Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead today welcomed the $17,600 grant awarded to Mid Coast Connect under the NSW Government’s Investing in Women funding program. Mid Coast Connect was one of nine successful applicants selected to receive funding.

 

Mr Bromhead said Mid Coast Connect will utilise the trade facilities based at three TAFE campuses in Taree, Port Macquarie and Kempsey to deliver three information sessions and try-a-trade practical workshops to provide students with practical skills and the information necessary to enter non-traditional trade careers, including the opportunity for suitable students to participate in work-shadowing with local employers.

 

“I am pleased to see Mid Coast Connect working towards encouraging local women to enter a career in a non-traditional trade,” Mr Bromhead said.

 

Investing in Women aims to increase the economic participation of women in NSW by providing funding to training organisations, local councils, employers, industry bodies and non-government organisations to develop partnership projects that encourage girls and women to enter non-traditional trades.

 

Non-traditional trades are those with less than 25 per cent participation of women, such as plumbers, carpenters, automotive technicians, electricians, roof-tilers, and landscapers.

 

Mr Bromhead said it was encouraging to see Mid Coast Connect leading the way in training and encouraging women to enter non-traditional trades in the local community.

 

“Thanks to the Investing in Women program we will see more women participating in roles traditionally dominated by men, which will have a positive flow on effect for our local economy.”