Posted on 08/03/16 in
Apprenticeship Support Australia is celebrating women working in traditional trades on International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is Gender Parity. Across Australia we have seen women continue to contribute to social, economic and political achievement. While we still have a way to go, today we want to acknowledge all females working in trades.
Rachel Chalada is a 23-year old second year apprentice carpenter, completing her Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery with Timber Floor Perfection in Perth's Wembley Downs.
Starting out at university, Rachel completed a year and a half of a high school teaching degree before deciding that it wasn’t the career for her.
“I really wanted to find a job where I could get paid while completing a qualification. I applied for heaps of different apprenticeships because I wasn’t sure what type of apprenticeship I wanted to do.”
The first person to contact Rachel about an apprenticeship was a roof carpentry business. After attending an interview and visiting one of their worksites, she decided this was for her.
“The guys were up on the ceiling joists, and I thought to myself ‘I want to do that’. It just looked really cool, so I started getting up there and having a walk around. I really enjoyed it, even though I didn’t know what I was doing yet.”
Before starting her apprenticeship, Rachel didn’t have much of an idea about the carpentry field.
“I didn’t even really know what carpentry was. That was the best part though. I was just so excited to learn about it,” says Rachel. “I didn’t know there were so many aspects to carpentry before I started. Now I do timber flooring, which is really different to roofing but just as enjoyable.”
Despite having little knowledge about the carpentry and joinery industry, Rachel is really enjoying her chosen apprenticeship.
“I love being outside and listening to the radio all day. It’s great being able to joke around all day while still learning. I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else.”
Rachel attributes her success to working in a supportive work environment with a boss and a work colleague who act as her mentors. Learning and improvement has been a focus throughout her apprenticeship journey.
“I am learning new things all the time. I also am making mistakes, and then learning from them.”
The biggest challenge for Rachel was working in an industry she knew nothing about. But she says that she has been very lucky to work with people who are supportive and give her opportunities to learn.
“It was a massive shock at the start. Being thrown into something you have no idea about is actually really hard on your confidence at first. But you learn that everyone has been there and that we all have to start somewhere.”
Rachel is looking forward to the future and the opportunities that a trade offers. While her end goal is constantly changing, she knows she has lots of options.
“I always change my mind about what I want to do when I finish my apprenticeship because there are so many different carpentry niches. There are so many things you can do with a trade, I think it’s amazing.”
“There are opportunities to travel with my trade, I know people who have gone to Antarctica and Nepal, or have assisted with disaster relief. It might even be worth going into the business side of things.”
Whatever career path Rachel decides on, the future is bright for this inspirational woman.
If you would like to find out more about how to get into a trade, contact Apprenticeship Support Australia on 1300 363 831.