Metal fabrication apprentice Ellie Smith has turned her love of making things with her own hands into a dream job.
And, it’s all thanks to the practical training and support she received while completing her Certificate III in Light Metal Fabrication at TAFE NSW Newcastle in 2020.
Ms Smith, now a fourth-year apprentice, works as a sheet metal fabricator and welder at Mars Foods Australia, and is completing her Certificate IV in Engineering Fabrication and a Gas Tungsten Arc Welding pressure ticket.
She’s the first female apprentice at TAFE NSW Newcastle to achieve this.
“Holding these qualifications will make me so much more job-ready and competitive in the market,” Ms Smith said.
“I can easily apply on the job every day the skills I’ve learnt at TAFE, including things like steam-pipe welding courtesy of my extra arc welding skills.
“There’s no doubt the skills I’ve learnt from my TAFE teachers have set me up for my career.”
Mick Wardle, Ms Smith’s current teacher in metal fabrication at TAFE NSW Newcastle, said his young charge’s achievements were already inspiring other women in a trade traditionally dominated by males.
“One of Ellie’s work colleagues, a first-year female apprentice, has been motivated so much by her feats that she has already asked lots of questions about the Certificate IV course Ellie is currently completing,” he explained.
“She said that she aspired to achieving those much higher levels, like Ellie.”
Ms Smith believes women should consider a career in welding.
“A lot of them have good attention to detail and patience, which is a requirement for this career,” she added.
“The career offers so much; a sense of accomplishment and a multitude of job opportunities and options for further studies after completing your trade.”
According to the Australian Government Job Outlook, the metal fabrication occupation is a large, widespread profession, with 93% of employees working full-time (compared to the average of 66%), and only 1% of workers being female (compared to the average of 48%).
To find out about studying engineering trades at TAFE NSW, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au
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