This month, delegates from the CEPU and ETU across Australia travelled to New Zealand for the first international Women In Male Dominated Occupations and Industries (WIMDOI) Conference! WIMDOI has existed for over 25 years, providing a forum for working women to share their experiences, learn from each other, and work together towards collective betterment.
Conferences are held every two years, and previously have been held across Australia, however this years’, conference being held in New Zealand provided a unique experience to attendees. Cultural elements from Te Ao Maori were intertwined into every day of the conference, and for the ETU and CEPU members from Australia, it added a special layer to WIMDOI.
The Conference was held across 3 days in Rotorua, North Island of New Zealand. Delegates rose each day at 7:30am for an 8:30am start. The conference itinerary varied, with stories from the Fair Work Commission, learning sessions about women’s health and improving accommodations in the workplace for all genders, and campaigns across unions for better wages and conditions.
One special moment of the conference was hearing from the NZPFU (New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union) during the conference about their ongoing fight for better wages and conditions, and then the next day all WIMDOI attendees joining them at their local rally, in an act of solidarity against government austerity and poor treatment of workers. When the local NZPFU members saw the massive WIMDOI contingent coming to join them at the picket line, they were incredibly grateful and the power of all women standing in solidarity was palpable.
Overall, the 2026 WIMDOI Conference was an incredible opportunity for delegates to learn from each other, share experiences and build solidarity across industries and across borders. It really highlighted the importance of collective action and the power that comes when working women come together to fight for better conditions for all workers. Conferences like WIMDOI continue to play an important role in creating spaces for women in male-dominated industries to connect, support one another, and strengthen the union movement for the future.
