QMI ‘Women Who Weld’ Program set to improve gender diversity in trades
Manufacturing and engineering related industries in towns across Queensland’s Surat Basin are facing skills and labour force shortages. Manufacturing and engineering related jobs in these regions are dominated by males.
The Women Who Weld (WWW) program provided the opportunity for female high school students in years 10, 11 and 12, to learn the skill of MIG welding, followed by a tour into local industry to see how these skills translate into practice. The program was funded by Arrow Energy in cooperation with the Gateway to Industry Schools Program (GISP) and the Queensland Manufacturing Institute. The initiative has given female students insight into trade skills and career pathways, including local employment opportunities.
Jewellery trees produced by students (image above)
Local industries including Simplicity, Whites Industries and Arrow Energy opened their doors to participating teachers and students as part of the program. The young women had the chance to speak openly with female staff and be inspired by their career journeys into manufacturing. Throughout the program, each student applied their new MIG welding skills to create their very own jewellery tree.
With the majority of companies around the Dalby region being manufacturing based, students and teachers were able to draw the solid connection between how science, technology, engineering, design and math (STEAM) apply to jobs in the diverse industry.
Survey results from the March and June 2018 intake show that 88% of the participating students reported the WWW program has influenced my interest in STEAM subjects or careers.
Teachers from the schools remarked how influential the experience was for students. “We saw first-hand, opportunities in manufacturing being opened up for these young women, that had otherwise not been considered prior” said a surveyed primary school teacher.
The QMI, Arrow Energy and GISP initiative also provided teachers with the opportunity to undertake professional development in welding (including virtual welding) and industry updates including industry 4.0, blockchain and advanced manufacturing technologies. Teacher exposure to TAFE Harrison Assessments further assisted students with self-selection into an industry of choice based on behaviour profiling.
78% of female students says the program has influenced their subject choices for years 11 and 12 to include Science, Technology, Engineering, Design or Mathematics (STEAM) related subjects.
The program has influenced women into the trade pathway and Certificate II Engineering pathway courses at the participating schools based in Tara, Chinchilla, Miles and Dalby.
The Arrow sponsored Women Who Weld program will be offered to the Queensland Reference Group for manufacturing and engineering (QRG) for industry endorsement. This endorsed case study will then be shared with the Department of Employment Small Business and Training (DESBT) regions to collaborate with their local TAFE and high schools as one way of encouraging females into trade pathways. It’s a valuable pilot.
100% of the schools involved believe that the program has added value and assisted the Surat Basin students, teachers and local industries.
We thank Arrow Energy for sponsoring such important innovative programs which advances manufacturing and engineering in Queensland.
The Gateway to industry schools program is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government.