Tradeswomen Australia

 ..less than 2% of women have been employed in core trades for over twenty-five years.

The employment discrimination against women in the core trades of carpentry, automotive and electrical, which has remained less than 2% for over twenty-five years, has been listed as a major issue for the COVID-19 Recovery Strategy.

Fiona McDonald, Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia, said the National Skills Needs List (2019) lists 65 trades that are experiencing national skills shortages.

"At the same time, in the core trades, women historically are being discriminated against through lack of information and encouragement. 

"As part of the COVID-19 Recovery Strategy, which will see a record number of major projects costing billions of dollars being rapidly rolled out, addressing the historical discrimination against women being employed in the trades should be acted on potentially through contract requirements."

Ms McDonald said, "It is important that organisations, companies and government agencies take proactive action in encouraging and employing more women in the trades.

"There is also a need to implement a national program in the secondary school system to make girls aware of the potential trade careers which are available for women," Ms McDonald said.

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

a) Lack of information and engagement about trade with career advisors and secondary school girls

b) Poor workplace culture and social misconception make trades unattractive as a career path

c) No structure support systems for women working in male-dominated trade industries.

The COVID-19 emergency has focused the trades and companies on necessary health conditions and strategies that need to be applied in the workplaces and should improve the quality of amenities on work sites including the provision of toilets allocated for women.

Ms McDonald said Tradeswomen Australia has launched a national awareness campaign on the issue and is already working with a range of major companies and government departments to encourage a greater awareness of the contribution women can make to the trades area within the Australian economy.

"Currently more women are considering a career in the trades but it is often hard for them to break through the barriers of first getting an apprenticeship and then gaining full time employment," Ms McDonald said.

Footnote: 

Tradeswomen Australia

“My dad is an electrician himself and has told me I would be happier with another career path, and my teachers all believe it’s not the path I should take, because I'm a woman.” 

Research released on the barriers faced by females wanting to enter male dominated trades has provided a major focus and valuable resource for Government, industry and Australia’s education framework for the future, Tradeswomen Australia said today.

Fiona McDonald, Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia, speaking at the online launch of the results of Year13 and VERTO’s survey of over 1,000 females aged 15 to 24 from across New South Wales, said that whist the survey reflected some positives, it revealed many young women faced challenges closer to home and face significant negative community attitudes to pursue a trades career.

Ms McDonald said, “It is important for young girls and women to have encouragement and support from parents and schools to explore their options, especially as many traditional job opportunities are changing.”

“In my personal experience, after being discouraged at school to take up a trade and steered into a university course which lasted six months, an opportunity arose to become an apprentice car mechanic and I enjoyed a twelve-year career as a qualified motor mechanic.” 

Ms McDonald said Tradeswomen Australia is building an online resource for young women wanting to take up a trade or those women who are already qualified as a tradesperson and need support. The online resource also includes ‘Operation Protect and Preserve’ which provides support for apprentices facing employment difficulties during the current COVID-19 shutdowns. 

Excerpts from the Year13 and VERTO report   

“Parental and societal expectations of females in trades and careers generally were also found to be a significant hurdle in females entering these industries. Alongside this, a lack of support in high schools for females wanting to pursue trade-based apprenticeships was found to add to the sense that it is not a viable career path for females to enter. When asked who had encouraged them to pursue a trade, just under two thirds of respondents said nobody had, while 18% said their parents had and 13% said their teachers had.

The results of Year13 and VERTO’s survey of over 1,000 females aged 15 to 24 from across New South Wales have found that while there is a relatively strong interest from senior school students and recent graduates in doing an apprenticeship, a ‘boys club’ stigma means many are apprehensive about working in an environment with a lack of female support.

Visibility was also raised as a significant issue, with some respondents reporting that they had never seen a female tradie. Similarly, a lack of women teaching VET subjects and related subjects like Design & Technology in schools was raised as also leading to this lack of visibility and therefore awareness of what females could achieve in these industries. More female support in the recruitment and training process were highlighted as a key measure needed to alleviate the stigma of male-dominated trades.” *

“Trades could be more appealing to females by providing brochures, seminars and career open days for women wanting to work in trades, by successful women working in trades. No female I have ever spoken to is inspired to work in a trade or feel it is a viable option after an expo run by men, directed at men.” Aged 17, New South Wales 

Reference:

Year13 and VERTO 

‘Females in Trades and Apprenticeships New South Wales Survey’ 

Research Results and Findings July 2020

FULL REPORT DOWNLOAD HERE 

https://www.verto.org.au/images/VERTO_YEAR13_-_Females_in_Trades_Apprenticeships_NSW.pdf

WEBINAR LINK August 26th 6.30 PM 
https://year13.com.au/expo/live/future-of-work/events/overcoming-stigma-trades

In order to access the webinar, click link and sign in to create a free account with Year13 using your email address. 

