Open

Applications are now open until Friday 5 July 2024 | 5.00pm AEST

Empowering tomorrow’s tradeswomen: Shape your career, learn new skills, overcome challenges

In partnership with the Queensland Government, Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) is excited to present the Women in Trades Mentoring Program. This initiative aims to provide exceptional support to 100 female apprentices in their first or second year of their manufacturing apprenticeship.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from first and second-year apprentices and individuals interested in becoming mentors. Discover more about how you can get involved below!

Sign up here

About the program

The Women in Trades Mentoring Program provides a network that supports apprentices by connecting them with more experienced individuals in the industry (females) to support them as they complete training and navigate their transition into the workforce.

Over the course of 24 months, mentees and mentors participate in online and in person activities including the one-one-one mentoring sessions, relevant workshops, networking events and the opportunity to make a community with like-minded females in the manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing Skills Queensland is funded by the Queensland Government to deliver the Women in Trades Mentoring Program.

Science-based matching

This mentoring program is especially beneficial in workplaces where female representation is limited, offering apprentices the personal guidance they might otherwise lack. Best of all, there is no cost for apprentices, mentors, or employers to participate.

Manufacturing Skills Queensland has partnered with Brancher, an innovative mentoring platform designed to connect individuals seeking guidance with experienced professionals. Brancher’s mentoring platform allows growth and development by facilitating meaningful mentor-mentee relationships through a user-friendly interface. This dynamic platform not only enhances individual growth but also cultivates a collaborative community of continuous learning and support.

Mentees and mentors will express interest and be matched through the Brancher mentoring platform. Participants are matched according to their area of expertise, location, personality, learning styles and program goals.

Register Now

Apprentices

Are you a first-or-second-year female manufacturing apprentice? Access mentoring.

Register your interest
Mentors

Are you female with experience working in the manufacturing industry? Become a mentor.

Register your interest
Employer

Are you an employer looking to support your female apprentices by connecting them with experienced mentors, or do you have experienced female workers ready to share their knowledge as mentors?

Register your interest

As an apprentice mentee, you’ll be paired with a knowledgeable and experienced female mentor who understands the ins and outs of the industry. Your mentor will provide one-on-one support each month, either in person or online, to help you navigate your apprenticeship training and explore exciting career opportunities.

  • Dedicated mentors for the duration of the program, with the ability to switch or retain mentors as you like
  • Access to an online mentoring platform
  • Face-to-face or virtual mentoring sessions
  • Short virtual training modules to support your participation in the program
  • Peer-to-peer connections
  • Opportunities to attend workshops and events
  • Ability to further your career and support of industry by becoming an industry influencer
  • Identify as female
  • Be a current full-time or part-time apprentice under a Training Contract and be either a first-year apprentice – within the first 12-months of their apprenticeship OR a second-year apprentice
  • Be training in a manufacturing qualification from a relevant training package
  • Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident
  • Be employed and training with an eligible employer, where their everyday workplace is also Queensland
  • Agree to the terms and conditions
  • Additional eligibility may apply

Exclusion criteria

  • School-based apprentices are not eligible.
  • If you are a third- or fourth-year apprentice please consider expressing your interest as a mentor

For participating in the program, you’ll also receive a $100 TradeMutt voucher. Wear your TradeMutt attire proudly and share your mentoring journey on social media using #WITMP #MSQ.

Participating in mentoring has been proven to boost career success by providing mentees with encouragement, insight, and a deeper understanding to make informed decisions. Having an external perspective can be invaluable for driving progress and building confidence.

Ready to gain the support, skills, and confidence to succeed in your manufacturing career? Join our Women in Trades Mentoring Program today and become part of a supportive, empowering community!

Sign up

Become a Mentor

As a mentor, you’ll have the rewarding opportunity to support and guide a female apprentice in the manufacturing industry.

By regularly connecting with your mentee each month, either in person or online, you’ll help her navigate her apprenticeship and career journey.

Why become a mentor?
  • Give back to industry by supporting a female apprentice at the beginning of her career in manufacturing
  • Develop your leadership and communication skills
  • Gain fresh perspectives through the lens of your mentee
  • Access to training
  • Attend exclusive events
  • Play a crucial role in developing the next generation of leaders in manufacturing

To be eligible to participate in the Women in Trades Mentoring program, a mentor must:

  • Have experience working in a non-traditional trade or role, preferably manufacturing OR experience coaching women
  • Have excellent communication skills, and a desire to contribute to systemic change in the manufacturing industry
  • Be able to commit their time and support to a mentee/s which is usually an hour per mentee per month
  • Agree to the terms and conditions
  • Additional eligibility may apply

Want to be a mentor? We’ll support you 

Through Brancher, the mentoring platform, you will have access to a mentoring induction – this will put your mind at ease if you are unsure of how a one-on-one session will work. There are guidelines and talking points that will help give structure to your mentoring sessions and keep each one with a difference focus. We ask both the mentor and mentee to write a short reflective diary and capture actions you both discuss – you will be able to refer to these and see your personal growth. Of course, you are free not to use these tools – you and your mentee can come up with your own unique way of structuring your monthly sessions, what you discuss if completely up to you.

Join us and make a difference in the lives of aspiring women in manufacturing while enriching your own professional journey

Sign up here

Empower your workforce and drive your business forward by participating in our Women in Trades Mentoring Program.

  • Receive tailored support to develop a free Diversity workplace readiness tool that champions women
  • Access resources designed to support women in non-traditional trades within your organisation
  • Enable your apprentices to benefit from mentoring
  • Provide experienced workers the chance to mentor, contributing to both their growth and the industry’s future
  • Improved employee performance
  • Facilitate the sharing of expertise from seasoned tradeswomen to apprentices
  • Increased retention
  • Advance towards creating a more inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

Nominate your female apprentices and experienced workers today! 

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Contact us

For more information about the Women in Trades Mentoring program, or how to register as a mentee or mentor contact our Industry Engagement Manager, Diversity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mentees will answer a series of questions about their interests, apprenticeship, and personal background. Using this information, our algorithm matches them with a like-minded mentor. These mentors have experience in non-traditional trades and possess the understanding, expertise, and knowledge to support manufacturing apprentices in succeeding in career paths typically dominated by men.

Over the 12 (or 24) month period, from July 2024 to June 2026, participants are asked to commit to the following:

  • Mentees are expected to attend group networking events (approximately one hour per month), engage in self-directed reflection and learning (approximately one hour per month), and have one monthly mentoring meeting with their mentor.
  • Mentors are expected to attend group networking events (approximately one hour per month) and have one monthly mentoring meeting with their mentee.

 

 

The Women in Trades Mentoring program is funded by the Queensland Government.

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