Meet Regina Kombuk Murang, the Senior Head Trainer at Mt Hagen Technical College (MHTC) and an alumna of the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC).
Regina hails from Tolli village in Banz, Jiwaka Province. She has a passion for cars and engineering and is now passing on her skills and knowledge to a new generation of women, and men, interested in the automotive sector.
Regina’s passion started one day when she was a young girl in Mt Hagen. She met some boys who were studying at the MHTC, and they told her that women too could become automotive engineers and that she should try it.
Regina decided to pursue her studies and obtained a national certificate in auto-electrical engineering from MHTC, then worked in various companies across PNG before joining the college’s training team in 2013.
The challenges Regina has faced throughout her career in this traditionally male-dominated sector only consolidated her resolve to excel.
In 2017, Regina graduated with a Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology from the APTC PNG campus. She is among 655 Pacific students who have graduated from the course.
“APTC provided us with good facilities to learn and thrive in,” Regina explains. “The trainers were supportive and encouraging, and they helped me overcome the challenges of understanding the latest technology.”
The additional qualification she gained from APTC propelled her career forward to her current role as a senior automotive trainer at MHTC.
“There is great value in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Having skills and being able to contribute to your community is empowering. The opportunities are endless!”
Since 2019, Regina has been leading initiatives to encourage women to explore Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs in all sectors.
Her efforts are paying off. Between 2022 and 2023, MHTC witnessed a rise in female enrolment in male-dominated courses.
“I share with young people that TVET offers opportunities to learn skills that will help them sustain their livelihoods,” she added. “I’m happy to see that women from the Western Highlands and Jiwaka provinces are slowly recognising the value trade courses, for their careers and for their communities.”
Regina is also the interim president of the Meri Tradies Association in PNG, an organisation that supports women in trades and vocational skills. It aims to empower them by providing opportunities, training, and support in traditionally male-dominated fields such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and other skilled trades.
Since 2007, APTC has trained over 24,542 Pacific Islands and Timorese citizens, including 4332 PNG nationals. More than 240 of these graduates have attained qualifications in light vehicle mechanical technology, including Regina and 11 other women.