❓ Ms. Mettam asks about the progress of the Liberal-National government's scholarship program for women in non-traditional trades. The Minister responds with program details, achievements, and criticises the opposition's lack of focus on women in their job plan.
AnsweredQoN 601Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TRAINING — WOMEN IN NON-TRADITIONAL TRADES
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
601. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Training and Workforce
Development:
Can the minister please update the
house on the progress of the Liberal–National government's
women in non‑traditional trades scholarship program?
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
601. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Training and Workforce
Development:
Can the minister please update the
house on the progress of the Liberal–National government's
women in non‑traditional trades scholarship program?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Vasse for
this question. I know that the member for Vasse has been liaising with one of
the recipients of these scholarships who lives locally in her area, and has
spoken with her about the great future she sees ahead for herself in a career
in which there is a low representation of women—which is precisely the
reason we initiated this scholarship program. The program is worth $1.2 million
and will award 400 recipients over four years to assist them with entering into
training programs in areas within which there
is a low representation of women. So far, over 200 women have taken
advantage of this scholarship program and are being trained for future careers
across a diverse range of skills in areas within which we see low participation
rates for women, such as a diploma of engineering, a diploma of building and
construction, a diploma of systems analysis and design, and a certificate III
in process plant operation.
I was recently at the Australian
Centre for Energy and Process Training facility at South Metropolitan TAFE
talking to three amazing young women, one of whom was one of our scholarship
recipients. She is now looking forward to a career in plant processing in the
liquefied natural gas sector as a result of our program. She has moved in her
studies from a certificate III in process plant operations into a diploma of
engineering and continues to improve herself to ensure that she can make a great
career for herself in an area within which there is a low participation rate
for women.
Members will be pleased to note that we have recipients of the
scholarships across the state, including in the south west, Kalgoorlie,
Geraldton and Broome. There has been a broad uptake across a wide geographical
base. Out of this, we will start
to see a critical mass achieved for women for participation in these
industries, which will then allow for role models to be out in the community
encouraging other young women to take advantage of this program. I know that
there is criticism from those opposite, but on this side of the house we have created opportunities to
ensure that women have a pathway to re-employment if they have been out of the
employment market for a while, and w e
are engaging with young women in year 12 who are just leaving school to
ensure that there are opportunities for them and future career pathways that
will be lucrative and provide long-term employment. This is as opposed to those
opposite. How many times do members think Labor's job plan mentions the
word ''woman''? Zero. There is nothing in Labor's jobs
plan for women in Western Australia! Look forward to more initiatives from this
side of the house.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn.
Mr
F.M. LOGAN : We are doing jobs for only one gender!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Member for
Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time. Does anyone want a second
time?
this question. I know that the member for Vasse has been liaising with one of
the recipients of these scholarships who lives locally in her area, and has
spoken with her about the great future she sees ahead for herself in a career
in which there is a low representation of women—which is precisely the
reason we initiated this scholarship program. The program is worth $1.2 million
and will award 400 recipients over four years to assist them with entering into
training programs in areas within which there
is a low representation of women. So far, over 200 women have taken
advantage of this scholarship program and are being trained for future careers
across a diverse range of skills in areas within which we see low participation
rates for women, such as a diploma of engineering, a diploma of building and
construction, a diploma of systems analysis and design, and a certificate III
in process plant operation.
I was recently at the Australian
Centre for Energy and Process Training facility at South Metropolitan TAFE
talking to three amazing young women, one of whom was one of our scholarship
recipients. She is now looking forward to a career in plant processing in the
liquefied natural gas sector as a result of our program. She has moved in her
studies from a certificate III in process plant operations into a diploma of
engineering and continues to improve herself to ensure that she can make a great
career for herself in an area within which there is a low participation rate
for women.
Members will be pleased to note that we have recipients of the
scholarships across the state, including in the south west, Kalgoorlie,
Geraldton and Broome. There has been a broad uptake across a wide geographical
base. Out of this, we will start
to see a critical mass achieved for women for participation in these
industries, which will then allow for role models to be out in the community
encouraging other young women to take advantage of this program. I know that
there is criticism from those opposite, but on this side of the house we have created opportunities to
ensure that women have a pathway to re-employment if they have been out of the
employment market for a while, and w e
are engaging with young women in year 12 who are just leaving school to
ensure that there are opportunities for them and future career pathways that
will be lucrative and provide long-term employment. This is as opposed to those
opposite. How many times do members think Labor's job plan mentions the
word ''woman''? Zero. There is nothing in Labor's jobs
plan for women in Western Australia! Look forward to more initiatives from this
side of the house.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn.
Mr
F.M. LOGAN : We are doing jobs for only one gender!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan! I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Member for
Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time. Does anyone want a second
time?
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