APPRENTICE bricklayer Hannah Rees is currently the only female trainee at Forrestfield’s Skill Hire centre, but the trend of girls taking on a trade is on the rise.
Group manager of training Carly Bradley said more schoolgirls were taking on a pathway in trades, especially carpentry.
“We have six female students that have just commenced the VET in Schools two-year scholarship program with an interest in both bricklaying and carpentry,” she said.
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READ NOW“Past Skill Hire female apprentices have been in the electrical, boilermaking and welding trades.”
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Hannah said she had followed family footsteps in her career choice.
“My grandparents are bricklayers, so I kind of fell into it,” the 17-year-old said.
“I always just wanted to be outside and getting my hands dirty and stuff. But then my mum’s friend said that I should go to Tafe, and I actually finished a lot quicker than the guys.
“Now people look at me think well if she can do it, then I can do it and it makes people want to step up their game.”
Ms Bradley said girls were realising that there was more to building and construction than just “lifting heavy things”.
She said having a trade had helped female apprentices move onto supervisory and managerial roles within the construction industry, or travel the world with their skills.
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