The Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) is thrilled to announce the recipients of the inaugural Auto Women Scholarships. We extend our congratulations to Sarah Gale from Rego’s Mobile Mechanical, in Atherton North Queensland, who has been awarded the Leading Edge Scholarship valued at $3,490 and Andrea McCarthy from McCarthy Panel Works, in North Mackay, who has been awarded the Executive Ready Scholarship valued at $7,990.

The scholarships, sponsored by MTA Queensland, Spirit Super and Women & Leadership Australia, aim to support the career advancement of women working in the automotive industry through high-impact training opportunities.

The first course, Leading Edge, is designed to assist females in early-career positions transition into confident, capable, and motivated leaders. This scholarship has been awarded to Sarah Gale, a qualified light vehicle mechanic who has worked at Rego’s Mobile Mechanical for the past ten years.

Back in 2014, Sarah was the first female to win the prestigious title of MTA Queensland Apprentice of the Year for her skill, attitude, and work ethic. Fast forward to today, Sarah is as passionate and hard-working as ever. From mechanic and supervisor to customer service, invoicing, and inventory manager, Sarah continually goes above and beyond in her duties. Now branching into a supervisory and training role, she hopes to use the Leading Edge course to enhance her leadership skills and accelerate her career.

Sarah said, “I believe that the more women move into leadership roles, the closer we will get to equality. These scholarships will go a long way in achieving this, and I am extremely grateful to be presented with this opportunity.”

The second course, Executive Ready, is designed to stretch mid-level leaders and propel them towards executive-level positions, bolstering skills and mindsets. This scholarship has been awarded to Andrea McCarthy, the owner and operator of McCarthy Panel Works.

Andrea is an outstanding businesswoman and role model within the automotive industry. She holds the Chair position of the MTA Queensland National Auto Collision Alliance Division and is a Director on the MTA Queensland Board. She is also a mentor on the Association’s Auto Women initiative. She places high importance on life-long learning and hopes to use the knowledge from the Executive Ready course to drive future direction for her business and the industry as a whole.

Andrea said, “I am always looking for ways to develop new skills, both professionally within my team as well as myself personally. I am excited to be awarded the Auto Women Executive Ready Scholarship – it is a fantastic opportunity to grow and give back to this amazing industry.”

Supporting career advancement is just one part of MTA Queensland’s Auto Women initiative, which was established at the beginning of this year to provide a supportive environment for women working across the automotive industry.

Kellie Dewar Deputy CEO at MTA Queensland said, “A core purpose of Auto Women is to raise the profile of women in the industry and see an increased presence in business and community leadership roles. The Auto Women Scholarships provide the perfect opportunity to recognise those who are striving to make a difference and I applaud both Sarah and Andrea for their commitment to building skills for the future. I hope to see many more individuals seize this fantastic opportunity in the future.”

Both the Leading Edge and Executive Ready courses, run by Women & Leadership Australia, are an exceptional opportunity to assist women in the automotive industry to reach their career aspirations. The Scholarships are available twice per year, with the next round opening on 1 September 2022.  Find out more HERE.

22 April 2022