Millennial & Gen X
MID-SENIOR Women
They got here by adapting. The strategies that made that possible are now the ceiling and nobody has told them it is safe to put them down.
The Challenge
In male-dominated industries, culture is often set early long before leadership titles arrive. Many early-career men enter the workforce with good intent, but limited guidance on inclusive behaviour, power, and influence.
Without early intervention, unspoken norms take hold, allyship becomes inconsistent, and outdated behaviours are unintentionally reinforced
Over time, this creates cultural drag, increased risk, and stalled progress across teams and organisations
The Approach
The Emerging Male Allies Program focuses on early-career men as a critical leverage point for cultural change.
It builds understanding behaviour and practical allvship skills of the stage where habits, influence, and leadership patterns are forming
Participants learn how gender equality operates in real workplaces and how to exercise influence responsibly, contributing positively, consistently, and confidently to the teams and cultures they will help lead
"I am so much more confident in myself and the value I bring to my job. I feel like I can hold my own in difficult conversations. I am communicating better and am able to ask for clarification and assistance more easily. I feel more empowered to actually take up space on site and in the workplace and have stopped trying to make myself smaller."
Claudia
Graduate Engineer - 3 years
"At Urban Utilities I've had a number of early career women from my team complete the program. They really enjoyed it and are still getting so much value from it. There is not much else available that is similar to this for the them so great to see a program dedicated to this stage of career. Essential to support, encourage young women early on in their careers to build their confidence and continue to fan the flames!"
Dr Sonja Toft
Urban Utilities
"Not only does it have a massive impact on the development of the woman doing the program, but the business benefits too. Having someone who is confident enough to bring ideas to the table and who can communicate effectively is invaluable. My manager has already been giving me great feedback about the way my communication and confidence has increased since starting the program."
Lucy
Environmental Advisor (1 year)
  The Curriculum
What gender equality means in the workplace
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Meritocracy, stereotypes, and unequal starting points
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How bias operates in everyday systems
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Power dynamics and influence in practice
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The impact of harmful masculinity norms on bystander action
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Communication under pressure and uncertainty
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Turning intent into consistent, constructive action
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Gen Z in a Gen X World
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Gen Z in a Gen X World
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been
Gen Z in a Gen X World
What is Lorem Ipsum?
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When early career women have the self-concept, skills, and peer support they need to own their role, they do.
That's what the First Five Program facilitates.
More women means better business.
The pursuit of gender equality is complex - from recruitment challenges to successfully getting women back from maternity leave to historical glass ceilings.
However, when leaders ask me what will create the strongest long-term change within their organisation, my answer never varies:Â
Focus on keeping and empowering the young women you already have.
The truth is, a large reason we're in this position (still 100 years to equality!) is because we tend to take the earliest part of the pipeline for granted. When women who are new to their careers feel like valued contributors, they'll stay long enough to be promoted into leadership positions, they'll attract other women, and they'll want to come back from mat leave.
Is it really that simple? I believe it is. And when you see what your early career women can really do with the support of the First Five Program, you'll believe it, too.
Tanya Andrews, First Five Program Lead Facilitator
Founder of Trellis Collective, Girl Shaped Flames, and UNIQ You
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Registrations Close
Provide the namesandcontact details of your selected participants by this date. Please note: deferral fees apply if you need to cancel or delay participation beyond this date.
Program Delivery Begins (Virtual)
Weekly sessionsrun 12:30–2:00pmQLD time, with Tuesday or Wednesday cohort options. Once placed, participants stay in the same weekly slot for all 10 weeks.
Manager Training (Virtual)
Deliveredvirtually, 2.5hours persession. Attendance at both sessions is required for all managers.
Feedback Loop Presentation
Deliveredvirtually,sharingaggregatedparticipant insights with HR and managers.
Trellis Collective acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
