Goulburn Murray Local Learning Employment Network organised a ‘Girls Try Trade’ program on Friday, July 14, which provided an opportunity for 15 girls from Greater Shepparton Secondary College to experience the ins and outs of trades at Watters Electrical and Total Plaster Supplies.
“We’re going around trying out different trades. Today we’ve been doing plastering and learned about electrical work,” Year 9 student Vera Asante said.
“It’s been so much fun.
“We went on stilts, cut some plaster, attached some moulds, and got to visit one of their (Total Plaster Supplies’) construction sites at Mercedes (the Ken Muston Mercedes-Benz dealership).
“We then came here, to Watters Electrical, where we got to set up a light bulb circuit with a switch, which was really fun.”
The program offers young women an opportunity to dip their toes in a variety of traditionally male-dominated industries.
It’s an initiative that’s welcomed by Elleanor James, a second-year apprentice at Watters Electrical.
“It’s really good to see so many female students here today,” she said.
“When I started, I personally didn’t know any girls that were tradies, and I wish I had someone to go to ask about the trade.
“So, it’s really good that so many are interested.”
Watters Electrical occupational health and safety human resources manager Ross Hammer said the business was proud to continue to support equality within trades.
"Currently, we have four female apprentices within our business, and we value the diversity that women in trades provide us,” he said.
“We will continue to offer opportunities to support females at Watters.”
GMLLEN executive officer Bec Costa-Lowe said she hoped this program could inspire more girls to enter trades.
“We’ve put together the program for Year 9 girls to let them have an experience of what may be deemed as male-dominated roles, but we’re trying to really get them to aspire to those pathways as well and fill some skill shortage areas.”
The second part of the program will commence on Friday, July 21, at GOTAFE.