BBA has joined with Hydro Tasmania, Caterpillar and the Tasmanian branch of Engineers Australia to provide support to female students considering a career in engineering through a scholarship program with the University of Tasmania. Women currently make up only 8% of the profession in Tasmania so the program aims to attract more women into the engineering profession and has been doubled from two scholarships in 2018 to four in 2019.
The scholarships will provide financial support and industry experience to young women in Tasmania entering their first year of an full-time tertiary engineering qualification. The 2019 scholarship program was launched in Hobart on Monday 22 October at Rosny College by Dr Vicki Gardiner, General Manager Tasmania, Engineers Australia.
Lou Clark, Principal Advisor Communities, who attended the launch on behalf of BBA said women make up 13.8% of Bell Bay Aluminium’s workforce.
“We recognise the significant benefit to be gained by increasing the diversity of our workforce and attracting high quality female employees across a range of roles,” Ms Clark said.
“It’s important that we have a workforce that reflects the community in which we operate. Support of this scholarship provides opportunity, encouragement and goes some way to eliminating barriers to young Tasmanian girls and women who want to participate in STEM education and engineering careers.”
Image L-R:Dr Vicki Gardiner, General Manager Engineers Australia Tasmania; Stephen Davy, CEO Hydro Tasmania; Lou Clark, Principal Advisor Communities, Bell Bay Aluminium; Brett Smith, HR Manager Caterpillar.