What is the Big Sister Initiative?
The ETU and Granville TAFE have partnered to offer women the opportunity to get a head start on their apprenticeship. This program would offer pre-apprenticeship training, so that when women enter their apprenticeship, they will feel supported and more confident. The course is fee-free and those who complete their accreditation will be given placements at union covered work sites, ensuring great pay and conditions.
This initiative also provides women who take up the course, with mentors to help guide them through their training. The mentors are women who are already established in the industry and can provide invaluable advice and support to women just starting out.
It can be daunting being the only woman in the room, especially in male dominated fields. The Big Sister Program will give women the chance to start off strong, in a supportive environment, being propped up by women already in the industry.
The electrical trades are a great career path for smart women who want to work with their hands and enjoy problem solving, and we want to see more women taking up this great trade.
Why become an electrician?
Finished high school and not sure that you want to spend your working life behind a desk? Maybe you’ve tried other options and are looking for a change? The electrical trades
are calling, and they're a fantastic option for women. More and more women are joining the electrical trades to take advantage of the high wages and thousands of jobs on offer
enabling new housing, infrastructure, and clean energy projects.
With strong union support from the ETU, you too can be part of the changing face of this rapidly growing industry and develop highly in-demand, future-proofed skills.
Earn while you learn
Earn money while you learn the tools of the trade and get your license (while your mates at uni only rack up debt). Electricians are some of the highest paid apprentices, and apprentices working under an ETU Enterprise Agreement earn up to 40% more than the award.
When your 4 years are up, as a fully qualified electricians you will get to enjoy some of the highest wages of any trade. A strong union presence means not only are union agreement rates higher, but workplaces are also safer, with better amenities and conditions.
Opportunities for advancement
The electrical trades offer a clear pathway for career advancement. Additional training and certifications are available, opening more career opportunities for highly-specialised work and leadership roles for women within the industry. Women in the field can progress to higher-paying, more specialised roles and take on leadership positions, such as project management and supervisory roles, providing opportunities for women to influence and shape the future of the industry.
Future proof your career
Whilst workers in other sectors are increasingly facing threats to their job security and career prospects from new technologies like AI, thousands of new jobs for electricians are being created to build, power, and maintain the data centres that make AI possible.
We’re a lot further away from robots automating an electrician’s job than almost any other profession, and as long as we continue to run our society on electricity there will always be work to go around.
Continuous learning and development
A career in the electrical trades is dynamic and constantly evolving. Women who enjoy creative problem-solving, working with their hands and tackling complex challenges will find this field particularly rewarding.
The ongoing need for training and professional development on the latest methods and technologies ensures that electrical workers remain at the forefront of innovation and industry standards, especially as we move towards net zero. It is an incredibly exciting time to be in the industry.
Myth-busting: You don't need to lift heavy things
The electrical trades can be among the cleanest and least labour-intensive trades, offering a diverse range of opportunities. Women who might be hesitant about the physical demands of blue-collar work should know that you don’t need to be a bodybuilder to be a sparky.
A growing community
With more and more women picking up the trade, there is a growing community of women uplifting and supporting each other. The ETU has an elected Women’s Officer and Women’s Committee to encourage more women to take up the trade and support those already working in it.
The ETU also holds an annual Women’s Conferences to address the issues faced by women in the industry and discuss real, actionable changes we can make to tackle them.