Source: https://www.lloydslistaustralia.com.au/lla/market-sectors/staffing-crewing-and-training/DPWA-is-working-to-diversify-%E2%80%93-its-workforce-that-is-558341.html
Photo: Ian Ackerman
Ian Ackerman - Sydney
THE world of the wharfie is undoubtedly a male one, but if DP World Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah has anything to do with it, it will change.
Speaking at the recent Women in Logistics Forum in Sydney, Mr Scurrah said DPWA's workforce was 93% male.
"I'm embarrassed when I talk about these figures," he said.
"But, back in 2013 it was only 4% female."
Mr Scurrah said a major impediment to recruiting women for waterfront jobs were the entry requirements, including having physical strength, willingness (and ability) to work shifts, as well as workers having to start as casuals.
"Quite often now we see women are the main breadwinner, and they're not getting enough work as a casual, so they come for two, three months as a casual, and they leave us, and there's no other way to bring them in," he said.
"We are getting 50/50 participation in the interviews, and we are getting 25-30% of the intake coming in as women, but they're dropping off quicker."
Mr Scurrah said work needed to be done with the Union to ensure multiple entry levels into the organisation.
"Women could be far better train drivers, RTG drivers, better forklift drivers," he said.
"But at the moment because of the agreement between our people and the company through an enterprise bargaining tool, the only way to get into the company is as a casual doing heavy labour work. That's got to change, and we're doing our best to change it."
Another way DPWA is trying to attract a more diverse workforce is via different recruitment methods – including recruiting from women's sports.
"We know that they're not full-time athletes, so they need work, they need flexible hours, and they're physically fit," Mr Scurrah said.
"So we went and recruited three female AFL players, who have become three of our best employees in Brisbane, three who played in the AFL Women's Grand Final.
"We're also working with others, like the basketball league in WA, and we're working with rugby league competitions to work with at the highest level."