From nail tech to chippie, lady tradie Reana represents one of the many members of the new generation of Tradies in Australia.
The next generation of Tradies is emerging as the nation’s construction industry continues to thrive following a record year of house builds commencing in 2021.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is forecasting 125,000 houses are expected to begin construction this year across Australia, following a record 149,000 last year. This is driving hot demand for tradespeople until at least the end of 2023.
HIA’s General Manager Apprentices, Russell Holtham said TAFE NSW plays a critical role in the training of HIA apprentices in residential building trades in New South Wales.
“Vocational education is a key pathway into the construction industry. TAFE NSW offers students an invaluable combination of theory and practical experience, which combined with HIA’s apprentice offering means graduates are ready to hit the ground running.”
The NSW government last year announced support for 3,000 training places for women in trades with the funding intended to remove the cultural and social barriers keeping women from building sites.
New research reveals women comprise only two per cent of workers in construction. TAFE provides women with pathways into a range of construction trades and already boasts a comparatively higher proportion of female enrolments in construction courses at nine per cent.
TAFE NSW Nowra student Reana Bidois is studying a Certificate III in Carpentry and is an apprentice with BPL Contracting in Nowra and on the South Coast.
Reana is among a growing number of women who are capitalising on the construction boom to gain new skills, qualifications, and a new career in an industry with variety and opportunity for growth.
Since she was a teenager, she’s wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and learn a trade.
“After school I started out in hair dressing and was a nail technician for a while. I Then had a trucking business in Sydney for a while, but I always wanted to be a Tradie.”
“When I moved back to Nowra a few years ago I decided to become a carpenter. I started out as a labourer and was offered an apprenticeship.”
“I would encourage young women coming out of school to consider a trade as they’re thinking about their future. Girls often talk about nursing, hairdressing, and beauty but I wouldn’t overlook a trade.”
“I think as a society we’re really coming around to seeing more equality between men and women, but I think the more we see women taking the step to follow their passion and jumping into a trade, the move we will move this thinking forward.”
“Being a woman in this trade isn’t something I give a lot of thought to. The tradesmen I work with don’t treat me any different. I’d say don’t be scared to try a trade, (…) go for it.”