Fremantle’s community team teamed up with Programmed for a three-day roadshow in Karratha, working with young females in the area to showcase the career opportunities available in non-traditional fields.

AFLW player Madi Scanlon, Head of Wellbeing Angie Bain, Regional Engagement Manager Graham Mills and AFLW & Community Coaching Director Cam Shepherd were a part of the Fremantle team that made the trip north, joined by Programmed Training Coordinator Sarah Cosgrove.

Both Fremantle and Programmed work in industries that in the past have been dominated by men, but are enjoying significant and important growth in female participation.

The team visited Karratha High School and female community football and Indigenous groups to showcase the opportunities available to women both in sport and in local industries in the Kimberley, where Programmed have been established since 1999.

Bain was pleased to see the impact the three-day trip had on women in the region.

“It was really important to get the purple family out into the community and regional areas,” Bain said.

“We want to help people make good decisions about how they live their lives and give them the best choices in relationships, career and getting to explore this beautiful part of the world.

“Women can and are involved in sport in all different positions and careers.

“If we can share our pathways and our message to educate and help them in their wellbeing along the way, I think it’s a great result. I think it’s an amazing partnership with Programmed, I wish it was around when I was younger.”

Cosgrove said Programmed is already seeing significant growth in their female workforce.

“As of this year, more than half of our apprentices are female, that’s something that’s really huge in that aspect,” Cosgrove said.

“It’s great to walk out there and see half of our female apprentices working in trades.

“We have many programs available to students, particularly our schools-based traineeship, where we take someone from year 11 or 12 onto site for one day a week.

“We also have a pre-pathways program which is a bit like ‘try a trade’, with people coming out of school to spend a year as an apprentice, or of course our apprenticeship program.

“A lot of our apprentices love to be out there playing sport and I think it’s great the two link up really well. The encouragement comes from all angles.”

Scanlon was impressed with the quality of the football players in the region, and was thankful to be welcomed to train with local female football squads.

“They were just so much fun, everyone was so enthusiastic, and everyone was so happy to be there,” Scanlon said.

“Once thing we focused on heavily was bringing intensity into their training sessions and honestly, the standard was just elite.

“They allowed me to train with them and it was so nice to be incorporated into their team and their session.

“Hopefully we inspired a few girls to keep training and really work hard. You never know, they could be playing down in Perth in a year or two. There’s some awesome talent up here for sure.”

Fremantle and Programmed will return to the region in July for another roadshow, visiting Newman and Port Hedland.