Indigenous Women in Trades

Happy NAIDOC Week! 🖤💛❤️ 50 years of Deadly!

This year’s NAIDOC Week has been a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while recognising the generations who have paved the way before us.

Thank you to everyone who has supported IWIT’s journey so far—our participants, Elders, volunteers, industry partners and supporters. Together, we’re helping create real opportunities and lasting change.

Wishing everyone a safe, meaningful and inspiring NAIDOC Week. ❤️

In our Try‑a‑Trade program, mob get access to real tools, real training, and real experience in trades like painting, carpentry and brickwork.

Build skills. Build confidence. Completely free.

✨ 4 hour practical workshops
👷🏽‍♀️ All materials & PPE supplied
🌱 Supportive and fun - First Nations tradie trainers
🥤 Morning tea and lunch included
📍 Salisbury, QLD - 16-17 July 2026

Register now - link in bio.

From Try‑a‑Trade to school‑based apprentice 🧱🖤💛❤️

Earlier this year, Tori came along to our Try‑a‑Trade workshop after hearing about it through her school. She wanted to build some basics, try something new, and learn more about trade pathways after school.

Getting hands‑on made a real difference. Through the workshops, Tori’s confidence grew — using tools, understanding what’s expected on site, and backing herself to have a go.

At the workshop, she connected with Brick and Block, then went on to complete their Lay The Way program, including her White Card. With support from Tee, one of our First Nations bricklaying tradies, Tori built confidence talking with employers and finding her next step.

Tori has now secured a school‑based apprenticeship. We’re looking forward to supporting Tori and keeping up with her journey.

Register for our upcoming workshop in Salisbury Queensland, or tell us if you want a workshop near you and go in the draw to win a toolkit - go to the link in bio.

📸 Tori on site, after successfully completing the IWIT Try-a-Trade workshops.

Big respect to the team at BindiLee Painting Services. 👊🏾

Earlier this year, BindiLee and her apprentices joined us to celebrate our first Try‑a‑Trade workshop. At the same time, they were marking something pretty special — one apprentice heading into her final block of TAFE, another starting her first.

That kind of full‑circle moment doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from backing young women and staying the course.

As a First Nations, female‑led painting business, is showing what real trade pathways look like — not just jobs, but skills, confidence, and long‑term futures. 🖤💛❤️

👉 Check out their deadly portfolio and murals — top‑quality work with culture at the centre.

Inspired to see this kind of leadership in action.

We’ve now run three Try‑a‑Trade workshops in South East Queensland and have loved meeting the deadly, up‑and‑coming women and young people stepping into trades and having a go 💪🏽🧰

One of the best surprises along the way has been connecting with so many community groups and organisations backing our young people. Big love to everyone walking alongside us to keep the momentum going.

Thanks to local First Nations mob opening doors, we’re reaching new audiences and already seeing real outcomes — including a school‑based apprenticeship 🙌🏽

We’re busy dreaming up more creative pathways for mob keen to get a trade. Got ideas or want to connect? Reach out — we’re always up for a yarn.

📸 Photos from a recent Try‑a‑Trade workshop — mob on the tools with experienced First Nations tradie trainers: bricklaying, painting and carpentry.

Look out you mob! 👀 Last week we ran IWIT’s very first Try-A-Trade Workshop… and we’re honestly just so proud.

Proud of everyone who showed up, gave it a go, and stepped outside their comfort zone.

The support, the laughs, the effort… it was such a good vibe to be part of.

We’re also incredibly thankful to the people behind the scenes — our partners, supporters, volunteers and everyone who backed IWIT and helped bring these workshops to life. We couldn’t have done it without you. ❤️💛🖤

Celebrating the future of trades this International Women’s Day 🖤🔧

Women and girls have always been builders, creators and innovators — and today we honour their power and potential.

IWIT is all about backing mob — creating spaces where young people can try new skills, step into trades, and feel supported every step of the way.

To all the women leading the way (and those just getting started): we see you, we believe in you, and we’re cheering you on.