Empowering Women in Safety: Breaking barriers and leading change

The safety industry is undergoing a transformative shift, with more women taking leadership roles and challenging long-standing biases. Organisations like Women in Safety play a crucial role in this movement, creating spaces where women feel empowered to advance their careers, overcome systemic barriers, and make meaningful contributions to workplace safety.

Why Empowering Women Matters

Despite comprising a significant portion of the workforce, women in safety often face challenges stemming from gender inequality, including limited access to leadership roles, biases in hiring and pay, and workplace cultures resistant to change. Industries like construction, manufacturing, and mining demonstrate some of the highest gender pay gaps, with disparities reaching over 30% in construction (Australian Institute of Health and Safety Membership statistics, ).

Empowering women in safety isn't just a moral imperative; it drives better outcomes. Companies with higher gender diversity are 39% more likely to outperform their peers financially (2024 Australian Bureau of Statistics (EQ08 – Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO)) 2023).

When women are given equal opportunities, they bring diverse perspectives, enhance decision-making, and foster more inclusive workplace cultures.

How Women in Safety Empowers Careers

Women in Safety focuses on creating inclusive frameworks and initiatives that tackle systemic challenges. Their approach includes:

Mentorship and Leadership Development: Offering mentorship programs that connect emerging safety professionals with experienced leaders.
Flexible Work Options: Advocating for hybrid work environments, job-sharing, and flexible start times to accommodate diverse needs, such as caregiving responsibilities and life transitions like menopause (Jobs in Australia, Table 2.1: Employee jobs and employee income by sex, age, business characteristics and geography, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 8 March 2024).
Access to Networks and Resources: Providing platforms for networking and sharing knowledge empowers women to build confidence, expand their influence, and pursue leadership opportunities.
Advocacy and Allyship: Promoting allyship at all organisational levels to challenge biases and create cultures of respect and inclusion.

Personal Stories of Empowerment: Women Leading the Way

The journey of women in safety is one of resilience and transformation. From breaking through gendered assumptions about physical roles to stepping into high-stakes leadership positions, their stories inspire change. For example, women who have taken on leadership roles often cite the value of visible role models—proof that others have walked a similar path and succeeded.

One safety leader shared her experience of stepping into a predominantly male industry:

"I was told I couldn't lead because the men wouldn't take me seriously. But I stayed visible, set priorities, and found allies who supported my growth. Now, I mentor others to ensure they don't face the same barriers I did."

Creating the Future of Safety Leadership

To empower women in safety effectively, workplaces must embrace:

Inclusive Leadership: Leaders must model flexibility, challenge bias, and visibly support gender equity policies.
Robust Support Systems: These include mentorship, tailored development plans, and resources for employees returning from leave (Diversity Matters Even More, The case for holistic impact, McKinsey, November 2023).
Safe, Inclusive Work Environments: Addressing gender-specific risks and ensuring access to appropriate equipment and facilities can significantly impact women's experiences in safety roles (Diversity Matters Even More, The case for holistic impact, McKinsey, November 2023).

By implementing these strategies, organisations can not only close the gender gap but also build safer, more innovative workplaces.

Empowering women in safety is not just about breaking barriers—it’s about reshaping the entire industry. As we celebrate the achievements of women leading the way, let’s commit to fostering workplaces where everyone, regardless of gender, has the tools and support to thrive.