Women in Trades Mentoring Program

How This Program Supports Women in Manufacturing

Manufacturing Skills Queensland is actively addressing gender imbalance and retention issues through its Women in Trades Mentoring Program. This strategic initiative provides intensive support to 100 female apprentices at any stage of their manufacturing apprenticeship. By connecting these apprentices with experienced industry-based female and male mentors—ranging from third-year apprentices to senior industry leaders—the program creates a vital support network that helps women navigate the unique challenges of working in a male-dominated field. Over a six-month mentoring round, participants are matched with mentors using science-based compatibility assessment through a digital platform, considering expertise, location, personality, and learning styles. The free program includes monthly one-on-one mentoring sessions (face-to-face or virtual), virtual training modules on confidence building, leadership, workplace challenges, and career progression, plus networking events and peer connections.

Wrap-around support for mentees and mentors includes access to a dedicated program manager, the Women in Trades Manufacturing Toolkit with five modules covering goal setting, building confidence, identifying values, work-life balance, and celebrating achievements, and the opportunity to become part of MSQ’s Industry Influencer program, which includes public speaking and media training. Employers who employ apprentices involved in the program are also encouraged to undertake MSQ’s Workplace Gender Diversity Assessment to build a plan to make their workplace more inclusive. Eligible participants must identify as female, be current first to fourth-year manufacturing apprentices, school-based apprentices, or trainees (2+ years), and be Australian/New Zealand citizens or permanent residents employed and training in Queensland. This program is funded by the Queensland Government.