Media Enquiries:

Ron Smith, Media Communications, Tradeswomen Australia 

Mobile: 0417 329 201

Tradeswomen Australia

The development of Australia’s Green Energy Industry will provide a major opportunity to address the entrenched barriers against women entering traditional male dominated trades in Australia.

Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia, Fiona McDonald said “with Australia’s Green Energy industry as a relatively new and expanding industry, there is a major opportunity for the industry to diversify and use the learnings from other industries who have proven the benefits of diversifying worksites.

“Currently women apprentices/trainees in the core trades of carpentry, automotive and electrical has remained less than 2% for over twenty-five years with three major national systemic problems.”  

Ms McDonald said the barriers for women entering a trade in the renewables sector are the same barriers women have experienced for decades across other male-dominated trade industries. These include:

a) Lack of information and engagement about trades with career advisors and secondary school girls

b) Poor workplace culture and social misconception make trades unattractive as a career path

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

World Economic Research findings in 2020 suggest that it will take another 99.5 years to close the overall gender gap. With Australia ranking 44th overall in the World Economic Forum Global Gender Index, tracking well and truly behind places like the Philippines, Bolivia and Mexico.

Ms McDonald said Green Energy will increasingly be one of the major driving forces in Australia’s future economic and social development and it will be important to increase the percentage of women employed in the Green Energy Industry.

“Proven advantages of having a gender balanced workforce include increased productivity, fewer workplace accidents, improved psychological safety (mental health), less equipment/machine failures and reduced turn over.

Ms McDonald said a gender balance in Australia’s skilled work force could lead to generational change and end the national embedded discrimination against women in the trades area which starts at the career advice and apprenticeship level. 

“The Green Energy Industry, as one of the most important foundations in building a sustainable national economic future, will play a major role in Australia’s developing gender balance in Australia’s Green Energy Workforce.“ 

Ms McDonald said in 2012, the Grattan Institute found 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

Reference:

* 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

Tradeswomen Australia Backs Government’s COVID-19 Strategies

Tradeswomen Australia today said it is vital to support the Federal and Victorian Government’s strategies against coronavirus and has welcomed the Government’s support for apprentices and employees.

Fiona McDonald, Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia said it is important to protect apprentices from the loss of their apprenticeships, or having them interrupted for a long period, which may result in them forfeiting their chosen career as they are forced to pursue work in other areas. 

“Apprentices who have partly completed their training and qualifications have made a big investment in their future and it is important they are given the opportunity to complete their qualifications.” 

Ms McDonald said tradespeople and apprentices out of work or impacted by the work interruptions are also encouraged to register for Tradeswomen Australia’s ‘Operation Protect and Preserve’. 

Tradeswomen Australia will be providing one on one support to help workers get back into the workforce, access financial support and address concerns relating to redundancy. 

“A range of events will be available on the website to address ongoing concerns from apprentices and supporting mental health, safety and resilience during these distressing times.”

Ms McDonald said the current national environment on many levels is incredibly stressful and it is vital to recognise that mental health will become an increasing issue. RUOK? is an important question to ask if you believe a colleague or workmate is struggling.    

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 would also promote the use of the Australian Government’s Coronavirus app to assist apprentices and their families remain safe and provide life saving information whilst also helping the tracing detectives save lives.  

·     ·        stay up to date with the official information and advice

·     ·        important health advice to help stop the spread and stay healthy

·     ·        get a quick snapshot of the current official status within Australia

·     ·        check your symptoms if you are concerned about yourself or someone else

·     ·        find relevant contact information

·     ·        access updated information from the Australian Government

·     ·        receive notifications of urgent information and updates

Coronavirus Australia app

Stay up to date with official information and advice about the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. You can check your symptoms and get notified when urgent information and updates are published.

Get the app

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

Tradeswomen Australia

It is vital to maintain as many apprenticeships as possible to retain the skill levels to rebuild the national social and economic foundations of Australia.  

Second right: Fiona McDonald, Managing Director of Tradeswomen Australia meets with young women apprentices in training at Box Hill Institute.

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 skills push amid deepening unemployment. 

Fiona McDonald
Managing Director
Tradeswomen Australia 

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.

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.

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

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

“Increasing the number of women in the building and construction industry is about the Federal and State Governments, along with industry, working towards dealing with Australia’s Skills Shortage."

Ms McDonald said 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.

“Given more than 50% of the Australian population is represented by women, it is time to utilise this national skills base which would lift national employment and productivity,” she said.

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.

Ms McDonald said in 2012, the Grattan Institute found 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.

www.tradeswomenaustralia.com.au

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