A growing number of women are taking up apprenticeships in traditionally male-dominated trades, bringing fresh perspectives and talents to the workplace.

Over the past three years, TAFE SA has seen a 35 per cent increase in the number of women apprentices enrolled in construction trades training.

They are developing skills across a range of trades including concreting, glass and glazing, furniture finishing and tiling

TAFE SA’s Lena Marchesan, Education Manager for Plumbing, says employers and industry benefit from having more females participating in apprenticeships and traineeships, which leads to a more diverse workforce.

“Apprenticeships certainly offer some work life balance. Many employers in our industry really accommodate for females who have other needs and family needs,” she says.

Lena says TAFE SA offers opportunities for women to try a trade prior to taking up an apprenticeship.

Charlie Iverson’s career in furniture finishing began with a TAFE SA short course in furniture restoration.

“I immediately found myself surrounded by likeminded people who get excited about furniture and I quickly discovered that there was a full Certificate III (Furniture Finishing) available and that it could lead to employment doing something I really loved,” she says.

Charlie (pictured) is completing an adult apprenticeship with Workspace Commercial Furniture, developing practical skills in the workshop and extending her knowledge through classes at TAFE SA.

“Training at TAFE SA has been fantastic. At work, I’m more focused on the immediate jobs that need to go out quickly, but I save up all of my questions and queries for my lecturer Dino when I get to TAFE SA,” she says.

Charlie says her apprenticeship at Workspace Commercial Furniture has enabled her to pursue a job that she loves while balancing her role as a single mum. Find out more about Charlie’s career pathway in this video.

Creativity and flexibility were important considerations for Hayley Stott when she was planning a career change.

The former hairdresser completed a Certificate II in Construction at TAFE SA’s Tonsley Campus where she says she built confidence and gained insight into a range of trades before choosing an apprenticeship in floor and wall tiling.

“The construction course touched on bricklaying, rendering, tiling and plastering and it really helped with confidence, just getting into it and having some of the skills already, and I really recommend that - it definitely helped me decide what I wanted to do,” Hayley says.

Hayley shares more about her training at TAFE SA in this video.

More information about the opportunities for women in non-traditional trades is available on the TAFE SA website. TAFE SA is delivering a range of building and construction courses, including the Certificate II in Construction, under Fee Free TAFE. More information is available here.