Powering Her Pathway (2025-2028)
Powering Her Pathway is led by Tradeswomen Australia, in partnership with RMIT University, ENGIE and TAFE Gippsland. This project is a bold, practical response to the barriers women face in clean energy careers, and a blueprint for real, lasting change. It is funded under the Federal Government’s Building Women’s Careers initiative.
The program begins with a free, tailored six-week vocational course at TAFE Gippsland, designed to build confidence, skills and industry readiness. From there, participants are supported into placements, apprenticeships or skilled clean energy roles across the Gippsland region.
Alongside participant pathways, the project works with employers to strengthen workplace culture and inclusion, and builds strong links between education providers, industry and community organisations to create a clear pathway across the Gippsland region.
Breaking Barriers: Women in Trades and Tech (2025-2028)
This project is led by the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) through the Building Women's Careers initiative, with Tradeswomen Australia as a key delivery partner, focused on increasing women's participation and retention in trades and technical roles.
Spanning advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction and digital technology, the project tackles workplace culture head-on. Tradeswomen Australia leads the design and delivery of customised Workplace Culture and Gender Equity Action Plans, supporting employers to create safer, more inclusive and more equitable workplaces.
Apprenticeship scholarship program (Annual)
This program improves apprenticeship retention by ensuring practical support is available when it's needed most.
Scholarships support women and gender-diverse people in non-traditional trade apprenticeships through financial assistance, mentoring and wrap-around support, helping ease cost-of-living pressures and strengthen the networks that enable apprentices to stay, learn and thrive in their trade.
Using a collective giving philosophy, the Program is funded by Employers, Industry bodies and Philanthropic organisations from across Australia.
Future Pathways into Trades (2024-2026)
This program opens doors for young women and gender-diverse people aged 16–25 from socio-economically disadvantaged communities. .
Delivered with support of the Bennelong Foundation, the project offers hands-on trade experiences, opportunities to connect with employers, and the confidence to imagine and pursue a future in trades in Brimbank, Melton and Dandenong (Victoria)
Powering Women into Clean Energy Apprenticeships
This project is led by Future Energy Skills through the Building Women’s Careers initiative, with Tradeswomen Australia as a key delivery partner. The Project supports women to step into clean energy apprenticeships while helping shape more inclusive workplaces across the sector.
Working alongside industry and employers, Tradeswomen Australia contributes expertise in workplace culture and inclusion — developing practical tools and supporting employers to attract, support and retain women in clean energy roles. Together, the project will help inform a best-practice model that can be adopted across the industry.
You can’t be what you can’t see (2026)
This initiative is focused on increasing the visibility, confidence and participation of young women and gender-diverse students in skilled trades.
Delivered with the support of the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Foundation, targeting students aged 13–18 across Victoria, the project delivers hands-on trade experiences, practical career advice, and direct connections to training and employment pathways, helping young people see trades as a real and achievable option.
Pathways to Trade (2026)
Delivered in partnership with the Civilian Widows Fund, this project supports women and gender-diverse people in Melbourne who aspire to enter and thrive in trades. This initiative is focused on supporting women and gender-diverse people in Melbourne to build confidence, capability and clear pathways into skilled trades.
Delivered in 2026 with the support of the Civilian Widows Fund, a Giving Fund of Greater Melbourne Foundation, the project works
tThrough education, awareness and strong partnerships with community organisations and employers, the project helps build confidence, capability and clearer pathways into trade careers.
Embedding Gender Transformative Strategy (2025-2026)
This initiative focuses on embedding gender equity and inclusion into the clean energy and trades workforce by supporting industry to understand and address systemic barriers.
Delivered in partnership with the Powering Skills Organisation, the project works with industry stakeholders to apply a gender lens to workforce planning, strengthen workplace practices, and develop a practical Theory of Change that support more inclusive and sustainable career pathways.
Bus Mechanics Apprenticeship Scholarship Program (2025-2027)
This initiative tackles barriers to help more women enter and stay in bus and heavy vehicle mechanic apprenticeships. Funded by the Victorian Department of Transport.
Working with industry, employers and government partners, the project combines targeted recruitment, scholarship support and practical workplace culture change to create safer, more inclusive pathways into mechanical trades and support long-term career success.
