Bardie - Chippy, Apprentice + Tradie
Hello! I’m Bardie, I am a third year apprentice Carpenter, based in Sydney, Australia. This year, although being my third year of my apprenticeship, also marks my fifth year in the construction industry. In 2017 I moved to Sydney from my hometown of Lismore, NSW to Study with the National Art School, I’d always loved art and being a hands on, creative person.
My dad lived in Sydney, and after I’d been working in bars and hating it, he offered for me to come and do some casual labouring work for a local builder. I thought, “well F**k it, I may as well have a crack”. I still remember my first day and dad saying “Mate, just remember today to bring your thick skin”.
At the start I found it pretty shit if I’m being honest, I couldn’t understand why people chose this path. I was up early, tired and pretty bloody sore. But nearly two years later, and after firing a nail gun for the first time I had the choice to start my apprenticeship or finish the final year of my Fine arts degree... Surprise! I chose to take on my apprenticeship and I have NEVER looked back.
My family were very supportive of my decision, I know a lot of families wouldn’t support dropping out of uni for a trade, but to this day my grandparents tell all their friends about their granddaughter “the builder”.
Being a woman in construction, you meet all kinds of people, I have found that I have developed a need to prove my worthiness when I become a part of a new team or meet new subbies. I want the people I work with to see me work and know women are more than capable in the trades, and maybe through seeing me work they would go on to hire a female in the future.
My greatest achievement of my career so far is being Master Builders NSW 2nd year Apprentice of the Year, but my greatest achievement every day is connecting and sharing what I do with people of all ages, whether that is a young woman who hadn’t yet considered a trade, or with a builder who hadn’t considered hiring a woman.
When I first entered into the industry, I shrunk myself down to fit the mould of what a tradie typically was. In many ways I wasn’t true to myself, I was scared of being too girly or making the people I worked with uncomfortable. As I grew as a person and in my career, I have realised that whoever I am and whatever my gender is, has nothing to do with what I will achieve, and making myself somebody I’m not will only take away from the difference I can bring to the industry. A tradie isn’t just servo pies and schooners. If you take the time, you’ll find that tradies are some of the hardest working, driven and forward thinking people out there.
I’m so lucky that during my apprenticeship I have had the opportunity to work with so many great people, and on so many different projects, when I think of myself, I think of all the people who have taught me, pushed me, knocked me down and helped me up.
If I could change anything about the industry it would be to introduce and let women try these trades when they are in high school, to start conversations and let women know this could be a part of their narrative. Never in a million years would I have thought of this as an option for myself, or thought this is where I would be if I hadn’t had my dad and the foreman Alan give me the opportunity.
Trade careers are one of the best kept secrets out there, if I could talk to any young girl or woman out there, I would say, have a crack, take a leap. It won’t be easy, but it will be absolutely worth it.
If you want to follow Bardie's journey, check out her Instagram @BARDS.BUILDS