- Women in Trades Scholarship Program applications
open
- $5,000 to help reduce financial barriers women
face when training and upskilling
- One-hundred places available in 2026 across five
TAFEs, including in regional areas
- Cook Government building a skilled and
productive workforce
The Cook Labor Government
wants more women working in trades, launching a campaign to promote its Women in Trades Scholarship Program to increase
participation in well-paying jobs in Western Australia's diversified economy.
The $2 million program
offers a $5,000 scholarship payment for each place to fund up to 400 places
over four years for women enrolled in eligible apprenticeships, traineeships or
qualifications at Western Australian TAFE colleges.
It is designed to
encourage more women into roles with low female participation across building
and construction, science, technology, engineering and maths.
The $5,000 Women in
Trades Scholarship Program will be promoted online through social media and
streaming services and on radio.
The campaign follows the
successful "You can make it here" campaign which highlights the diverse career
pathways made possible thanks to more than 250 fee-free and low-fee courses available
at WA's TAFE colleges.
The Women in Trades
Scholarship can be used to cover expenses such as course fees, learning
resources, tools, workwear and personal protective equipment, work tickets and
licences, transport, accommodation and childcare.
Scholarship recipients
also receive tailored mentoring and support services to assist them in
completing their qualifications and successfully transitioning into employment.
Women are
underrepresented in some industries - particularly those that have long been
considered male-dominated, where women make up less than 25 per cent of the
workforce.
Making training more
accessible enhances women's economic participation and workforce equality in
industries such as building and construction, clean energy, manufacturing,
defence, automotive, electrical and mining.
Applications are now open
across the five WA TAFE colleges for the 100 Women in Trades Scholarships
available in 2026.
More information on the
Women in Trades Scholarship is available via: tafe.wa.edu.au/scholarships.
Comments attributed
to Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"The Cook Government is
committed to providing affordable and accessible training opportunities for all
Western Australians.
"We are diversifying our
economy and creating well-paying, quality jobs. Support through our Women In
Trades scholarships helps women to make the most of these job opportunities.
"We want them to get the right skills to break into a well-paid,
high-demand job."
Comments attributed to
Women Minister Simone McGurk:
"Making training more
accessible to all Western Australians is a priority of the Cook Government.
"Breaking down the
stereotypes and reducing any barriers for women in industries that have long
been considered male dominated is vital.
"We want to encourage
more women into industries such as building and construction, science,
technology, engineering and maths.
"These scholarships are a
fantastic initiative to help reduce the financial burden women can face when
training or upskilling."
