Teamed up tiddas
‘TIDDA’ is a word particular to Aboriginal culture meaning sister, best friend or mentor.
Tiddas in Trades is a pilot program partnered with HMC Group Solutions, Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) and Dubbo Traffic Control (DTC) to upskill 12 local Aboriginal women and connect them with long-term working positions into their desired trades.
The four-week program will encourage the importance of having Indigenous women to enter trades by breaking the stigma of ageism and women in the trade industry.
Aboriginal mentor for Tiddas in Trade Sheena Olsen explained that the program will teach women how to enter trade, build their confidence of working with large machinery and will connect them with future employers.
She shared that the pilot program has already shown succession within the girls with them receiving their white-card and other trade qualifications.
Learning trade alongside other women brings the power of sisterhood and the meaning of tiddas is significant, Ms Olsen continued saying “that is why I am mentoring and doing the course with them”.
She suggested the importance of participating in the course alongside the girls reiterates the assistance so “they don’t feel alone – I’m there to guide and support them through their journey.”
The program also provides the women transport to and from the course each day, so it remains accessible to each woman without them having to depend on access to a vehicle.
“We have also had conversations of further employment with local, small and large employers with the hopes of getting these women in the industry,” Ms Olsen said, mentioning that some companies visited the HMC training facility to see the women working on the machines.
“We have created opportunities for the girls to come in and have created work placements so they can not only get qualifications when they finish the course, but hopefully employment.”
The 12 women share different experiences and paths of life with some recently graduating from school and others working in the mining industry.
“You don’t hear of many Aboriginal women getting into trade, and by having this program, it has opened the doors and created an opportunity for them to feel the confidence and ability to drive a big machine that they usually see men driving.”
One of the women in the program,
Kerry-anne Peark, said she is extremely proud of herself, and the rest of the women involved in the program.
“We’re here and we’re so proud to be ourselves,” she continued, saying she has learnt a lot through the program and is looking forward for employment opportunities.
Through the support everyone has shown, Ms Peark shared how honoured she was that their names were remembered as there are 12 of them.
“The gentlemen teaching us have been so supportive and patient and really taught us the importance of teamwork.”
She smiled and explained that “if you have a problem, people are willing to help you out and watch you succeed”.
From the inclusivity shown in the training course, Ms Peark is certain that moving forward, the positive experience is carried through their careers.
Bamara Dubbo Hub (Dhub) coordinator Brooke Mallision confirmed there is a huge gap in the trade industry between men and women.
“It’s a powerful message to our community that our Aboriginal women are individuals, are very empowered within themselves and they can do it – they can be up there with the men and succeed,” Ms Mallision said.
The pilot program for Tiddas in Trade has been proudly funded by the NSW Government and Connecting Women to Trade in partnership with AES, HMC, Dhub and DTC.