- 400 TAFE scholarships for women on offer from 2024
- $5,000 one-off payment to help cover costs associated with training
- Scholarships to support women to start qualifications related to work in industries such as building and construction, automotive and electrical and engineering and mining
- Applications are now open for women enrolling in eligible courses at WA TAFE colleges
Applications are now open for the Women in Non-Traditional Trades Scholarship (WiNTT) – a program to help women break down stereotypes and train for their dream career.
The program will provide 400 women with a one-off $5,000 payment to support them to undertake eligible vocational education and training (VET) qualifications at WA TAFE colleges from 2024.
The WiNTT program is part of the Cook Government’s $3 million four-year investment to help reduce barriers to training and support increased workforce participation in traditionally male-dominated industries such as building and construction, automotive and electrical, and engineering and mining.
Daisy Hillam, a second-year apprentice carpenter completing a Certificate III qualification at North Metropolitan TAFE, features in a new campaign to promote the scholarships.
Although Daisy was nervous about joining a male-dominated industry and unsure about how she would manage the financial costs involved in completing an apprenticeship, she has found her work more fulfilling and exciting than she could have imagined.
Through her training Daisy has competed in the 2022 WorldSkills Regional Competition, attended the inaugural WorldSkills Excellence Forum in Brisbane and been a finalist in the 2022 Master Builders Apprentice of the Year Awards.
Daisy is proud to represent women working in construction and encourages women considering joining a trade to “go for it”.
There are currently around 2,500 women enrolled in courses eligible for the program – less than 12 percent – and it is hoped the WiNTT scholarship will help drive increased participation.
WiNTT will provide 400 scholarships to women, with 100 to be provided in 2024, to undertake training at WA TAFE colleges in non-traditional trades over the next four years.
Scholarship funding will help to reduce the financial barriers that women often face in training and upskilling, with the $5,000 payment helping to cover costs such as student fees, learning resources, tools, work clothes and personal protective equipment, work tickets and licences, transport, accommodation and childcare.
Scholarship recipients will also benefit from tailored mentoring and support services to help them to complete their qualification and successfully transition into employment in their chosen industry.
Scholarships will be available for women enrolling in an eligible qualification (either part time or full time) or an apprenticeship or traineeship; with 20 scholarships available through each WA TAFE college.
For more information visittafe.wa.edu.au or contact your local TAFE college.
As stated by Training Minister Simone McGurk:
“Women are underrepresented in many industries in our workforce, particularly those that have long been considered male-dominated, where less than 25 per cent of the workforce are women.
“This is frustrating, because there are great careers and earning opportunities that women should have access to.
“The WiNTT scholarship program is a fantastic initiative that aims to address this gender imbalance, by providing funding to help with the cost of fees, tools and equipment, transport, accommodation and childcare.
“The $5,000 one-off payment will make a genuine difference in breaking down the barriers many women face in pursuing their dream career.
“We want women to hear the message there are good opportunities in many of the traditionally male-dominated industries, and we want you to get access to them.
“WiNTT will support 400 women to undertake TAFE training in non-traditional trades over the next four years, boosting the pipeline of female workers and increasing the diversity across our State’s workforce.”
As stated by Women’s Interests Minister Sue Ellery:
“While there have been significant shifts in women’s workforce participation in industries such as building and construction and mining and engineering, we still have a long way to go to reach gender equality in our State’s workforce.
“Research shows that organisations with gender diversity are more profitable and productive and have improved employee satisfaction and decision-making.
“The WA Government’s WiNTT program is another way we are working to address gender segregation and the gender pay gap in the Western Australian workforce.
“By helping women to overcome barriers to participating in training, we’re encouraging more women to pursue their dream career and break down stereotypes about certain traditional jobs being ‘just for men’.”
