Sound NSW Commits $1.4M to Gender Equity and Safety Programs

Sound NSW has announced it will invest $1.4 million in programs aimed at improving gender equity and workplace safety across the state's music industry. 

The funding will support initiatives for women, gender-diverse and First Nations artists and industry professionals, as part of the NSW Government's broader $4 million, four-year response to the Raising Their Voices report.

Released in 2022, the independent report examined sexual harm, sexual harassment and systemic discrimination across Australia's contemporary music industry and outlined a series of recommendations for industry-wide cultural change. 

The latest funding will back four projects responding to Recommendation 13, which focuses on increasing the representation of women across the sector. 

Among them is MusicNSW's Tone Shift microgrant program, which provides financial support and equipment access for women and non-binary artists, alongside APRA AMCOS's Equalize program, delivering regional workshops for women and female-identifying music industry professionals. 

Funding will also support the Australian Women in Music Awards' First Nations Women's Music Showcase and a delegation attending its awards and conference, as well as the Music Producers and Engineers Guild's Headroom initiative for female and gender-diverse producers.

Head of Sound NSW Emily Collins said the investment was designed to address barriers that continue to affect artists and industry workers. “NSW is home to an extraordinary community of artists and industry professionals. Each and every one deserves to participate in the music industry safely and with equal opportunity," she said. 

“The Raising Their Voices report highlighted the need for action across the sector, which is why we are supporting practical initiatives that will help foster real change by creating safer workplaces, strengthening career pathways and reducing barriers to participation.”

The Buoys' Zoe Catterall, who is also a MusicNSW ambassador, added that access to equipment remained a huge hurdle for underrepresented artists. “Women, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists face additional barriers to visibility and recognition in what remains a traditionally male-dominated industry. Financial barriers to accessing gear to write, record, and perform sit on top of that.

“The more we invest in levelling the playing field, the richer and more representative our music scene becomes.”

Part of the $1.4 million investment will also go towards a new Full Stop Australia initiative addressing Recommendation 8 of Raising Their Voices, which focuses on preventing and responding to gender-based violence and sexual harassment.

The project, Safety Centre Stage, will develop resources including safety briefings, risk checklists, incident response guidance and contractor expectations for the live music sector. More than 200 music professionals across NSW are expected to receive training through the program.

“Sexual violence affects people in workplaces and communities across every industry; however meaningful change requires solutions that are grounded in the realities of each sector,” Full Stop Australia Head of Training Tash Mikitas said.“Safety Centre Stage is a practical prevention and response initiative tackling sexual violence and cultures that normalise or condone harm across the contemporary music industry in NSW.

“Artists and industry workers have long been speaking out about sexual violence and its impact on the music scene. As Australia's first specialist sexual violence response service, Full Stop Australia is proud to stand alongside the industry and help put safety centre stage.”

Sound NSW said it has already introduced several measures in response to Raising Their Voices, including a 50% gender quota across artist-facing funding programs and childcare allowances for touring parents.