Since becoming incorporated in mid-June, the priorities of Orange Women’s Shed Inc (OWSI) have been, safe tool use as well as expanding workshops and activities. Once again, they have teamed up with SALT (Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen) running a workshop, last week at the Shed.

“The workshop held in 2018 was a huge success’, said Michelle Einsaar, Shed Co-ordinator, “it was a smooth operation from go to whoa and the feedback from the women was very positive. The workshop was a chance for the ladies to have a project from start to finish and interact with some female tradies who are great role models.

We have some young ladies who are deciding on career paths, so it was a great opportunity for them to talk to some of the female tradies.”

Michelle continued, “They bring all of the tools, all of the materials, and at the end of the day- you walk away with a completed product. It’s a really worthwhile workshop for the ladies, at different times some of our projects are long ones some are short ones, so this is great to have a finished project and brush up our skills on a few different tools that we don’t have.”

“I’m pretty useless with all things wood,” said Julie Venamore, OWSI Secretary nominee, “but I was really impressed with the way the SALT crew gave me so much more confidence with the tools. They were very patient with our different completion rates and always encouraged us in a very warm and gentle way. And yes, I went home with a very schmick timber caddy.”

Founder and President of SALT, Fi Shewring explained, “We are trying to generate change regarding what women think they can do and what Australian society thinks women can do. People who are in the trade are naturally hands on people, it’s not a gender thing, it’s just how we are.

In these workshops we are teaching life skills, women on a whole don’t get the opportunity to learn these skills, it’s as important as being able to boil an egg, then they can help themselves in their own homes. Some of these women had done this before, though it’s important to repeat things, you can’t do something once and expect to be an expert in it, anything to do with tools, and even in life in general, the more you do it, the better you get.”

“The ladies watch us work and they learn from us, how capable we are in our trades and that significantly changes their attitude to women in trades as well.”

What is SALT?

Supporting And Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) is a National Registered Australian Body which began in 2009 to provide a support network for tradeswomen, apprentices and women who wish to enter the trades. They also work extensively with companies and organisations to help them diversify their trade cohorts and we teach women how to use tools as our research has shown that this is a major reason which prevents women from applying for trade jobs.

The Women’s Shed has extended its hours! It is now open Wednesday 9.30am-1pm and every first and third Tuesday in the month. (may not open school holidays – keep an eye on their Facebook page ‘Orange Women's Shed Inc’)