Women interested in learning more about a career in male-dominated trades are invited to attend a free workshop in Traralgon on 9 September.
The event, brought to Gippsland by Baw Baw Latrobe Learning and Employment Network plus Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen and other organisations, is designed to give women an insight into working as a tradie.
Five practising women tradies will talk about their careers and teach participants how to use a number of hand and small power tools.
Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN chief executive Mick Murphy said the event was organised to encourage women to pursue careers in carpentry, mechanics, plumbing and other trades, which traditionally see few women.
“From a personal point of view I think gender should not be a determining factor in terms of career pathways,” Mr Murphy said.
He said trades provided workers with “enormous” opportunities such as owning their own business or working on large projects, and there were potential advantages for women.
“More often than not the customer can be female, so there’s a potential advantage if the tradie was also female for broadening the capacity of understanding,” Mr Murphy said.
He said the aim of increasing participation of females in non-traditional career pathways was a key objective of the State Government’s Women’s Economic Participation Action Agenda 2013-15.
Mr Murphy added many male-dominated organisations recognised the need for a more balanced workforce.
The workshop will be held on Tuesday, 9 September at the Traralgon Country Fire Authority complex, 158 Princes Highway.
Those interested in participating can phone Julia Lambert on 5177 2644 or the LLEN office 5633 2868.
