International Women’s Day (IWD) is a reminder to everyone around the world to take action against discrimination and for gender equality. Not just today, but every day.
At TAFE Gippsland, we love celebrating the achievements of our female staff and students and ensuring they have a safe, equitable and inclusive place to work, study and strive for their goals.
For more than a century, IWD celebrations have been gaining global momentum and it’s up to us, as individuals, to keep that impetus up so we can truly make a positive difference for women – starting right here in our own backyard.
So what do we do at TAFE Gippsland to #InspireInclusion at our campuses, in our classrooms and in our workplace?
TAFE Gippsland CEO Laura Macpherson said it’s about taking ownership of the cause and ingraining it into our everyday actions.
“It’s our job not just to imagine a gender equal world, but to strive everyday day to achieve one,” Laura said.
“When we see a gap in our workplace or in our classroom, we need to ask ourselves ‘Why?’. Our vision of a skilled and thriving Gippsland heavily relies on a safe and healthy workplace, diverse workforce and growing inclusive educational pathways that lead to jobs and support lifelong learning.
“Just last year, we welcomed our first ever female plumbing teacher to TAFE Gippsland. We’re constantly looking for ways we can create access to high-quality training and creating a space for women to choose skill up in areas that interest them – particularly those that challenge the traditional norms.”
Theresa said she’s proud to be TAFE Gippsland’s first female plumbing teacher and only the second female plumbing teacher in Victoria.
TAFE Gippsland's first female plumbing teacher, Theresa Jacobs.
“Simply by being a female plumbing teacher, this demonstrates to all the apprentices coming through that a woman can be knowledgeable about plumbing, and thereby making them comfortable with other females entering the trade,” Theresa said.
“It's teaching by example and also making any girls entering the trade confident that others have succeeded before them.
“I hope that very soon, women training, working and teaching in traditionally male trades is part of everyday life.”
TAFE Gippsland’s Student Support Services team want everyone to know that they’re on hand this IWD and every day to assist with accessing internal and external support services and finding practical and insightful resources to help with not just work and study, but also mental health, relationships and overall wellbeing.
Visit our website for more information and to contact your Student Wellbeing team today.
For more information about this year’s IWD theme, head to their website.