Celebrating Women in Trades on International Women’s Day
Encouraging women of all ages to consider a career in trades is the future of Australia’s skilled workforce. That’s what we at MIGAS believe, and on International Women’s Day – held every year on 8 March – we lend our voice to the 2021 campaign theme of “Choose to Challenge”.
A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day.
We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
To echo this sentiment, we recognise and celebrate the achievements of our apprentices and trainees past and present. Women represent 23% of our total completions in the past 15 years alone, and we strive to increase this number by inspiring the next generation of female apprentices and trainees in traditional trades.
Here are just a few outstanding MIGAS apprentices and trainees who do just that.
Emma Scott
Emma is a Fitter and Turner apprentice hosted at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland. Most recently she was named Apprentice of the Year – Engineering (TAFE QLD – Skills Tech), and won the MIGAS MiScholarship Apprentice of the Year and Excellence in Trades (Final Year) awards. Emma was also a representative for Queensland in World Skills Australia’s National Championship. After completing her Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical (Fitting and Turning), Emma is now finishing her Certificate IV in Engineering.
Nikita Roberts
Nikita is a Plant Mechanic apprentice working with our host employer Thiess. If you don’t know what a Plant Mechanic is, they repair and maintain large construction machinery to ensure it operates efficiently and safely. Nikita is one of the only apprentices that is trained as part of the emergency response team at her worksite.
Teah Olsen
Teah is a Fitter and Turner apprentice hosted at Arnott's Biscuits, and has demonstrated excellence in her trade while completing her Certificate IV in Engineering. Not only has Teah been named as the MIGAS MiScholarship Women in Trades recipient twice during her apprenticeship, she was also runner up for apprentice of the year for TAFE QLD – Skills Tech (Engineering) and a representative for Queensland in World Skills Australia’s National Championship.
Tamara Taylor
Tamara began work as a Warehousing trainee with host employer Jaybro. Thanks to her ability to quickly adapt and learn, Tamara found a role in packing that she’s passionate about and in which she can prosper. After the recent completion of her traineeship, she was offered a full-time role with the company.
Rianna Haynes
Rianna is just beginning her Business Traineeship with Ezy Projects, but under the supervision by Karlie – a former MIGAS trainee herself – she is off to a great start. Passing on the skills and knowledge to others is what apprenticeships and traineeships are all about.
Roslyn From Austrak
Rosyln has worked at Austrak (one of our host employers) for 9 years now. She started working in the business development area and now part of her role is the personal assistant to one of the directors. Rosyln said she started in admin many years ago and it has opened the door for her to look at different opportunities within the different employers she has worked for.
Ashley, Natasha and Kylene
Ashley, pictured on the left is a farm supervisor while Natasha and Kylene pictured on the right both work in quality assurance. All three are currently training to obtain their certificate III in Poultry Production at McLean Farm’s trainees (Pittsworth).
Here’s to all our incredible female apprentices and trainees who are forging their careers in traditional trades. You continue to make us proud.
If you are a woman considering an apprenticeship or traineeship, you will find a list of current positions on our Jobs Board, as well as information about the different trades on which MIGAS focuses. To speak with us about career opportunities please call 1300 464 427.