The Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF), the nation’s leading tourism and transport advocacy body, has welcomed the Women in Transport program released by the Victorian Government to attract more women to the transport sector.

The $1 million program announced by Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and Minister for Roads and Ports Luke Donnellan to provide scholarships to women studying transport-related degrees, will increase the number and influence of women employed in the transport industry.

“The Victorian Government is to be congratulated for undertaking this initiative. The goal of increasing the number of women working in the transport sector from 16 per cent to 25 per cent by 2020, and to encourage the progression of women to senior and leadership roles, is fantastic news for women and for the transport industry,” said Margy Osmond, TTF CEO.

“The transport industry has long been dominated by males, and any move to support greater gender diversity is important.  Statistics from the Australian Government Workforce Gender Equality Agency tells us that across Australia, women make up just 21.7 per cent of the transport sector workforce. This must change.

“The combination of the Victorian Governments transport infrastructure agenda and the Women in Transport program announced today, will no doubt provide great opportunities for Victorian women to play a leading role in shaping the mobility and infrastructure needs of the future.”