❓ Question regarding a Liberal-National government scholarship program aimed at encouraging women into non-traditional trades and promoting gender equity in Western Australia. The Minister details the program's funding and eligibility criteria.
AnsweredQoN 154Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TRADES
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN
154. Ms E. EVANGEL to the
Minister for Training and Workforce Development:
Last Tuesday, the minister announced a scholarship program to
encourage women into non-traditional trades. Can the minister please update the
house on how this Liberal–National government policy will encourage
better equity for women in Western Australia?
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN
154. Ms E. EVANGEL to the
Minister for Training and Workforce Development:
Last Tuesday, the minister announced a scholarship program to
encourage women into non-traditional trades. Can the minister please update the
house on how this Liberal–National government policy will encourage
better equity for women in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Perth for her interest in training and
workforce development and for her advocacy for women in her electorate.
I am thrilled to announce the achievement of yet another
election commitment in the women's interests and training and workforce
development portfolio. The commitment was for a $1.2 million scholarship
program to assist women to move into areas in which traditionally they have a
low representation—that is, less than 25 per cent participation. The
$1.2 million over four years will facilitate 400 scholarships with a value of
up to $3 000 each. These scholarships will be available to women over the age
of 18 years who have left school and who will undertake certificate III level
or above in specified qualifications. Women undertaking apprenticeships and
traineeships will be eligible for up to $1 000 and employers will be eligible
for an incentive of up to $2 000. That funding can go towards the cost of
training, learning resources, mentoring programs, fees —
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : The minister appears to be reading from an official
document and I call on her to table that document.
Several members interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
It is not her notes, it is typewritten; I can see that from here.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, are you reading from an official document?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Maylands, I call you to order for the third time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
Further, Mr Speaker has said in the past that points of order should be heard
in silence.
The SPEAKER : That is
correct.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
Both the Premier and the Deputy Premier interjected while I was making the
point of order.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you for pointing that out to me. Minister, is that an official document?
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : No; they are my private notes, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you; minister, continue.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
know that the opposition does not like it, but this is one of our strategies to
move women into occupations —
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Maylands—3.5.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
This strategy is about moving women into areas in which they have not
traditionally been well represented, because we know that they have a higher
earning capacity in those areas in which they have not traditionally been well
represented. If we want women to go into those areas in which they can earn
more money, we need to have some triggers and mechanisms to encourage them.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : This scholarship program will bring women into areas such as
agriculture, aviation, construction —
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
Suspension of Member
The
SPEAKER : Member for Maylands, please leave the chamber. I have
called you now to order for the fifth time. This is under standing order 48.
[The member for Maylands left the chamber.]
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Areas such as engineering, maritime employment and telecommunications are
amazing occupations that women have not traditionally taken the step to be
trained and employed in; therefore, they are not being employed to their
highest capacity to contribute to the economic future of the state. That is
what this program is all about. It has been well received by industry and by
students, and our training providers are most excited about it. I look forward
to hearing what the opposition's strategy might be around women's
interests, but I am satisfied that ours will work.
workforce development and for her advocacy for women in her electorate.
I am thrilled to announce the achievement of yet another
election commitment in the women's interests and training and workforce
development portfolio. The commitment was for a $1.2 million scholarship
program to assist women to move into areas in which traditionally they have a
low representation—that is, less than 25 per cent participation. The
$1.2 million over four years will facilitate 400 scholarships with a value of
up to $3 000 each. These scholarships will be available to women over the age
of 18 years who have left school and who will undertake certificate III level
or above in specified qualifications. Women undertaking apprenticeships and
traineeships will be eligible for up to $1 000 and employers will be eligible
for an incentive of up to $2 000. That funding can go towards the cost of
training, learning resources, mentoring programs, fees —
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : The minister appears to be reading from an official
document and I call on her to table that document.
Several members interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
It is not her notes, it is typewritten; I can see that from here.
The
SPEAKER : Minister, are you reading from an official document?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Maylands, I call you to order for the third time.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
Further, Mr Speaker has said in the past that points of order should be heard
in silence.
The SPEAKER : That is
correct.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS :
Both the Premier and the Deputy Premier interjected while I was making the
point of order.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you for pointing that out to me. Minister, is that an official document?
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : No; they are my private notes, Mr Speaker.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you; minister, continue.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I
know that the opposition does not like it, but this is one of our strategies to
move women into occupations —
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Maylands—3.5.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
This strategy is about moving women into areas in which they have not
traditionally been well represented, because we know that they have a higher
earning capacity in those areas in which they have not traditionally been well
represented. If we want women to go into those areas in which they can earn
more money, we need to have some triggers and mechanisms to encourage them.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : This scholarship program will bring women into areas such as
agriculture, aviation, construction —
Ms
L.L. Baker interjected.
Suspension of Member
The
SPEAKER : Member for Maylands, please leave the chamber. I have
called you now to order for the fifth time. This is under standing order 48.
[The member for Maylands left the chamber.]
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Areas such as engineering, maritime employment and telecommunications are
amazing occupations that women have not traditionally taken the step to be
trained and employed in; therefore, they are not being employed to their
highest capacity to contribute to the economic future of the state. That is
what this program is all about. It has been well received by industry and by
students, and our training providers are most excited about it. I look forward
to hearing what the opposition's strategy might be around women's
interests, but I am satisfied that ours will work.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.