TAFE grows female tradie workforce
New research reveals women comprise only two per cent of workers in construction .
TAFE NSW provides women with pathways into a range of construction trades and already boasts a comparatively higher proportion of female enrolments in construction courses at nine per cent .
There are programs in place to increase this further , for example the NSW Government ’ s Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program which includes targets for major infrastructure projects to double the number of women in trade-related work .
TAFE NSW students Grace Moss and Jasmin Phillips have secured their dream jobs as carpenters and are urging others to consider a career in the industry with demand surging thanks to the construction boom .
“ People don ’ t seem to expect a female arriving at a job but with so many other women now working in the industry [ especially ] in the north coast area , I hope we ’ ll be changing people ’ s idea of what it means to be a tradie ,” Ms Phillips said .
TAFE NSW carpentry teacher David Harris said the Certificate III in Carpentry is a nationally accredited course and fully subsidised under JobTrainer .
“ We do everything we can to
TAFE NSW is boosting the number of women in the construction industry .
Talent program for star struck youth
High school students looking to be the next big thing in performing arts are encouraged to apply now to the Talent Development Project ( TDP ) intake 2022 / 23 .
With a roll call of graduates that includes Las Vegas show-stoppers Human Nature , Aria chart-topper Paulini , and Hi Five original Nathan Foley – the TDP certainly does what its name implies .
Now in its 31st year , the TDP offers a unique training program , hosting monthly workshops for diverse , talented young artists to explore and develop their musical abilities in a creative and collaborative environment .
The program , which this month opened its doors for 2022 / 23 applications , is run in consultation with industry professionals and is offered to NSW Government secondary school students from Years 9-12 .
It ’ s a partly funded arts program by the NSW Department of Education and incurs no fees to students who are accepted into it .
Students explore different genres and styles , and creatively challenge themselves in areas of singing , song writing , production and performance .
The TDP has operated going on to work in the industry at some level . It keeps on producing quality graduates , according to stage and television great Peter Cousens , who is the artistic director .
“ Our objective is to guide these kids into a professional world where they can have a career , where they can pay their rent ,” Cousens says .
“ Some of them may go on if they are lucky enough to extraordinary success but most will be people that can make a living out of music .”
Whether you ’ re a musician , vocalist , singer-songwriter , musical theatre performer , in a band and love pop , contemporary , jazz , rock , folk , classical , metal , country or RnB , you should apply .
The TDP program runs annually from July to June with applications being accepted until 27 May 2022 .
For an audition application form visit : talentdevelopmentproject . org . au / apply-now . encourage and support women in trades at TAFE NSW and Jasmine and Grace are examples of the high calibre of apprentices produced . Increasing the number of women employed in the industry can contribute significantly to overcoming persistent skill shortages ,” Mr Harris said .
To find out more about the range of building and construction courses at TAFE NSW visit tafensw . edu . au or phone for five years , with around 131 601 . 80 per cent of graduates Last year ’ s graduates undertake the First Nations workshop .
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 83 // MAY 2022 23