Tradeswomen Australia

 ‘Operation Protect and Preserve’ 

Tradeswomen Australia today has urged the community to continue to support the Victorian Government’s strategies against the coronavirus to protect Victorian families in the longer term. 

Fiona McDonald, Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia, said it is vital for the community to continue to treat the move out of lockdown with caution to protect themselves, the people they come in contact with, and the wider community.

"With all of the hard work and sacrifices made by thousands of nurses, doctors, Ambulance paramedics, Police, staff in Government agencies and the general community, it is important that all efforts are made to have a safe transition to living in a COVID Safe environment. 

Tradeswomen Australia will continue its 'Operation Protect and Preserve' program to assist apprentices who have lost their jobs or who have had apprenticeships put on hold during this period. 

The Tradeswomen Australia Operation Protect and Preserve apprentice action sheet listed: 

1.   REGISTER – On the Apprentice displacement portals 

2.   FINANCIAL SUPPORT – Check what Financial support is available 

3.   REDUCE YOUR BILLS – Get your budget under control 

4.   UPDATE YOUR RESUME – List all your experience 

5.   USE SOCIAL MEDIA- Reach out you to friends and acquaintances 

6.   NETWORK – Make a list of relevant contacts 

7.   APPLY - Go to Tradeswomen Australia Job’s Portal and register. 

8.   LOOK AFTER YOURSELF – These organisations provide free services to support you 

Register for ‘Operation Protect and Preserve’ on the Tradeswomen Australia website – www.tradeswomenaustralia.com.au 

Ms McDonald said the organisation will also promote information to assist apprentices and their families remain safe. 

Actions to keep COVID Safe

• stay up to date with the official information and health advice to help stop the spread of COVID-19

• get a quick snapshot of the current official status within Victoria

• check your symptoms, if you are concerned about yourself or someone else, get tested

• find relevant contact information

• access updated information from the Victorian Government.

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Tradeswomen Australia – Mobile: 0417 329 201

Tradeswomen Australia

Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia, Fiona McDonald, today welcomed the Victorian Government’s removal of bans on non-essential outdoor home maintenance and renovations, which provides the economic lifeblood for thousands of small trade businesses. 

Ms McDonald said many of these businesses are sole traders working in local areas depending on small renovations or maintenance for their work and economic survival.

“The provision of up to five tradies being allowed on the site in a COVID safe manner, means that jobs of a reasonable size can continue to proceed.   

“The increase in work also means extra business opportunities for suppliers, and importantly, stability for apprentices who have had their apprenticeships put on hold,” Ms McDonald said.   

Suncorp Bank, which examined the amount Australians have invested in renovation projects, found homeowners are spending $63,188 on average to spruce up their properties. In Victoria, $71,067 was the average cost of renovations in the Suncorp Bank September Report.*1 

“Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show in Victoria, women's full-time unemployment rate is 8.7 per cent, far higher than men at 6.1 per cent, and that in current job losses, women are losing their jobs at a rate 5 to 1 when compared to men.” 

“The COVID-19 recovery ‘shovel ready’ projects provide a substantial opportunity for Federal and State Governments to address and promote the employment of tradeswomen and careers in the trades to schools.”  

Ms McDonald said the Federal Government’s budget announcement provides a major opportunity to increase the number of women apprentices / trainees in the core trades of carpentry, automotive and electrical, which has remained at less than 2% for over twenty-five years.  

The economic benefits of employing women should not be overlooked with the Grattan Institute in 2012 finding that if there was an extra 6% of women in the workforce, we could add up to $25 billion, or approximately 1%, to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product. * ²

References:

* 1 Suncorp Bank Lending Data 28 September 2020 ‘The true cost of the average home renovation revealed’ 

* ² Towards 2025 An Australian Government Strategy to Boost Women’s Workforce Participation 

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Tradeswomen Australia Mobile: 0417 329 201  

Tradeswomen Australia

Women’s employment in the Trades has remained at less than 2% over 25 years

Mature women, aged up to 35 years, are being urged to consider a career in the trades in the wake of the reported job losses in Australia, averaging 3,500 a month since March 2020. The recent report from the Institute of Public Affairs says that 607,000 private sector employees lost their jobs between 14 March and 5 September 2020.*1 

Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia, Fiona McDonald said many of these jobs being lost are in retail, hospitality, and office work, which employ a substantial number of women across Australia, and have been decimated in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are urging women to take advantage of the Federal Government's $1.2 billion budget commitment to fund 50% of apprentices wages for one year and consider the opportunity to break into a well-paid trade career with valuable skills. 

“The COVID-19 recovery ‘shovel ready’ projects provide a substantial opportunity for Federal and State Governments to address and promote the employment of tradeswomen and careers in the trades to schools.”  

Ms McDonald, said the Federal Government budget announcement provides a major opportunity to increase the number of women apprentices /trainees in the core trades of carpentry, automotive and electrical, which has remained at less than 2% for over twenty-five years.  

Currently the National Skills Needs List (2019) lists 65 trades that are experiencing national skills shortages. Of those, 62 can be classed as male-dominated trades; only 3 could be classed as female-dominated. 

Ms McDonald said the economic benefits of employing women should not be overlooked with the Grattan Institute in 2012 finding that if there was an extra 6% of women in the workforce, we could add up to $25 billion, or approximately 1%, to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product. * ² 

The Barriers 

“Without immediate and significant change to remove the barriers for women to gain employment in traditional trades, a growing number of women in Australia will continue to face financial hardship and a greater risk of homelessness during retirement. 

"The battle for women to gain employment in the traditional trades starts with the lack of information and encouragement at school level which is compounded by the existing male dominance across the trades in Australia," Ms McDonald said.

