A NEW photo exhibition celebrating women in trades has gone on show at Bendigo GovHub.<\/p>\n
The project, mounted on the hoardings around building site, is a collaboration between Hope Assistance Local Tradies and Women\u2019s Health Loddon Mallee.<\/p>\n
It features 12 photos of Central Victorian women working in traditionally male-dominated roles, taken by Melbourne photographer Zo Damage.<\/p>\n
CEO of WHLM Tricia Curry said partnering with HALT aligns with the organisation\u2019s focus on promoting women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really aware of the work HALT is doing around mental health in the trades, we know in response to COVID a lot of the investment going into the recovery is in the construction industry,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s an industry that doesn\u2019t favour women well in being able to participate. Putting those things together it seemed an absolutely beautiful partnership to tell a story about women in trades and the importance of good mental health through that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Curry said she hopes the photos inspire young women to consider careers in trades, as \u201cyou can\u2019t be what you can\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe photos have a capacity to tell a story and let the viewer reflect on what they see and think about the things that are important in purposeful work and safe workplaces,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t assume workplaces are safe, particularly when it comes to sexism and sexual harassment, the industry hasn\u2019t got a good reputation.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmployees do such a lot to change that, and employers need employees to take on that culture of change. Every single one of us has a responsibility around women being safe in what they do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boilermaker at Hoffman\u2019s Engineering Mel Krause has been working in trade for 20 years and said she\u2019s seen progress in the gender diversity of workplaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe culture has changed a lot,\u201d she said. \u201cYou used to walk through a male workshop and there\u2019d be centrefolds on the walls whereas that\u2019s not the culture anymore, so that\u2019s obviously a good progression.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 20 years, I\u2019ve met maybe three tradies that were female, to know there\u2019s another 11 other women out there doing it for themselves and breaking stereotypes, it\u2019s really empowering and I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW photo exhibition celebrating women in trades has gone on show at Bendigo GovHub. The project, mounted on the hoardings around building site, is a collaboration between Hope Assistance Local Tradies and Women\u2019s Health Loddon Mallee. It features 12 photos of Central Victorian women working in traditionally male-dominated roles, taken by Melbourne photographer Zo […]<\/p>\n