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Charles Darwin University (CDU) has marked International Women’s Day 2023 by announcing the launch of a new Women in Trades mentoring program. The program connects young women commencing their apprenticeships with women working in the NT trades sector. CDU Careers Centre has partnered with the NT chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction […]
Solar Victoria is offering free and low-cost packages for women to take up apprenticeships and training in the renewable energy industry – including air conditioning and refrigeration. The Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades has invested $11 million in comprehensive training and workforce development packages. Women currently make up less than 1 per cent of the […]
As Australia’s engineering skills shortage intensifies, Engineers Australia has released a new study revealing the reasons women aren’t entering the profession – and what can be done to change that. Findings from the Women in Engineering Report indicate the biggest reason girls don’t choose to study engineering is a lack of awareness of what engineering […]
The International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) has been launched to advance the engagement of women, promote career opportunities, and increase female participation in the HVAC&R sector. The initiative is led by the World Refrigeration Day (WRD) Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction in cooperation with founding partners from around the […]
To mark International Women’s Day (IWD) and its theme for 2022, AIRAH has launched a survey to collect and share experiences of gender in Australia’s HVAC&R building services sector, and identify ways to “break the bias”. Sharing experiences The survey was initiated by the Women of AIRAH special technical group (STG). Ura Sarfejoo, M.AIRAH, is […]
Nominations for the Property Council of Australia’s 500 Women in Property initiative are opening on January 31. The program, coordinated by the Property Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Committees throughout Australia, asks Property Council members to personally sponsor and champion women in their organisation or business sphere. The goal is to accelerate women into leadership positions […]
The international Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and UNEP OzonAction have launched the first global survey on women in HVAC&R. “In recent years, the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps sector has been paying increasing attention to the importance of gender mainstreaming and providing equal opportunities for both women and men,” says IIR Director General Didier […]
TAFE Queensland refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice Natasha Kirchner has been chosen as the Construction Skills Queensland Tradeswoman of the Year at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Awards in Brisbane. Held annually, the NAWIC Awards showcase the achievements and industry advancements of women, men and organisations in the construction industry. A third-year […]
A new report titled Nowhere to go has highlighted the issues women in the trade sector face finding workplace amenities. The report highlights that women in male-dominated industries are often provided with inadequate amenities. “Ensuring workplace amenities and in particular, workplace toilets, are regularly serviced, accessible, suitable, and open should be a priority for every […]
An initiative aimed at raising the confidence of women working in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields will soon be available for Australians. Known as STEMazing, the program ran its (northern) spring 2021 program as a pilot initiative. “The aim of the STEMazing program is to empower women in STEM to shine as […]
HVAC&R may be a traditionally male dominated industry, but there are stories of change – including the experience of refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice Katie Hammill-Lovett. Hammill-Lovett is one of 15 people in Australia to secure an apprenticeship with Woolworths Group in the past year, and is one of only four female apprentices to be […]
A new report has revealed that women working in trades and semi-skilled roles in construction experience high rates of discrimination. The Victorian government commissioned the report from RMIT as part of its Women in Construction Strategy, which aims to increase participation of women in the construction industry. The study found that women perceive a lack of acceptance […]
Two Indigenous Australian women are filling a growing need for more females in HVAC&R thanks to an industry-sponsored training program at TAFE NSW. The Career Start in Air-conditioning & Refrigeration program allows students to develop their skills and knowledge in the trade by completing an entry-level qualification. Upon successful completion of the program, industry sponsor, […]
TAFE NSW Ultimo refrigeration section is seeking female participation in a Certificate II Electrotechnology Career Start course in 2021. The course is two days a week for six months. It provides students with key foundation skills and knowledge, and a sample of what the industry has to offer before they commit to a full apprenticeship. […]
Last year the United Nations called for women working in the HVAC&R industry around the world to share their stories. These have now been compiled in a special publication – Women in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Industry: Personal Experiences and Achievements. “If you ask the average person on the street who they think designs, manufactures, […]
OzonAction, in cooperation with UN Women, is seeking to collect experiences and short “stories” from women working in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. They are seeking to highlight female service technicians, installers, designers, trainers, manufacturers, and associations. Being aware of the experiences of women working in the industry and the opportunities available, can encourage and […]