BULAHDELAH Central School (BCS) students in Years 5, 6 and 7 recently participated in a practical full day workshop called Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen (SALT), aimed at encouraging females into non-traditional job roles such as trades.

According to the SALT website, “In Australia the figures for tradeswomen are still very small but they are increasing, with some companies now reaching 50 percent intake of female apprentices.”

The aims of SALT are to provide support and mentoring to tradeswomen in Australia including apprentices and women seeking to work in the trades; provide avenues for women to meet other tradeswomen, apprentices and others to share experiences; to promote women in the trades to the general public and industry; to advocate for change to attitudes to women working in the trades; to campaign for changes which enable women to train and work in the trades; and to promote diversity and acceptance for all people in the trades.

Female ‘tradies’ mentored the BCS girls, showing them how to safely use power tools, hand saws, hammer and nails, drills and drivers.

“They made a wooden box with a handle they could take home on the day,” said BCS Careers Advisor Linda Drenkhahn.

“These boxes could be decorated and used for scrunchies and hair brushes, cutlery and condiments for the BBQ, etc.

“All the students had a great day and were very proud of their efforts,” Linda said.