Schools going a step further to increase culture and gender diversity
In 2021, sixteen schools partnered with industry to deliver QMI’s Women Who Weld (WWW) one day experiential MIG welding program, providing 194 registered students with the opportunity to learn welding. The outcomes from this program are outstanding and beyond expectations.
Our thanks to our partnership schools who hosted these in 2021, especially our Gateway Schools for Advanced Manufacturing, who included augmented welding (thanks Weld Australia!) which provided an accelerated experience for the students. A couple of our Advanced Manufacturing Gateway Schools went another step further.
Cairns SHS has since formed a Women's Welding club on Wednesday mornings before school with seven female students now taking Cert II Engineering pathways in Years 11 and 12, alongside their ATAR pathway. They even reported to their teacher "no sir, we don't need a girls only engineering class now as we feel safe if there's seven of us to get a look in.”
St Brendan's College in Yeppoon hosted a WWW program in June. The College (an all boys college) invited their sister schools from across the road to participate. St Ursula student Summer has now joined the industry on a school based apprenticeship. Thank you to Warren Campbell and Robert Green, Industrial technology and Design (ITD) staff who hosted and reported they were thoroughly impressed with their skills after one day.
St Edmunds in Ipswich - Big shout out to Eliza and the team from St Edmunds in Ipswich who did a WWW program in their all boys school for the disadvantaged sister students from the Flexi School down the road. Good on you people for the leadership and cultural maturity!
Now that's living the EREA touchstones and making a better world.
Only 27% of women in manufacturing and only 13% of engineers are female. This program was designed to assist this problem.
CUMMINS have now committed to another round of partnerships
in 2022.
85%
Of students who participated in the program said it has influenced interest in STEM subjects or careers.
7 out of 10
Girls chose Engineering pathways because of this one day experience.
St Josephs in Toowoomba reported 7 out of the 9 students are now taking Engineering pathways.
For QMI, Cummins, AIDN, AMWU, Frontline and Queensland Gaskets, it was an opportunity to foster and support, the medium to long term development, gender diverse and inclusive, highly skilled workforce in Queensland. Thank you from GISP for the partnerships and leadership.
“[Thanks to the WWW] I have developed a great curiosity to becoming an apprentice. I would love to learn more about the opportunities and how I can become part of the industry.”
Summer Tysoe, St Ursula College student.
