A 23-year-old Heddon Greta tradie is encouraging more Hunter women to consider bricklaying as the industry grapples with a major skills shortage.
Tahlia Kelly is one of fewer than 200 female bricklayers working across Australia, with women accounting for just one per cent of the trade, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
But bricklaying was not initially the career she had planned.
After finishing school, Ms Kelly hoped to secure a carpentry apprenticeship but was unsuccessful and instead began working as a bricklayer’s labourer.
Her work ethic impressed her employer, who offered her a bricklaying apprenticeship.
She has since qualified and now works with Ellaby Bricklaying, refurbishing homes and retirement villages across the Hunter.
“I’ve always been really hands-on and I just love the physicality and how rewarding a trade like bricklaying is,” Ms Kelly said.
“You get to create a legacy that will last for hundreds of years and there’s more room for creativity in the trade than people realise.”
Ms Kelly completed her apprenticeship training at TAFE NSW Tighes Hill and said the practical experience helped prepare her for the industry.
Her call for more women to consider the trade comes amid growing demand for qualified bricklayers.
The Housing Industry Association’s Trades Report identified bricklaying as the most acute labour shortage among residential building trades in late 2025, ahead of carpentry, plastering and roofing.
Jobs and Skills Australia figures put median annual earnings for qualified bricklayers at about $120,000.
More news stories:
- Hanson steps in as One Nation unveils Cessnock candidate
- Upper Hunter mines face fresh scrutiny
- $40m boost to help women stay safely at home
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here
