The ARA has begun analysing data from its members on gender equality in the rail industry and hopes to release the results early next year.  

The survey applies to the period between between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, which is based on the Australian Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).  

The survey provides critical information needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of female participation in the industry in order to progress the ARA’s work to close the gender gap.  

The ARA has also recently engaged Diversity Partners to undertake qualitative research to complement the WGEA quantitative Diversity Report. The purpose of this research is to better understand the barriers to women entering and in the rail industry and identify successful initiatives that would be recommended as best practice. Industry consultation as part of this research will occur in February 2024. 

The ARA releases its Gender Diversity Report every two years to track the industry’s progress across Australia and New Zealand. 

This will be the third time the ARA has run the survey over six years. 

Our latest report was released in 2022, confirming that while more women are advancing their careers in rail, there remains more work to do to improve participation in the industry. Women currently make up 24 per cent of the rail workforce, with more women also taking on leadership roles. 

Earlier this year, the ARA released its  three-year Women in Rail Strategy aimed at increasing female participation in the industry to help ensure its long-term sustainability. 

For information on the ARA’s Women in Rail program and to access our Gender Diversity Resources Guide go to https://ara.net.au/professional-development/women-in-rail/