Fiona McDonald considers herself a 'prime example' of how girls are being dudded by not being informed what a great career a trade can provide
Fiona McDonald considers herself a "prime example" of how girls are being dudded by not being informed what a great career a trade can provide.
Still, Ms McDonald, now executive director of Tradeswomen Australia, despairs at the number of women in her field.Nationally, just 16 motorbike mechanics, 55 diesel mechanics and 20 small-engine mechanics are women, according to theMs McDonald's group is working to break down stigma and get information into schools so girls consider trades rather than being funnelled straight to tertiary education whether it suits them or not.
Susan Alberti, Australia's first female registered builder , is throwing her clout behind a push to get more girls to consider trades. "I've had 45 years in the building industry and when I started there were no women, not a single one ... there is still less than 2 per cent participation for women in trades even though we cannot meet demand, it's ridiculous," says Ms Alberti, one of Australia's first registered female builders and a patron of Tradeswomen Australia.
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