Building confidence and connections to unlock careers in trades
In June, MatchWorks delivered two impactful events focused on empowering participants to discover pathways into trades and hands-on careers, with a focus on building awareness, confidence and connection to real career opportunities.
The virtual Women in Trades session brought together guest speakers from Lendlease, Awesome Women in Construction, genU Training and MEGT. Participants gained practical insights into trade career pathways in an open and supportive environment.
Female participants from both Workforce Australia and Inclusive Employment Australia also completed activities focused on employability and transferable skills and set SMART goals to help them take action to achieve their desired career pathway, with civil construction, electrical and clean energy being the top industries of interest among participants.
Feedback reflected the impact of the session, with attendees highlighting the value of the information, the speakers’ honesty and the strong sense of encouragement.
One participant shared,
“I loved the amount of information about the different types of trades that are out there; the encouragement to give it a go is just amazing.”
The Brisbane South East Workforce Australia team, in partnership with the Local Jobs Program and Australian Trade Training College, supported over 40 participants to engage with employers and training providers. Attendees learned about industry demand and took part in interactive hands-on activities to support career discovery and develop key skills.
Business Manager Louise Turnbull shared,
“The expo was a great success, highlighting significant employment opportunities across Queensland. Participants especially valued the chance to gain industry insights and directly connect with employers.”
Together, these initiatives demonstrate the growing demand for skilled workers in trades and the importance of providing accessible, supportive pathways to explore and enter these careers.
Pictured: Brisbane South East team at the Trade Up Expo