobs of the future."
Read the full submission
About us:
WHISE is a leading health promotion and primary prevention organisation dedicated to improving women's health and wellbeing in the Southern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. WHISE forms part of a network of Women's Health Services across Victoria. Working in partnership with various stakeholders, WHISE advocates for gender equity, conducts research, delivers health promotion initiatives, and provides capacity-sharing support to enhance the delivery of women's health services.
