FROM adjusting bra straps to tinkering with tools, Meng Di Wei made quite the turnaround in career choice. She will graduate from the Women in Auto Trades course at Sydney TAFE tomorrow.
The course was designed to give students practical experience in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
It encourages more women to apply for an automotive apprenticeship.
Ms Wei, 24, of Penshurst, was one of the first to enrol in the ‘‘girls only’’ course.
After several years of selling lingerie, she wanted a change.
‘‘It’s been very hands-on since day one, and I didn’t have to compete with the boys,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s been better than I expected — I can’t wait to buy a car so that I can tear it apart and put it back together again.
‘‘Mechanics is more fun.’’
Students who successfully complete the training will be offered an opportunity to apply for trade apprenticeship positions with participating automotive industry partners including Fiat-Chrysler.
The automotive industry employs more than 360,000 people nationally and contributes $38billion to the economy.
But there are 22,000 unfilled positions in the Australian industry.