References:

* 1 The Institute of Public Affairs Policy Report ‘Economic Scars: How the lockdowns have permanently disfigured the Australian economy’. Cian Hussey, Kurt Wallace 11 October 2020 

* ² Towards 2025 An Australian Government Strategy to Boost Women’s Workforce Participation

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Tradeswomen Australia – Mobile: 0417 329 201

Caroline Langan-Minca began her automotive career 21 years ago, when she started her mechanical apprenticeship at Mazda. Once qualified, she remained ‘on the tools’ for 2 and a half years, but also worked as a Service Advisor and in Sales. Being one of two female mechanics in a team of 12, Caroline identified a need in the market for women to be able to communicate their mechanical needs to a female mechanic.

Caroline then became the National Fleet Maintenance Manager of Repco Ltd, controlling all maintenance and repairs around Australia on Repco’s fleet of 1200 executive and delivery vehicles, and 500 forklifts.

From Repco, she then went to MotorOne, as the Victorian Electronics and Logistics Manager, organising aftermarket accessories (such as Bluetooths, alarms, cruise controls etc) to be fitted to vehicles at dealerships across the State.

Caroline and her husband, Craig Minca, who started his career in the automotive industry 23 years ago, when he began his apprenticeship in North Melbourne resulting in gaining extensive experience on a wide range of cars new and old, now run their own automotive service centre aptly named His n Hers Automotive Solutions, in Kilsyth. 

Tradeswomen Australia

The Federal Government's $1.2 billion budget commitment to fund 50% of apprentices wages for one year should provide an opportunity to llft the participation rate of women in the Trades area.

Fiona McDonald, Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia, said the Federal Government budget announcement provides a major opportunity to increase the number of women apprentices /trainees in the core trades of carpentry, automotive and electrical, which has remained at less than 2% for over twenty-five years. 

Tradeswomen Australia welcomes the announcement of the extra funds for apprentices as a positive action by the Morrison Government to help break down the barriers to girls and women being employed in the trades. 

Ms McDonald said, "Tradeswomen Australia, over a month ago, had launched 'Operation Preserve and Protect' to assist women apprentices who had lost their jobs or who were seeking an apprenticeship." 

The National Skills Needs List (2019) lists 65 trades that are experiencing national skills shortages. Of those, 62 can be classed as male-dominated trades; only 3 could be classed as female-dominated. 

"Currently given the large numbers of job losses which will impact on women's employment, it is an important time for girls and women to explore wider horizons for employment in the trades.

“Working within the trades area can open up opportunities for women to start and run their own businesses as a path to financial security.” 

Breaking Down The Barriers 

Barriers to increasing the number of women employed in the trades have been identified as: 

1. Lack of information and engagement about trades with career advisors and secondary school girls

2. Poor workplace culture and social misconception make trades unattractive as a career path

3. No structural support systems for women working in male-dominated trade industries.

Tradeswomen Australia is a not for profit organisation dedicated to increasing the number of women to access, participate and succeed in the trades area.

Media Enquiries:

Ron Smith, Media Communications, Tradeswomen Australia – Mobile: 0417 329 201

Tradeswomen Australia

Girls completing school at the end of the year are being urged to consider trade apprenticeships or employment in the trades areas to take advantage of the Federal Government's $2 billion training and skills push amid deepening unemployment.

Fiona McDonald, Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia said, the investment commitment by the Federal Government provides a major opportunity to increase the number of women apprentices /trainees in the core trades of carpentry, automotive and electrical, which has remained at less than 2% for over twenty-five years. 

"Currently given the large numbers of job losses which will impact on women's employment, it is an important time for girls to explore wider horizons for employment in the trades.

“It is important for girls and young women to be encouraged by their parents and career teachers to explore the trades which can lead to life time skills, good wages and a range of progressive career opportunities. 

“The other advantage of working within the trades area is that it can open up opportunities for women to start and run their own businesses as a path to financial security.”   

Ms McDonald, who trained as a motor mechanic, said "currently, one of the major challenges is overcoming the lack of knowledge at school level and with parents, that women have the potential and the ability to have successful, rewarding careers in the trades." 

The National Skills Needs List (2019) lists 65 trades that are experiencing national skills shortages. Of those, 62 can be classed as male-dominated trades; only 3 could be classed as female-dominated. 

Barriers to increasing the number of women employed in the trades have been identified as: 

1. Lack of information and engagement about trades with career advisors and secondary school girls

2. Poor workplace culture and social misconception make trades unattractive as a career path

3. No structural support systems for women working in male-dominated trade industries.

Tradeswomen Australia is a not for profit organisation dedicated to increasing the number of women to access, participate and succeed in the trades area.

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Tradeswomen Australia – Mobile: 0417 329 201

Tradeswomen Australia

Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales, 1902

Woman got the right to stand for the Commonwealth Parliament in 1902 

“In 2020, women fight a similar battle to that of 100 years ago when they fought to secure their right to vote to fairly participate in a democracy, now they fight another battle to fairly participate in the workforce”. Jane Sydenham-Clarke, Chair, Tradeswomen Australia 

Tradeswomen Australia’s Managing Director, Fiona McDonald said it is vital that the COVID-19 recovery employment strategies by Government, business and community organisations recognised the importance, capability and contribution of women in the national workforce.

Ms McDonald said the recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show in Victoria, women's full-time unemployment rate is 8.7 per cent, far higher than men at 6.1 per cent, and that in current job losses, women are losing their jobs at a rate 5 to 1 when compared to men. 

“There are some Government programs, companies and industries who have started a positive journey of change to encourage the employment of women and female apprentices.   

“However, the massive loss of employment as a result of COVID-19 requires a strong focus and attention to the restoration and expansion of employment opportunities for women to redress the major current imbalance in the trades and other areas.”