Award for non-traditional study
By Rosanna Barbero
SYDNEY -- Hui Zheng has been awarded outstanding woman of the year in a non-traditional area of study for her achievements in the Granville TAFE preparatory course for women in industrial engineering. The initiative, from the National Centre for Women and Swinburne University, is a response to the need to recognise the achievements and advances of women past and present.
A resident of Australia for only three and a half years, Zheng hasn't found life here very easy. “I never dreamed of this”, she said, astonished. “Numerous times I wanted to give up. However, I did not because the outreach and course coordinators encouraged me to continue, and helped me overcome barriers.”
Apart from Zheng's responsibilities as a mother and wife, financial difficulties meant that she had to obtain a taxi driver's licence to help supplement the family income.
The course, to encourage women to embark on studies in non-traditional areas, evolved as a result of a funding submission by the Outreach Unit to DEET, which, while unsuccessful, was eventually funded by the college. As part of the funding submission, money was requested to cover expenses such as fees, books and child-care. Without this, it would have been impossible for women to even contemplate a course such as this.
According to NSW Technical and Further Education Commission statistics, only 3.3% of students enrolled in the engineering services training division in 1989 were women. Despite so-called efforts to encourage women in these areas, the 1993 statistics show a regression: females were only 3.0%.
The Preparatory Course for Women in Industrial Engineering attempted to alleviate some of these difficulties. However, the selection criteria give preference to school leavers who have successfully completed the “right” subjects; if you are a woman and not a school leaver, your chances are meagre. Those who do gain entry meet other difficulties, including intimidating classroom environments, teachers who do not like to see women entering into male domains, campuses where harassment is a daily occurrence and a curriculum that is not gender inclusive.
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