The Western Australian Government has launched a $2 million Women in Trades Scholarship Program aimed at increasing female participation in high demand trade and technical careers.

In 2026, 100 scholarships worth $5,000 each will be awarded across five TAFE colleges, with up to 400 placements funded over four years. The funding can be used for course fees, tools, protective clothing, licences, transport, accommodation and childcare. Recipients will also receive mentoring and additional support to help them complete their training and move into employment.

The focus is clear. Building and construction, engineering, manufacturing, clean energy and mining all face skills shortages. Women remain significantly underrepresented, making up less than a quarter of many trade and technical workforces.

It raises an obvious question for us in New Zealand.

With ongoing labour shortages across construction and the broader infrastructure sector, targeted initiatives like this could play a meaningful role in widening the talent pool. Financial support, combined with practical mentoring, addresses real barriers to entry, not just optics.

If we are serious about workforce resilience, productivity and long-term capacity, expanding access to trades training for women should be part of the conversation.

Sometimes the simplest lever is making it easier for capable people to step in.