The Australian Power Institute (API) is excited to announce its application for $1M in funding under the Building Women’s Careers (BWC) grant program to support the next phase of the Powerful Women Leadership Program. Building on the success of the first round, which supported over 200 women in technical and leadership roles across the power sector, this second phase focuses on strengthening the inclusion of women in Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways while delivering impactful initiatives to foster structural and cultural change in the clean energy workforce.
This application is supported by an impressive $1.3M in co-funding from API members and industry partners, reflecting their deep commitment to addressing gender diversity challenges.
Program Activities
The Powerful Women Leadership Program Round 2 will deliver a wide range of activities over three years, designed to increase women’s participation in clean energy careers and leadership roles.
Scholarships for Career Development ~180 part scholarships will enable women to participate in the API Summer School, covering 40% of registration costs for professionals and 96% for university and VET students.
Leadership and Career Development Programs Participants will access monthly leadership sessions, a four-day retreat, and ongoing mentoring tailored to their goals.
Powered by Diversity Workshops Annual workshops will bring together participants and 50+ male professionals to foster allyship and address barriers to gender equity.
Action Forums and Reports Annual forums will identify barriers and share actionable strategies to improve workplace safety, culture, and training-to-employment transitions. Two comprehensive reports will provide insights and recommendations to drive sector-wide change.
Career Pathways and Inspiration 45+ profiles of women in the power sector will highlight diverse career pathways, including VET opportunities. Companion resources will be created to inspire the next generation.
Public Engagement Events Events for National Careers Week and International Women in Engineering Day will connect with students and young professionals, supported by 50+ trained “Power Ambassadors” visiting schools to promote clean energy careers.
Social Media Campaigns 300,000+ engagements will raise awareness of study and career opportunities, building visibility for women in power engineering.
Industry and Partner Support
The success of this application is a testament to the strong support of API’s members and collaborators. Letters of support were provided by most API member organisations, with backing from key industry associations, including Energy Networks Australia (ENA), Clean Energy Council (CEC), CIGRE, and Electric Energy Society of Australia (EESA).
This widespread support highlights the collective commitment of the power and clean energy sector to fostering diversity and addressing workforce challenges. These partnerships will provide expertise, mentorship, and dissemination of resources to maximise the program’s reach and impact.
Implementation and Thanks
Submitting this proposal within tight timeframes required exceptional collaboration across API’s team and member organisations. We sincerely thank our members for their rapid feedback and support, which were critical to meeting the application deadline.
API’s team has worked tirelessly to shape a compelling application that builds on the success of Round 1. By integrating feedback from previous participants and partner organisations, we’ve enhanced the program to better support women in VET and other underrepresented pathways.
Looking Ahead
The Powerful Women Leadership Program Round 2 represents a unique opportunity to create lasting change in the clean energy workforce. By leveraging API’s proven expertise, strong partnerships, and industry co-investment, this program will drive systemic improvements and inspire the next generation of women in power engineering.
We look forward to sharing updates on the program’s progress and outcomes as we continue our work toward a more diverse and inclusive energy sector.
When will we know if we are successful with the grant?
Outcomes of our application should be known in February 2025 – we expect the competition to be strong for the limited funding available, but also believe we have a compelling proposal.
What happens next:
We will be seeking Expressions of Interest in early 2025 on the hopeful assumption that we are successful in securing the grant, seeking to offer 30 scholarships for the 2024-2025 Summer School x Powerful Women program in Melbourne. The scholarship has a goal to increase participation by VET-qualified or studying women in power, but also support women on other career paths.
Scholarships will also be available for the 2026 Summer School x Powerful Women program in Brisbane and the 2026 School in Adelaide.
Scholarship numbers | Scholarship % of cost | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | Total |
Location |
| Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide |
|
VET/undergrad students | 96% | 15 | 30 | 30 | 75 |
0-3 years experience | 40% | 5 | 15 | 20 | 40 |
4-6 years experience | 40% | 5 | 15 | 20 | 40 |
7+ years experience | 40% | 5 | 10 | 15 | 30 |
Total scholarships | 40% | 30 | 70 | 85 | 185 |
Get Involved
We invite individuals and organisations passionate about advancing gender diversity in the clean energy sector to join us in this journey.
If you’re interested in participating, supporting, or learning more about the Powerful Women Leadership Program and the POSSIBLE scholarships that will be available, we encourage you to fill out the Expression of Interest (EOI) form at https://apiforms.wufoo.com/forms/zq7kk8v0hnag5o/.
Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive energy workforce for the future.
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