A bursary to assist women in engineering back into the workforce was recently launched by the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland (BPEQ).
The Back in the Workforce bursary is open to female registered professional engineers, non-practising professional engineers or former registered professional engineers based in Queensland.
The bursary will assist successful applicants to attend continuing professional development courses and maintain or regain their registered status.
BPEQ Registrar Kylie Mercer said the bursary demonstrated the Board’s commitment to supporting women in engineering.
“The Back in the Workforce bursary is the latest effort by BPEQ to ensure women in the profession have the right support to begin or continue their engineering career,” said Ms Mercer.
“To be eligible for registration as a professional engineer and work legally in Queensland, engineers must complete 150 hours of continuing professional development over three years.
“Many women wanting to get back into engineering following a career break find it difficult paying for continuing professional development, which can cost several hundred dollars per course.
“Women in engineering are being lost to the profession all too regularly, so if this bursary goes some way to helping someone keep their registration and get back into the workforce, that is a plus for the profession.”
Bursary applicants can claim up to $500 to cover the costs of continuing professional development.
Applicants can download and complete the application form on the BPEQ website and submit it to BPEQ along with their CV and a cover letter up to two pages long, detailing the proposed course and cost, and how it will assist them.
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