‘Fantastic’ boost in women on the factory floor

The Kimberly Clark mill in regional South Australia is welcoming a return of women to its factory floors.

Fifty years ago, many shifts at the Millicent mill were entirely female, but the manufacturing industry has become increasingly male-dominated since then.

The company said it made an active decision to change its approach to hiring in 2020 after no women were recruited for production the year before.

The mill hired 17 new factory floor employees last year — nine were women.

Kristi Vilde was one of those new recruits.

At 40, she decided it was time to try something new and change careers.

“Initially, it was a little bit daunting coming in,” she said.

“I went into a shift where there were more women in the crew — we’re a shift of seven and there are four women and three men.

“So it was almost a little bit comforting to be able to go into a shift where there were other women and like-minded people.”

She works as a multi-folder technician in the mill and said it was a big change from her previous career in disability services and retail.

“It’s been a good opportunity,” Ms Vilde said.

“You actually can feel a little bit liberated because you’re learning different skills.

“You’ve got big cranes and there’s a multitude of different tools and you know, if you’ve never had experience, don’t let that be a fear to hold you back.”

Her message to other women considering a career tree change was to “give it a go”.

“Don’t be afraid, because once you get into the workforce, you know, it’s always supported for women.

‘It’s been fantastic’

While Kelly Thompsell hasn’t changed careers, her field has changed around her.

She started working at the Kimberly Clark mill in Millicent 24 years ago, as a graduate chemical engineer.

“When I did start, there were a lot fewer women in operations,” she said.

“I was mostly at the mill across the road, and I don’t think there was actually any women in operations there at all. 

She said increasing awareness has made a difference in women being interested in joining the manufacturing workforce.

“That perception is changing. People are getting a better idea of what it actually means to work in a manufacturing facility. A lot more people think, ‘Well, I can do that, that’s not that hard.,'” Ms Thompsell said. 

“People are being educated in the fact that  it’s not a skill set that requires brawn, it requires brains.”

“I think [it’s] helping with women thinking that it’s even a job that they will apply for.”

Ms Thompsell said increasing the number of women in the manufacturing workforce was “fantastic”.

“The crews develop like families, and you need variety in a family,” she said.

“I’m a big believer in promoting not only women and female equality, but STEM as well  — science, technology, engineering, math.

“Your sex should not in any way, define what you choose to do in life.”