PEER CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS TO TRY A VARIETY OF TRADES

30 female high school students from a number of Adelaide High Schools were treated to a special event at PEER as we celebrated ‘Women are Tradies Too,’ on Friday the10th of September

Throughout the day the girls were able to ‘Try A Trade’ in our state-of-the-art Trade Training Centre and get a taste for what a Plumbing, Electrical or a Refrigeration/Air-conditioning apprenticeship would be like. The three groups learned skills in cutting and bending copper pipes, installing electrical lighting switches and using an array of hand tools and trade equipment. With one of the girl’s telling our Trainers she didn’t realise that ‘Plumbing would be so much fun!’

To wrap up this hugely positive, highly engaging experience, the girls were treated to an afternoon tea presentation by PEER female electrician and data communications trainer Jessica Vaughan who outlined the benefits and challenges faced being a female in a male dominated industry.

The event included a question and answer panel discussion from Jessica and two 3rd year PEER Plumbing apprentices Charlotte Harr and Renae Becker, along with PEER Electrical Trainer and owner of She Sparks electrical, Karina Stratchan.

PEER’s Training and Digital Transformation Lead, Melanie Worrall emceed the event and highlighted the numbers of women who work in trades is still only a small 2%. Melanie spoke further on the benefits of gaining a trade qualification, including being able to be earn while you learn, plus a number of other financial and flexible work life balance incentives.

The well received networking event was attended by industry representatives including MAS National, MEGT, Makita, Mates in Construction, Master Plumbers Australia, Master Builders Australia, CITB and special guest VIP and advocate for women, Paula Leuthen MP.