❓ Minister Sanderson outlines initiatives supporting women in TAFE, including fee-free courses, scholarships, and partnerships to encourage participation in non-traditional trades, aiming to close the pay gap and provide access to high-paying jobs.
AnsweredQoN 510Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAFE courses and women's
pathways
510. Mrs Lorna Clarke to
the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to developing a skilled and productive workforce.
(1) Can the minister update the house on how
fee-free TAFE and low-fee TAFE is supporting women to gain quality jobs in WA?
(2) Can the minister advise the house on how the
government is creating pathways for women in non-traditional trades?
pathways
510. Mrs Lorna Clarke to
the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to developing a skilled and productive workforce.
(1) Can the minister update the house on how
fee-free TAFE and low-fee TAFE is supporting women to gain quality jobs in WA?
(2) Can the minister advise the house on how the
government is creating pathways for women in non-traditional trades?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Butler for
her question. It was a pleasure to join her and the member for Mindarie at
Clarkson TAFE a number of weeks ago. We met some fantastic young people
training in their new pathway for their new careers.
This week, we have seen the
launch of the new TAFE campaign, "You can make it here". It
highlights a range of skills and qualifications that are free and fee-free for
Western Australians in high-demand areas like clean energy, advance
manufacturing, defence, health care and metal fabrication trades. Importantly,
the campaign is also highlighting that women can make it in traditionally male-dominated
trades—the building, construction, engineering, mining, automotive and
electrical sectors. We know that the way to close the pay gap in Western
Australia is to provide access for women to those high-paying jobs in the
resources sector and in trades—well-paid local secure jobs. Women have
traditionally not had access to those jobs, and they are taking it up in
droves. It is so exciting to go to the TAFE campuses and see these young women
who are really tackling it. They often have a tough time and they are so
determined. They ring employer after employer, and the kind of responses they
get are "Is it for your son?", "Do you know that it's dirty?"
or "It's hard work". They keep ringing and ringing until they find
that employer who says, "Yes, I'll give you a go", and good on that
employer. They are so proud.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! The minister is trying to answer
the question. Thank you.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: These employers are so proud.
I was delighted a number of weeks ago to provide scholarships for women in
non-traditional trades. There is $2 million of funding from the state
government to provide 400 scholarships of $5,000 over four years for women who
are training in a trade and have an apprenticeship. It provides funding for
equipment, tools, living expenses and child care. Many women have existing
caring responsibilities. I met a number of women. Some of them were starting
their career and the kids of some of them were becoming trades apprentices
themselves and so they thought, "I'm going to have a go." It provides
the ability to pay the mortgage and the bills while providing a home for their
family.
Today we met Kiralee
Edgell, who is fabulous. She received one of the scholarships. She is embarking
on a successful career in the industry. She is employed as a first-class
machinist at a local small business, ProWest Engineering. She is the only
female tradesperson in a team of four machinists. She enjoys working on
projects in a range of industries. She is a great example of how TAFE is
breaking down barriers for women. Her colleague Mary is doing her second
apprenticeship. She is going to be highly skilled, particularly when we see the
development of AUKUS.
Today we also
announced the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union partnership with South
Metropolitan TAFE, which is funded by the Albanese Commonwealth government, to
introduce free trade courses for women over three years. The 2025 program is a
welding foundations for women course and it starts next week. The first tranche
was so successful that it had to put on a second tranche. We know that women
want to take on these trades. It gives women an opportunity to see what it is
like and to have a go. It is free. They can see what is required. It gives some
basic skills so that they can decide whether they will go into a pre-apprenticeship
or an apprenticeship. These are some of the real tangible ways that this
government is supporting the community and women to access the high-paid jobs
of the future.
her question. It was a pleasure to join her and the member for Mindarie at
Clarkson TAFE a number of weeks ago. We met some fantastic young people
training in their new pathway for their new careers.
This week, we have seen the
launch of the new TAFE campaign, "You can make it here". It
highlights a range of skills and qualifications that are free and fee-free for
Western Australians in high-demand areas like clean energy, advance
manufacturing, defence, health care and metal fabrication trades. Importantly,
the campaign is also highlighting that women can make it in traditionally male-dominated
trades—the building, construction, engineering, mining, automotive and
electrical sectors. We know that the way to close the pay gap in Western
Australia is to provide access for women to those high-paying jobs in the
resources sector and in trades—well-paid local secure jobs. Women have
traditionally not had access to those jobs, and they are taking it up in
droves. It is so exciting to go to the TAFE campuses and see these young women
who are really tackling it. They often have a tough time and they are so
determined. They ring employer after employer, and the kind of responses they
get are "Is it for your son?", "Do you know that it's dirty?"
or "It's hard work". They keep ringing and ringing until they find
that employer who says, "Yes, I'll give you a go", and good on that
employer. They are so proud.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! The minister is trying to answer
the question. Thank you.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: These employers are so proud.
I was delighted a number of weeks ago to provide scholarships for women in
non-traditional trades. There is $2 million of funding from the state
government to provide 400 scholarships of $5,000 over four years for women who
are training in a trade and have an apprenticeship. It provides funding for
equipment, tools, living expenses and child care. Many women have existing
caring responsibilities. I met a number of women. Some of them were starting
their career and the kids of some of them were becoming trades apprentices
themselves and so they thought, "I'm going to have a go." It provides
the ability to pay the mortgage and the bills while providing a home for their
family.
Today we met Kiralee
Edgell, who is fabulous. She received one of the scholarships. She is embarking
on a successful career in the industry. She is employed as a first-class
machinist at a local small business, ProWest Engineering. She is the only
female tradesperson in a team of four machinists. She enjoys working on
projects in a range of industries. She is a great example of how TAFE is
breaking down barriers for women. Her colleague Mary is doing her second
apprenticeship. She is going to be highly skilled, particularly when we see the
development of AUKUS.
Today we also
announced the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union partnership with South
Metropolitan TAFE, which is funded by the Albanese Commonwealth government, to
introduce free trade courses for women over three years. The 2025 program is a
welding foundations for women course and it starts next week. The first tranche
was so successful that it had to put on a second tranche. We know that women
want to take on these trades. It gives women an opportunity to see what it is
like and to have a go. It is free. They can see what is required. It gives some
basic skills so that they can decide whether they will go into a pre-apprenticeship
or an apprenticeship. These are some of the real tangible ways that this
government is supporting the community and women to access the high-paid jobs
of the future.
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