Local women will gain valuable construction skills as part of a $670,000 refurbishment of the Torres Strait Island Media Association (TSIMA) radio station building funded by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA).
Research by My Pathway, the Community Development Programme (CDP) provider, has identified a group of female job seekers interested in construction industry employment who can benefit directly from participation in this project.
TSRA Chairperson, Mr Napau Pedro Stephen AM, said the project will support diversity in skills development for Torres Strait Island communities by providing construction training to female CDP job seekers.
“The TSIMA building refurbishment aligns training initiatives with regional employment opportunities by providing a welcome employment and training opportunity to upskill female CDP job seekers in preparation for upcoming construction jobs,” Mr Stephen said.
Up to eight female job seekers will gain a Certificate II in Construction Pathways as part of this project and will be well placed for upcoming jobs such as the Thursday Island Hospital and Primary Health Care Centre works. These works alone are expected to support up to 125 construction jobs during the course of the projects.
There are currently 60 females among more than 200 CDP job seekers residing on the Inner Islands. Involving them in the refurbishment of the TSIMA building will provide important industry-specific training to meet emerging labour market demand.
Nationwide, women account for just over 11 per cent of the total construction workforce in Australia and they leave the industry at a rate almost 40 per cent higher than men.
“To address the high turnover rate amongst women in the construction industry, TSRA will also fund a local mentor to support the women on this project.” Mr Stephen said.
The objective of the renovations is to improve the broadcasting facilities of the Torres Strait Region by ensuring the building complies with access and egress regulations while meeting the required structural and wind-load rating and sound proofing requirements.
The TSIMA operates the local 4MW community radio station from the building, located at 69 Douglas Street on Thursday lsland. The two-storey structure requires renovation and structural repairs due to age, poor maintenance and leakage that has led to the intrusion of wet/dry rot and white ants.