Pioneering Progress All-Girl Tradie Workshop Empowers Future Tradeswomen

Local Year 10 students are showing a big interest in joining the new wave of female tradies as more women take up the tools and follow a trade career, according to statistics recently released by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).   

Twenty students from four local high schools have participated in the all-girls Tradie for a Day workshop delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) with the support of BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA).

The hands-on workshop hosted by Pioneer State High School gave the students plenty of practical experience as they rotated through a variety of trades-based activities including the use of a virtual welder.  

The workshop brought together a diverse group of keen young women from Pioneer State High School, Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, Mackay State High School, and Sarina State High School 

Pioneer State High School principal, Ms Lisa Veney said the school was proud to host the workshop which highlighted the exciting careers available to young women keen on entering the resources sector.  

“There are a lot of resource-based organisations in the Mackay region and this workshop has revealed the great opportunities available to young women wanting to have a trade career,” said Ms Veney.  

BMA Asset President Adam Lancey said gender diversity and inclusion is critical for the success of all industries.

“We know from our own data that inclusive and diverse teams are safer, more productive and have a stronger culture.

“It’s inspiring to see the industry changing for the better and more women on the tools.

“Workshops like this give us a unique opportunity to engage with young women interested in a career in mining.”

QRC Policy Director for Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones said the number of women in trade positions in Queensland’s resources sector had jumped by almost 40 per cent in the last financial year.  

“We are now at a record high of having women employed in 13 per cent of all trade roles in the sector, with 9 out of 10 working in non-administration or clerical roles such as trades, engineering and environmental science,” said Ms Jones.

“I hope today’s workshop experience and engagement with the BMA has inspired the students to pursue their dreams of learning a trade and joining the resources sector.” 

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Skills in Action: Students from local high schools collaborate on trades-based activities at the all-girl Tradie for a Day workshop, supported by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy and BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. Photos supplied

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