Presentation (20 minutes) – maximum of two speakers per presentation TAFE Directors Australia Convention 2024

Teamwork makes the dream work: Cross-sector industry collaboration the key to promoting trade careers for women (102631)

Lani E Houston 1 , Amanda Carter 2 , Melinda E Davis 3
  1. TAFE NSW, Hay, NSW, Australia
  2. Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC), Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Empowered Women In Trades, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Empowering Women in Maintenance Trades is an immersive three-day program which offers women practical, hands-on exposure to multiple trades and career pathways within the meat processing industry.

TAFE NSW’s proactive approach to industry engagement was the catalyst for the initiative, with TAFE’s Industry Innovation Specialists alerting stakeholders to an opportunity to work with other organisations seeking to attract women to trades careers. The Australian Meat Processor Corporation was keen to take up the opportunity and the Empowering Women in Maintenance Trades initiative was born. With funding from the NSW Connecting Women to Trades grant program, the Corporation worked closely with TAFE NSW, Empowering Women in Trades, and Think Digital to develop the initiative.

The project hosted three cohorts in different locations across regional NSW. TAFE NSW provided statewide support, with delivery teams in the electrical, plumbing, and fitting and turning trades delivering the immersive experiences at the Muswellbrook, Wollongbar and Leeton TAFE campuses. Each program featured:

  • Hands-on interactive sessions on a TAFE NSW campus covering two trades, plus discussions about the apprenticeship structure and opportunities to speak with female trades apprentices and teachers.
  • One day in the workplace at a meat processing facility where companies discussed their overall business and plant operation. Women participated in practical sessions with female and male trades apprentice employees on-site, doing tasks that tradespeople are required to do in a meat processing context.
  • Human skills, including personal growth and self-reflection activities
  • Careers sessions with potential employers

Empowering Women in Maintenance Trades represents a creative and innovative approach to attracting women to rewarding careers in trades. This presentation will highlight the benefit of cross-sector stakeholder collaboration in developing new and effective ways to attract new people to industries experiencing critical skills shortages.