Nyrstar Hobart yesterday opened its new Female Changehouse facility in response to an upturn in women working at its iconic Zinc Works in Lutana.
The new Changehouse has been purpose-built providing modern amenities with 100 lockers, eight showers and toilet facilities to cater for women working across its operations.
Nyrstar has seen a 40 percent increase in female employees over the past 12 months with an increase of more than 100 percent since 2018.
Nyrstar Australia's Regional Manager – HR Business Partnering, Georgia Thomas, said this investment followed an increase in the number of female employees working in Production areas at its Hobart Operations.
"At Nyrstar we know that having a diverse workforce is a key part of how we will continue to provide metals the world needs for coming generations," said Ms Thomas.
"Previously, there were five change facilities for females across the site of varying location and quality and we have traditionally only had small numbers of female employees.
"This new Changehouse will provide a centralised and purpose-built facility to accommodate the recent growth in women employed at Nyrstar Hobart as well as the females we look forward to joining our team in the future.
"We're looking forward to having more females onsite and we hope these facilities will help us recruit and retain talented women."
Tasmanian Minister for Women, Jo Palmer MLC, was on hand to officially open the new Changehouse facility and said the recent growth in females at Nyrstar helped set the business up for future success.
"It is really pleasing to see a strong local employer like Nyrstar Hobart building infrastructure designed to increase female representation and participation in the workforce," said Minister Palmer.
"In the lead up to International Women's Day this is a genuine example of one of our state's iconic industries putting important infrastructure in place to increase diversity and create better facilities for its people.
"Not only are they creating jobs for all Tasmanians and upskilling and training the next generation, but they continue to make a strong contribution to our State's economy."
The $695,000 capital investment project kicked off in March last year with the building works completed just in time to celebrate International Women's Day on 8 March 2023.
