Smashing glass ceilings while smoothing walls Solid plastering female apprentices and best friends, Holly Crimmins and Amity Gordon, are turning heads in the construction industry for all the right reasons.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are only 4,600 qualified solid plasterers working in Australia, and females make up just 1 per cent of the workforce — highlighting critical skills gaps in the building sector and the need to attract more people to the high-demand profession.
Finding their footing in plaster
Twenty-year-old Holly Crimmins and twenty-one-year-old Amity Gordon both stumbled into the industry by chance, accepting jobs as labourers while looking for full-time employment.
This led them to study a Certificate III in Solid Plastering at TAFE NSW Lidcombe, where they have forged a newfound friendship and passion for plaster.
The two apprentices are thriving in the classroom and on the building site, securing jobs in their local areas of Moss Vale and Narromine, where they are putting their skills to the test.
The importance of skilled trades
“Solid plasterers play a fundamental role in the delivery of safe, durable and compliant housing and infrastructure,” TAFE NSW Plastering Teacher Graham Brisbane explained.
“With the population of Greater Sydney expected to increase by 1.4 million people over the next fifteen years, it’s critical we have skilled young talent on the job to support the growing region.
“Since Holly and Amity entered the classroom, they’ve gone from strength to strength, showing that gender doesn’t have to be a barrier for females considering a career in trade-based professions like plastering.”
Leading the way for women in trades
For Holly Crimmins, the practical and physical demands of plastering were what attracted her to the trade.
“Trades run in my family, so it was only a matter of time before I found my calling on the construction site,” she said.
“Working with my hands and using different techniques and materials to create something I can stand back and admire instantly appealed to me.”
Being one of the only females on the job site has never deterred Amity Gordon.
Instead, Amity sees it as an opportunity for other females who are seeking a rewarding career.
“Since day one, my employer and TAFE NSW Lidcombe have created a supportive environment for me to learn the skills I need to be successful in the industry,” she said. “Knowing that plasterers are in short supply is a huge advantage for anyone thinking about a career in the trade.
“I hope my story shows other females that if I can do it, they can too.”