Nine female students from Eden Marine High School have learned how to handle drills, drop-saws and other tools during a one-day workshop in which the girls were encouraged to try a trade.
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The Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen mobile workshop has toured NSW - from Broken Hill and Boggabri to Nyngan and Narooma - Victoria and the ACT, encouraging young women to consider becoming tradies and employers to take them on as apprentices in traditionally male-dominated careers.
SALT founder Fi Shewring said the workshops were run by experienced tradeswomen, including crane operators, painters and decorators, landscape gardeners, bakers, carpenters, mechanics, electricians, plumbers and arborists.
The workshops not only taught the girls how to handle a range of tools but also empowered them with important life skill, she said.
Monday's workshop at EMHS was the 103rd session held since SALT started in September 2014. The Salt Bush Tour moved on to Bega High School on Tuesday and will travel to other schools across the Snowy Mountains and Queanbeyan in coming weeks.
Safework principles were paramount with each student given a work, health and safety induction at the start of the sessions and instructed on the correct use of personal protective equipment such as high-visibility vests, earmuffs and goggles.
The NSW Department of Education sponsors SALT to conduct the workshops which are considered to be particularly important for girls in regional and remote areas so they can be afforded as many career choices as possible, and also put into contact with role models.
We hope that local employers take notice that there are young women in their area who are seriously interested in a trade career
- Fi Shewring, SALT
“SALT’s Bush Tour workshops are run by experienced tradeswomen and aim to give young women an idea of what it takes to be a tradeswoman and the myriad job opportunities available,” Ms Shewring said.
“The volunteer tradeswomen also mentor the students about making positive career choices which will enable them to earn reasonable wages and build their self-esteem and confidence,” she said.
She wanted to broaden the students’ horizons and help break down the stereotype in society that certain jobs could only be done by a certain gender.
The EMHS students – from Year 10 and 11 – completed a cutlery caddy during the workshop, using various tools and techniques.
“The take a great deal of pride in being able to take home an item that they have successfully completed in just one workshop,” she said.
Programs are also run for primary school children to which their parents are invited to attend, she said.
