Narooma High School girls got the opportunity to try a trade and learn some carpentry skills when the SALT Bush Tour came to their school on Friday.
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SALT, which stands for Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen, in conjunction with the NSW Department of Education ran the workshop at several South Coast schools to encourage young women to consider a career in a trade.
SALT vice president Sonia Morgenweck was there with three other female trade mentors, helping the Narooma girls each make a cutlery caddy, which showed them the basics in carpentry skills and how to use nine different power tools.
“We’re here teaching the girls how to use hand and power tools,” Ms Morgenweck said. “We like to say everybody should learn how to boil and egg and use a power drill. Even if they don’t go into a trade, these are life skills everyone should have.”
Paying particular attention was Year 12 student Amylee Kelly said she wanted to be a carpenter.
“I enjoy making things and have always just wanted to become a carpenter,” Amylee said.
Program coordinator Fi Shewring said the workshops were aimed at encouraging girls to consider a trade career and also to get local employers thinking about taking on more women as apprentices in industries that are traditionally male dominated.
“The workshops are run by experienced tradeswomen, and aim to give young women an idea of what it takes to be a tradeswoman and the myriad of job opportunities available,” Fi Shewring said.
“Students will be given hands on experience of tools used in various trades including carpentry and painting and decorating.
“The volunteer tradeswomen also mentor the students about making positive career choices which will enable them to earn reasonable wage and build their self-esteem and confidence.
“We hope that local employers take notice that there are young women in their area who are seriously interested in a trade career.”
Approximately 20 girls from Narooma High School took part in the workshop on Friday.
SALT (Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen) is a support network for tradeswomen, apprentices and women/girls considering a career in a trade.
Women NSW formed a number of partnerships to increase the number of women working in male-dominated trades. Two of the partnerships with Women NSW are the Try-A-Trade trailer with SALT and the Girls In Trades ‘Ambassadors Project’ with the NSW Department of Education.
The Department of Education through Secondary Education - Senior Pathways is sponsoring SALT to run workshops in locations in the south of NSW. This is one of a number of initiatives to support students in rural and remote areas to consider a range of possible career pathways from secondary education. This initiative also provides young women with access to career role models.
For more information about SALT go to: http://www.saltaustralia.org/support.html
Find out more about Girls In Trades and other Women In Trades partnerships with Women NSW go to: http://www.women.nsw.gov.au/women_and_work/girls_in_trades