A lack of skilled workers in traditionally male-dominated trades has become a major problem in regional Victoria and NSW, and a team of Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers is investigating how women can help address the problem.

The team is holding a half-day Women in Regional Trades consultation at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Friday 12 October to address the problem with the region’s business and industry community.

The CSU Women in Trades team is led by Dr Donna Bridges from the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and comprises Dr Stacey Jenkins, Associate Professor Branka Krivokapic-Skoko, and Dr Larissa Bamberry from the CSU School of Management and Marketing.

“We are inviting representatives from industry, government and education providers to help us understand more about the recruitment and retention of women in the ‘traditional’ trades in regional NSW and Victoria,” said Dr Bamberry, pictured left.

“We particularly want to talk about targeting regional skill shortages in trades; understand and learn about removing barriers to women’s recruitment and retention in these trades; understand more about women who thrive and are successful in the trades; and learn how to better support young women to find trade careers and stay in regional Australia.

“We’ll focus mainly on the automotive, construction, electrical, horticultural, agricultural and plumbing industries in the region, however representatives from other industries are welcome to join us.”

The team has previously held similar events in Bathurst and Wagga Wagga, and is now particularly keen to hear from business owners and industry and training leaders on the Border and in North East Victoria.

The consultation are part of a research project aimed at retraining and growing the trades in regional Australia. Read more here

See more here.

Event details

When: 12 noon to 3 pm, Friday 12 October 2018.

Where: Room 106, Building 754, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW.

RSVP to Ms Elizabeth Wulff on email ewulff@csu.edu.au or mobile 0400 326 084, or Dr Larissa Bamberry on email lbamberry@csu.edu.au or phone (02) 6051 9843.

Free lunch and afternoon tea are provided on the day.