New Pathways For Girls In Trade And Tech
Thousands of Victorian girls will get hands-on access to careers in trades and technology this week thanks to the Allan Labor Government. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll welcomed more than 4,500 students from 170 public schools to the two-day Trade & Tech Fit Career Expo 2026 – making it the biggest yet. The expo brings together girls and gender diverse students from Years 7 to 12 with tradespeople, apprentices and industry professionals across sectors where women remain significantly under-represented.
Nationally, just 1 per cent of carpenters and joiners, 2 per cent of electricians and 19 per cent of software programmers are women – and all careers were in shortage in 2024. Last year's event delivered results – 56 per cent saying they would now consider a career in trade or technology. More than 90 exhibitors feature at this year's expo, including Boeing Australia, Amazon, Citipower/Powercor, Qantas Engineering, Reece Group and the State Electricity Commission.
This year's event comes as Victoria records five consecutive years of growth in enrolment in VET – up 19 per cent since 2021 to 61,513 students in 2025. The proportion of Year 12 students successfully completing a senior secondary certificate has grown to 97.4 per cent in 2025 from 91.7 per cent in 2021. In 2025, 30,460 students completed VCE Vocational Major studies, up from 26,611 in 2024 – and the expo is showcasing the growing range of career pathways available through VM.
The Victorian Budget 2026-27 invested $144.7 million to support career education and senior secondary pathways, including funding to deliver Trade & Tech Fit again in 2027. Jess Wilson’s $40 billion in cuts can’t happen without cuts to education. The Liberals plan slashes 1 in 7 jobs across health, education and public services.
Last time they were in power they cut $1 billion from education – and they won’t rule out doing it again. Only Labor has new solutions to make life easier, safer and more affordable for all Victorians. For more information, visit vic.gov.au/trade-tech-fit Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll "Young people deserve to see themselves in careers they may never have previously considered.” "We've backed the Trade & Tech Fit career expo again because it works.
More students, more exhibitors and more opportunities – this is what investing in public education looks like." "While we're opening doors for the next generation of tradies, engineers and tech workers, Jess Wilson is promising job cuts that would gut the programs making a difference for Victorian students." 260602 - New Pathways For Girls In Trade And Tech.pdf PDF 378.91 KB (opens in a new window)