insights How can we inspire more females to consider engineering in Australia?

Across the world, the engineering industry is focused on bridging the gender gap and improving equality and diversity. In Australia, there is a significant focus on improving gender equality, especially in engineering. Currently, Australia is above the industry average for its number of female engineering employees. This is partly thanks to several initiatives such as the Consult Australia Champions of Change which deliver regular gender diversity progress reports, and the ‘Closing the Gender Pay Gap’ report. 

Australia is often seen as a leading industry example for gender diversity but we are well aware there is more to be done. With this in mind, how can we inspire more females to consider engineering in Australia? 

Gender diversity commitment with AtkinsRéalis

Through our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we were thrilled to be recognised as one of the ‘100 Best Companies for Women’ in India, and we seek to replicate this in other countries. Some of the criteria we met to be recognised for gender inclusivity include the way we recruit, flexible working opportunities, parental leave and women’s career advancements.

Similarly, Atkins, a member of our Group, was recognised by The Times as a Top 50 Employer for Women 2021. As we strive toward gender balance across our organisation, we offer a Women’s Development Programme, which has seen tremendous success, from increases in confidence levels to greater responsibilities and a 20% progress in taking on new roles by the end of the programme. 

These recognitions are a testament to how we operate and show our ongoing commitment to increasing diversity across our workforce. Here are some of the initiatives that we operate globally to support diverse talent in the engineering sector;

Widespread opportunities

Equal opportunity is a core commitment to AtkinsRéalis . What we focus on is the opportunities for growth and to excel. For example, our colleague Smita Sawdadkar (CEng MICE) enjoyed a diverse range of projects throughout her career with AtkinsRéalis working in roles including project management, site supervision, quality management and highway design. 

AtkinsRéalis aims to support every employee with opportunities to gain wider knowledge and experience to further enhance their career in a direction that feels right to them. With many opportunities available worldwide, your engineering career in Australia may be where it starts, but if travel is a goal, AtkinsRéalis offers a vast global network to explore. 

Training and career development

In Australia, there are around 18,000 engineering graduates per year, with 18% being female. Even after graduating, we know there are still challenges in entering the engineering industry. This is why AtkinsRéalis have a supportive Early Careers division in our organisation. We support newly qualified engineers with graduate schemes that come with regular mentoring and skills development to help settle you into an exciting career ahead. 

As well as graduate programmes, ongoing professional development is fundamental to our business so that we can see our top talent progress from graduate engineers to senior or principal engineers as well as management roles too. 

Sustainability and forward-thinking

A key initiative for AtkinsRéalis is to increase sustainability and become carbon neutral by 2030. For this, we know a diverse team is essential for success. Research shows that a progressive culture, extensive knowledge sharing and increased collaboration can improve sustainability. Furthermore, these aspects are all significant characteristics of a diverse team.

For those passionate about building a better future, we’re looking for top talent who can drive sustainability initiatives forward. With a diverse team supporting you and longstanding workplace culture initiatives, AtkinsRéalis offers engineering opportunities where you can make a real difference and enjoy a fulfilling, rewarding career. 

Inspiring women in engineering

AtkinsRéalis is recognised as a leading industry organisation that supports gender diversity and looks to celebrate and inspire women in engineering to address the balance and create a level playing field for all. 

From professional development, including our Women’s Development Program to regular mentoring, diversity training and core inclusivity objectives, we’d love to welcome more top female talent to join us and further their civil engineering career in Australia. Find out more about our available jobs in Australia today.