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Nadine Armstrong16 Nov 2019
NEWS

VACC tackles gender equality

New e-book advises auto industry how to attract, recruit and retain women

The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has released a practical guide to help Australia’s male-dominated car industry achieve gender balance.

Launched at a sold-out event held in Melbourne on November 13, the e-book is titled How to Attract, Recruit and Retain Women in the Australian Automotive Industry.

Chief executive officer Geoff Gwilym said the VACC has been working on gender equality for 20 years, but conceded that not enough has changed, with males still comprising 77 per cent of the motor industry workforce.

“The guide explores the key question in the industry. Why we collectively fail to employ women across all the roles that are available in 70,000 businesses nationally,” he said.

“There’s a big task ahead of us. We’ve got a big cultural change that has to occur in the industry. But I think we can do it,” said Gwilym.

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Gwilym’s 20-year timeline marks the moment since the VACC established Women in Automotive (WinA), an initiative that provides a networking space for women working across the automotive industry to provide support and help them develop both personally and professionally.

With over 28,000 positions vacant in the Victorian automotive industry, Gwilym acknowledges the chronic skills shortage but suggests this is not the driving force at play. And nor should it be for Victorian businesses.

“To gallantly swing open the doors and welcome women into the industry based solely on a skills shortage is disingenuous and disrespectful. Women should not be regarded as an emergency top-up for tough times in this industry. This is not helpful,” said Gwilym.

It only took around 100 years, but the VACC itself now has a one woman on its 10-member Board – Sharon Pask.

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Chief financial officer of Frankston and Cranbourne Toyota, general manager of Peninsula Skoda, chair of WinA and with over 35 years in the automotive industry, Pask speaks with candour and credibility on the lack of female representation at all levels in the auto industry.

“Part of the problem is people recruit in their own image. When you have white middle-aged men recruiting, its no surprise to see who we’ve been recruiting,” said Pask.

Troy Roderick, the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Insights at Male Champions of Change, was another to address in excess of 100 men and women at the event.

He said the guide is one of the simplest yet most comprehensive guides of its type he has ever seen, and that he’s tired of hearing people say they’re passionate about diversity without demonstrating it.

carsales writers Andrea Hobbs and Nadine Armstrong

“It’s easy to be passionate – be effective,” said Roderick, who notes that bias, entrenched behaviours, self-interest and cultural and gender-based norms contribute the problem.

That’s where the guide steps in, explains Industry Policy Advisor at VACC and Manager of WinA, Dr Imogen Reid.

“This guide directly responds to industry needs. It’s a very practical how-to guide that steps you through the process,” said Reid.

“It’s not heavy on the theory, it’s not about hitting anyone over the head with feminist arguments. It’s about building the case for why businesses should consider this – for the longevity of their own businesses.”

To download a copy of the guide head to www.womeninautomotive.com.au.

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