05 Jul 2017

The stereotypical tradie is a big, tough bloke with a beer-gut and rough hands. And while stereotypes aren’t always accurate, it’s true that tradies are nearly always blokes. In fact, there are only 5500 women in trades across Australia. But there are some great examples of women who are succeeding within male dominated trades. Check these out…

She Skills

Meg Solly is a Cabinet Maker who founded an organisation called She Skills, which helps women entering the trades sphere and teaches the practical skills necessary to build and design stuff.

Meg is wildly passionate about what she does, and about breaking down some of the stereotypes that surround women in trades. After 8 years of working in administrative roles within the construction and mining industries, she decided to get a trade herself. And while it’s never easy being the minority she says she’s “happier being part of the action.”

When we asked Meg what advice she’d give to young women entering a trade, she said, “Be persistent. Don’t take no for an answer. Go to businesses and ask them to employ you. If they say no, then go back again in a month and ask again until someone says yes.”

FIT

Another organisation that helps women with trades is FIT, which stands for Females In Trades. They’re pretty awesome, reminding women everywhere that “Diversity in the workplace can start with you!” FIT was created by East Coast Apprenticeships and is basically a support program aimed at women who want to enter the industry.

With over 30 years of experiences, they help link new apprentices with employers and then provide mentoring and support networks for people working through their chosen trade. They can also assist with personal or miscommunication issues that women sometimes experience at work.

BUSY At Work

BUSY At Work is a not-for-profit organisation providing apprenticeship, employment and community programs for both men and women in Queensland. BUSY was originally set up to support homeless youth but since then, they have expanded widely, now supporting indigenous people, socially excluded people, women and literally anyone else who’s looking to get into a trade.

They have a strong focus on providing equal opportunities to a whole range of different demographics.

Their stated goal is to “have more people in jobs, more people learning new skills, and more communities exposed to positive change, in partnership with employers and industry.” If you’re in QLD and interested in getting a trade, chuck in your deets here and they’ll get back to you ASAP.