With National Skills Week just a month away, WorldSkills Australia is shining the spotlight on tradeswomen by encouraging them into traditionally male-dominated fields.
The second annual skills week, which will take place from August 27 to September 3, will highlight the importance of practical and vocational learning – providing Australians with a greater understanding of trainee programs and apprenticeships.
Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) has collaborated with world skills to promote and facilitate more females into skill specific fields.
Figures show that 98.4 per cent of tradespeople in manual work are males – highlighting the importance of supporting more females into the industry.
SALT identified that gender discrimination attributes to skill shortages, with many non-trade industries disregarding females as viable staff members.
Demonstrating gender equality, providing support systems and familiarising young girls with tools and trades at a young age, are all important strategies to encourage more females into trade industries.
Vocational Education and Training will be the focus of the next month’s National Skills Week, informing the public about the value and skills of Australian apprentices and trainees.
There will also be an emphasis on technology evolution and its impact on trades, available opportunities for minority groups such as indigenous Australians and employees with disabilities, as well as urging more women into building, construction and automotive trades.
