The world is changing

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS... Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) year 9 student, Shania Megio is assisted to walk on plasterer stilts by GSSC careers leader Natasha Boyko and Suni Tafe's Mark Toy at Total Plaster Supplies as part of a Women in Trades Day taster program. The program which was orchestrated by Goulburn Murray Local Learning and Employment Network encompassed 15 year nine students from GSSC, taking the students to Watters Electrical for further immersive experiences. The taster program will conclude at GOTAFE on Friday, July 21 where the students will meet with industry experienced, female trainers. Photo: Brittany Drysdale

By Natasha Fujimoto

PROGRESS is impossible without change, but when it is afoot it breathes in nothing but opportunity and future possibility.

With 11 of the top 20 skill shortages across the nation being in the trades, incentivised employers are attracting more female apprentices to the industry than ever before, recognising as they do so the additional skill set and qualities that young women bring to the job.

Proudly supporting Women in Trades Day by organising an immersive trades program for 15 Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) students, Goulburn Murray Local Learning Employment Network (GMLLEN) kicked off a series of hands-on immersive visits to local trade businesses on Friday, July 14.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS… Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) year 9 student, Shania Megio is assisted to walk on plasterer stilts by GSSC careers leader Natasha Boyko and Suni Tafe’s Mark Toy at Total Plaster Supplies as part of a Women in Trades Day taster program. The program which was orchestrated by Goulburn Murray Local Learning and Employment Network encompassed 15 year nine students from GSSC, taking the students to Watters Electrical for further immersive experiences. The taster program will conclude at GOTAFE on Friday, July 21 where the students will meet with industry experienced, female trainers. Photo: Brittany Drysdale

Getting on plasterer stilts and having a go at building switchboards, the 15 GSSC students toured Total Plaster Supplies and Watters Electrical as part of the program where they enjoyed rotating activities at each as a mere ‘taster’ to a possible life and career working in a trade.

To conclude the program the girls will head to GOTAFE on Friday, July 21 to meet with industry experienced, female trainers to round out their experience.

“This is the first girl orientated try a trade program that we’ve done, specifically targeting year nine girls,” said GMLLEN executive officer, Bec Costa-Lowe watching a group of students enjoy the challenge of walking on plasterers’ stilts at Total Plaster Supplies.

“We are working with the girls to grow a greater understanding and awareness of where the opportunities in trades are before they step into their year ten work experience subject selection.

“Having women in a trades program such as this gives the girls the freedom to feel comfortable trying out new skills and hopefully this will transition into apprenticeships later on down the track.”

Considering construction and engineering as future career path, 14-year-old Vera Asante said of the taster, “I’m so glad and happy for schools to be doing things like women in trades because it’s really enjoyable.

“In the future, I think there is going to be a lot more girls in trades, engineering and STEM. And I think there’s probably going to be a lot more boys entering into traditional female dominated roles as well. The world is definitely changing.”

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