A construction course for females that attracted strong demand is set to become a regular option for students.
Training consultant Rex Findley, of Novaskill at Broadmeadow, said a construction course designed specifically for females was a novel initiative.
"This program is the first of its kind that I know of in this area," Mr Findley said.
"For female students or those who identify as female, the response to the course was overwhelming."
He was inundated with inquiries and positive comments from people saying an all-female construction course was a great idea.
"The enrolment rate was phenomenal," he said.
"Ordinarily, it takes two to six weeks to fill a course. In the first week, I had over 60 enrolment inquiries. The interest was sensational."
The accredited course is free, as it's funded by the NSW government's Skilling for Recovery initiative, which is part of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
Novaskill, which runs the course, is a not-for-profit training and employment organisation that began in Newcastle 41 years ago.
Mr Findley said construction courses in the past involved many more males than females.
"So in a class of 18, you'd have two, three or four female students enrolled," he said.
"And because of the environment, the completion rate for females traditionally hasn't been great."
This wasn't because females were not good construction students, but the males tended to distract the females.
"A lot of females would pull out of courses," he said.
Enabling females to study "without that distraction and interruption" would help them "complete the course and absorb the knowledge to go onto a career".
The four-unit course is part of a certificate two in construction pathways.
It began with face-to-face training before lockdown happened. The students continued with classes online.
The six-week course gives students the chance to try construction, without committing to one to two years of study.
"This gives them the opportunity to try before they buy," he said.
Once they finish the six-week course, the students can use it towards full qualification in the 12-unit certificate two or three in construction pathway courses.
"They can transfer credits," Mr Findley said.
Novaskill group training staff will then try to secure the students a traineeship or apprenticeship.
Mr Findley said there was a skill shortage in the construction industry.
"It's been proven that female tradespeople in the construction industry are highly skilled," he said.
"They apply great critical thinking and a high level of skill to what they do. The industry can be lacking that a little bit."
The course has been running every Wednesday for six weeks, but the finish date has been extended so the practical side can be done when COVID restrictions are eased.
There are plans to continue female-only courses.
"We're going to run another one for construction for female students that's an expanded version of this one, and one for warehousing, also specifically for female students."
