32-year-old Coffs Harbour mum Nicole Howarth has swapped spreadsheets for spanners, leaping from corporate admin to qualified plumber, with the help of TAFE NSW.

Nicole had been working in office administration for several years, most recently at her brother-in-law’s business, Joel Street Plumbing & Gas Fitting. But a surprise opportunity in December 2019 changed everything.

“I’d only recently started in the office with the business, and I still didn’t have enough holidays accrued to take me through the Christmas break,” she says.

“My boss invited me to be an offsider on a plumbing job, and I just fell in love with it. I love the problem-solving aspect, being outside, the variety and the satisfaction of seeing the end result.”

She valued being able to work alongside other trades, gaining insight into how everything fits together.

Nicole began her apprenticeship in 2020 and recently completed a Certificate III in Plumbing at TAFE NSW Coffs Harbour, earning her full qualifications and opening the door to a secure, well-paid career.

According to Master Plumbers Australia, demand for skilled plumbers is continuing to increase rapidly, stating that more women are needed in the trade to help close the skills gap. Data from Jobs and Skills Australia reveals that only 1% of the nation’s plumbers are female.

“You do get funny reactions sometimes when you knock on a customer’s door and they see you’re female. But the vast majority are supportive, and I’m proud to be a trailblazer for women in the industry,” she says.

Nicole says that a lot of female clients say that they feel more comfortable with another woman on site, and believes female tradies bring valuable communications skills and a different perspective to the job. She hopes her story inspires more women to consider the trades.

Her training at TAFE NSW was instrumental in building her confidence and capabilities on the tools.

“TAFE gave me a really strong base. I felt ready to hit the ground running,” she says.

TAFE NSW head teacher of plumbing, Steven Grant, says that Nicole’s success story highlights the opportunities available to anyone, regardless of gender.

“Plumbing offers a rewarding and secure career path with huge demand across Australia,” he says.

“Nicole is a fantastic role model for other female apprentices and a reminder that the trade is open to anyone willing to give it a go.”