👩‍🚒 Are female fireys getting their fair share?

LATEST HEADLINES IN WEST VIC 🗞️

🧑‍🚒 “Risking lives, earning less”: Why is there a gender pay gap for Vic firefighters?

Women on Forest Fire Management Victoria crews are being paid thousands of dollars less than their male colleagues, according to the Australian Workers’ Union, which is alleging a widening gender pay gap in the state’s forest firefighting workforce.

However, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has told the Brolga variations in median salary reflected workforce composition rather than unequal pay for the same job.

❓What happened: The union says its analysis of Victorian Public Service data shows female FFMVic field staff have fallen further behind over the past four years, claiming women missed out on an estimated $4,255 in pay increases compared with men in equivalent frontline roles.

🔢 The numbers: According to the AWU:

• The median male salary for FFMV field roles rose by $8,036 between 2019 and 2023, while women’s wages increased by $3,781 over the same period. 

• The gender pay gap among field staff in that timeframe has expanded from 3.4 percent to 9.5 percent. 

• It says the current median salaries sit at $58,787 for women and $64,966 for men, a difference of $6,179.

😡 Union anger: AWU Victorian Branch President Ross Kenna said “women are doing the same dangerous work, facing the same fires, risking their lives to protect communities, yet DEECA has allowed a pay gap to blow out considerably”.

AWU Victorian Secretary Ronnie Hayden argued the situation pointed to systemic undervaluation of women in emergency services roles. 

He said women were highly trained professionals but had not benefited equally from wage growth.

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🪾The ancient stories of Gunditjmara

In the newest instalment of our Budj Bim Cultural Landscape coverage, I’ve provided a brief insight into the fascinating history of the traditional owners and the evidence of their culture that dates back thousands of years, from the extensive system of eel traps, to the cultural smoking trees that cooked them, to the stone houses they lived in.

Watch the video below for the full story.

LOOKING NATIONALLY 🤓

An interesting one from the National Account this week:

Australian scientists have tested toxic chemicals found in our waterways on mouse sperm, and the results suggest we may need to look more closely at how exposure may affect our ability to have children.

Reporter Archie said Professor Brett Nixon was among the researchers studying how “forever chemicals” (PFAS) affect mouse sperm, using exposure levels found in real-world contaminated areas like Williamtown, NSW.

The scientists looked at how PFAS exposure affected sperm production, hormone levels, and signals carried by sperm that are important for embryo development in mice.

They found that while the sperm looked normal and could still function, they carried hidden molecular changes that could affect early embryo development.

For Archie’s full breakdown, check out this video: