The first female-only engineering program Girls of Steel, designed to get more women into the engineering labour workforce, will begin in February at the Kariong trade campus.
The program, to run from Monday to Thursday during school terms, free of cost, will be completed over a year, with flexible hours available if needed to accommodate family commitments.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said women are underrepresented in the engineering field although they are more than capable of carrying out the work.
“An opportunity to study in a less male-dominated and non-threatening environment will, I hope, encourage more women across the Central Coast to enter into the profession and upskill,” Tesch said.
The project-based course work will be modelled off Certificate II in Engineering Pathways and a Certificate I in Work Skills.
Girls of Steel goes further than just the course, instead operating with an ambition to educate and to facilitate a supportive and smooth transition into the engineering workforce for all participants.
Brendan Richards Managing Director of The Skill Engineer, a local not-for-profit driving the program, said the course aimed to create tangible results.
“We’ve got a list of local companies who have reached out and expressed interest in securing graduates from Girls of Steel to go into apprenticeships once the course finishes,” he said.
“We’ve already transitioned three young women into trades and are extremely proud of them.
“It’s a great outcome for the Central Coast and these women.
“There are a lot of career opportunities in the engineering field and a lot of opportunity for advancement in the field once you’re in there.
“Don’t be turned off thinking it’s a traditionally male dominated field.”
Tesch said gender diversity in the engineering workforce is long overdue.
“It is 2022 and nationally over 87 per cent of the engineering labour workforce is still men,” she said.
“It is incredible to see free and follow-through initiatives like Girls of Steel driving the change and I look forward to seeing women in our community making the most of such a wonderful opportunity.”
The Central Coast campus is at 1 Kangoo Rd, Kariong.
For more information head to https://theskillengineer.com.au/girls-of-steel/.
Source:
Media release, Jan 31
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch