Name of initiative: Gender equality strategy for Certificate III in Construction
Policy/Program/Service: Program
New or up for review: New
Sector: Vocational Education and Training
This case study has been drawn from real examples, however the narrative is fictional.
Overview
Beada is Head of the Construction and Built Environment School at Southern Star TAFE. She leads the school’s faculty in developing and delivering the skilled workers needed by the construction and building industry. As the course and industry are male-dominated, the school wants to create and implement a new strategy to improve gender equality for one of their courses, Certificate III in Construction. This would involve analysing and proposing a series of programs for transformational change relating to all aspects of the course. As part of this process, Beada must complete a gender impact assessment (GIA) to ensure the needs of women, men and gender-diverse people are considered and addressed in this course.
The scope considered here is broad, but Beada knows that this gendered analysis will provide valuable insight and contribute to meaningful change over time. To complete the GIA, Beada will collaborate with a team from various departments of the school. They will each bring unique perspectives and knowledge to ensure the GIA and programs are as comprehensive as possible.
Respect and Equality in TAFE
This project aligns with the TAFE rollout of Our Watch’s Respect and Equality in TAFE (RET) framework. This is a process to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. Under instruction from the Minister for Training and Skills, all TAFEs across Victoria are embedding the RET framework in their organisation. Taking a whole-of-organisation approach, the framework covers 5 domains: workplace, student, learning and teaching, communications, industry and community. The process provided by RET is a strong foundation for GIA’s and similarly, GIA’s can be aligned to reinforce the work to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in TAFEs.
Advice from the RET Implementation Lead is that GIAs are potential actions under all 5 domains of the RET framework.
For more information on RET, please see this OurWatch resource.
Step 1: Define the issues and challenge assumptions
Defining the issues
Beada and her team must create a strategy which promotes gender equality, and reduces gender inequality, within Certificate III in Construction. The course is currently male-dominated, and there are concerns that this does not create the most inclusive or safe environment for women and gender-diverse apprentices.
The strategy would involve a series of programs supporting transformational change. This will help to create an environment where gender equality is not only seen, but celebrated.
Challenging assumptions
The team spend some time brainstorming assumptions for what could drive gender inequality in Certificate III in Construction.
Their assumptions range from beliefs that women do not want to work in construction, to thinking that the TAFE can’t address the inequity in the industry. There is strong view that, as TAFE doesn’t directly recruit apprentices, it might not be able to drive-up enrolments of women and gender-diverse people. Many of the team initially believe that it is up to employers, apprenticeship centres and group training companies.
Completing a gender impact assessment provides the team an opportunity to think critically about how the course affects people of different genders. Applying a gender lens, the team broadens the issues to consider:
- What are the barriers people of different genders face in joining and staying in the course?
- How do needs and priorities regarding education for the construction industry differ according to gender?
- How do other intersecting factors, such as age, disability, ethnicity and sexuality influence people’s ability to join and stay in this course?
Applying a gender lens empowers the group to consider how gendered and intersecting experiences may influence how people interact with this course. This will allow them to create a more comprehensive strategy to improve gender equality.
Step 2: Understand the policy context
Beada knows there’s a wide range of evidence which will help support their GIA. Not only does she want to look at data relating to the education sector, but also research from the wider construction industry.
To guide the team’s investigation, they consider:
- Who is likely to be affected?
- What are the lived experiences of these diverse groups?
- What different impacts may be likely for different people?
By gathering as much information as possible, Beada and her team can understand the context of their strategy. That is, how people of different genders experience this course, and how we can encourage gender equality in this space. This will ensure their program is responsive, inclusive and effective.
Internal data
To start, the team look at Southern Star TAFE’s internal data related to the Certificate III in Construction. These findings will provide important context and guide further research. Specifically, they find:
- In the last calendar year, 492 students enrolled and 13 were women – this is an increase from 7 women enrolling two years prior (real figures, source confidential).
- When looking at discontinuation figures, the team found that women tend not to complete because of “personal reasons,” more often than other options, and more often than men (real figures, source confidential).
The team note that it can be difficult to find data that is current, specific and gender disaggregated within this course. They agree that this data is relevant, even though not specific, as it helps them understand the intersecting experiences of students in their program.
Desktop research
To deepen their knowledge about intersectional gender inequity in the sector, the team also look at external data and evidence through desktop research. They consult a wide range of sources, including:
- NCVER
- VOCStats
- WGEA’s Gender strategy toolkit
- evaluation reports from RMIT and University of Melbourne for current strategies and projects addressing gender inequity in construction
- submissions to the Federal Government for inquiries on the perceptions of VET and the employment white paper on jobs and skills
- The Australian Human Rights Commission’s Women in Male Dominated Industries Toolkit.
The team also search the website for the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector (the Commission), where they find case studies, resources and data sources to help complete GIAs.
Stakeholder engagement
Beada and her team also want to hear feedback from students and others with lived experience. Particularly, they want to consult with women and gender-diverse apprentices in this course.
Building on evidence from TAFE student satisfaction surveys, they arrange focus groups with:
- graduate apprentices from Southern Star TAFE who are women or gender-diverse
- employers of women or gender diverse graduate apprentices from Southern Star TAFE
- trainers and educators at Southern Star TAFE
- current students who identify as First Nations and those from CALD backgrounds
- finalists and winners in Victoria’s Training Awards – particularly women or gender diverse people in workforces dominated by men on their experience
- internal teams such as Student Support Services and Apprenticeship Support Officers (through Apprenticeships Victoria).
Evidence collected by Beada and her team
From their internal data, desktop research and stakeholder consultation, the team document a range of insights into the different experiences of women, men and gender-diverse people. These insights will guide them in building a strategy that promotes gender equality and reduces inequalities.
Step 3: Evaluate options
After collecting and considering the evidence, the team are determined to apply a gender transformative approach. They discuss a few options for how they could approach this strategy, as well as the gendered impact of each method.
Step 4: Finalise recommendations
Having weighed her options, Beada recommends that the organisation proceed with option 2. Not only does it promote gender equality, but it also aligns with the RET framework. She documents her specific recommendations, by area, as outlined in option 2.
Preparing for progress reporting to the Commission
Now that the project team have submitted their recommendations for approval, they will prepare their progress report to the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector. This is part of their obligations under the Gender Equality Act.
The report will include identifying all policies, programs and services that were subject to a gender impact assessment, and any actions that were taken as a result.
Since TAFE has instituted a central register of GIAs, the team logs the information needed to report on this GIA. Beada and her team are proud of the work they have done to promote gender equality, and they are excited to see the benefits for the students and the sector.
Actions taken as a result of the GIA
Only some of the team’s recommendations were approved at this stage. However, the remaining suggestions have not been lost. Even though not all the recommendations were approved for this GIA, Beada and her team will be able to revisit these learnings and recommendations in other aspects of the School’s work.
Some of these actions will take longer to implement than others, but the team records the following approved actions:
- A pilot pathway for Certificate III in Construction will be trialled and evaluated, exclusive for women and gender-diverse people.
- A partnership with the Australian Apprenticeship Support network and Student support teams are in discussion and will be established.
- A disclosure and referral pathway for workplace sexual harassment and violence perpetrated against apprentices will be established with the local family violence and centre for sexual assault services.
- A capacity and capability building program will be implemented, in partnership with the local Women’s Health Service.
- Educators will receive training to increase their skills in applying intersectional gender equality in the classroom.
- A forum will be held to teach the importance of gender equality to local employers of construction apprentices.
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