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Women in trades
At TAFE Queensland we're passionate about encouraging and empowering more girls and women to consider pursuing a trade pathway.
Women seeking broader job opportunities, stable employment and hands-on careers are taking up apprenticeships and helping to fill a number of skills shortages.
TAFE Queensland is proud to work with government, industry and employers to support a pipeline of talented women and girls into careers in male-dominated trade industries.
Read about our tradie trailblazers
Interacting with an electrician at the holiday park she was managing flicked a switch inside Leah O'Connor and convinced her to become a sparky.
Brittney Bellingham spent her childhood hobby welding and now has a successful boilermaking career.
At 14, Amy Smith started gaining hands-on experience in an automotive workshop to pursue her goal of becoming a mechanic.
Belinda Imhof completed an apprenticeship in her 40s, ditching office admin work for a hands-on plumbing career.
Elisabeth Matters is a confident young Torres Strait Islander woman who knows her way around a workshop. Elisabeth has her sights set on building a successful carpentry career.
Engineering apprentice Kirra Balderston is shooting for the stars at Gilmour Space Technologies thanks to TAFE Queensland.
TAFE Queensland's Women in Welding (NONAC03170) course is forging new career paths for women into male-dominated industries.
After a successful hospitality career, Kat Howes is brewing a new future since graduating as TAFE Queensland's Brewing Student of the Year.
A number of female apprentices were recognised as one of the top students in their trade at the 2022 TAFE Queensland - SkillsTech Apprentice Awards on 10 November.
Refrigeration technician Jennah Halley is making her mark in a male-dominated industry. Jennah wants her kids and women to feel empowered to stand out from the crowd and pursue their goals.
Hailey is not your average 17 year old: she is completing grade 12 and an apprenticeship at the same time, and loving it.
TAFE Queensland is experiencing a rise of women in engineering training across the state, with many students topping their classes and taking home awards.
There's nothing that I can't do that the guys can do at work, and probably my biggest supporters are my workmates.
Being an apprentice was great because I was earning money as I was learning my job.
If you're thinking about pursuing a trade career, just go for it. It doesn't matter what anyone says to you, just do it. If you are really keen, people will take you on and help you out a lot.
In the future, I see myself completing my apprenticeship, being a fully qualified carpenter and maybe that will lead to me being able to teach other apprentices coming up and maybe doing a supervising job.
The thing that I love most about being a mechanic is you get new jobs every day. You get the opportunity to get a car, diagnose it, fix it and give it back to the customer.
What I like most about working in my industry is it's challenging. I enjoy the challenge.
A trade certificate is four years of your lifetime but you get a lifetime qualification. It really does open up some opportunities and doors for yourself.
Our industry connections
The National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) and TAFE Queensland have partnered to develop and deliver a Diversity and Inclusion Awareness program. This program aims to support male-dominated trade industries by supplying these industries with the tools to make a cultural shift.
Trades training areas
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Air-conditioning and refrigeration
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Automotive electrical technology
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Bricklaying and stonemasonry
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Baking and patisserie
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Beauty services
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Building and construction
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Building design
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Carpentry and joinery
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Civil construction
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Cookery
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Electrotechnology
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Engineering
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Hairdressing and barbering
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Heavy automotive industries
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Light automotive
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Manufacturing and design
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Motorbike and bicycle mechanics
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Painting and decorating
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Plumbing
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Printing
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Safety
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Tiling, plastering and flooring
Are you a tradie trailblazer? We love hearing from our female apprentices and trade graduates. Get in contact and tell us about your study journey and career goals.