While six statewide may not seem like a big number, it would have been uncommon to see any women training in the vocational education sector in years gone by.

The Examiner has been examining the role vocational education fits in Tasmania’s education landscape and has been lobbying for clear legislative direction for TasTAFE and the VET sector nationally as part of its Pick up the Tools campaign.

The campaign aims to highlight the successes of the sector and has been profiling some successful TasTAFE graduates in its print and Instagram series Meet the Apprentices.

It aims to encourage more people to consider VET education in an attempt to address increasing apprentice shortages.

Painting and Decorating Certificate II students Maddison Hill and Tayla Parker both found their way to TasTAFE because they didn’t feel they wanted to follow a tertiary university education.

Miss Parker, who aspires to be an interior designer, believes having an apprenticeship will help her on her way to achieve her dream.

Miss Hill wasn’t sure what she wanted to do but knew she wanted to do something hands-on with her career.

Both students said they weren’t exposed to many VET subjects at school, and definitely not the traditionally male dominated ones.

Both said at high school and college that they were directed to classes that included cooking and drama, while the boys were filtered through to metalwork and automotive.

This begs the question, are we doing enough at school-level to encourage more young women to pick up a trade?

Encouraging women into trades could be the solution we are looking for, as trades offer great flexible options for all young people.

Trades can be done in shifts or flexibly as needed, which means they are a good option for mothers.

The work can be done around child care commitments. It also offers a great flexible solution for young people who wish to travel – you can do manual labour tasks such as painting anywhere you go.

Maybe conversations at school level need to change to encourage everybody to pick up the tools and give a trade a go.