When Tash Hansson was 13 years old, her family renovated their home. From that moment, Tash knew she wanted to be a tradie, and put her hand up for the school-based Building Futures program as soon as she reached Grade 10.

“I went out for a week once every term and I tried four different trades. So I did joinery, electrical, plastering and building, and I loved building the most.”

Tash is about to start the third year of her carpentry apprenticeship at JaySpec Builders. “It’s so different to a traditional one, like we do concreting, we do our own plastering, we do tiling, roofing, anything really. We’ll give it a crack!”

Like a family

Tash says her workplace is like one big rowdy family. “Working with the boys, I love them to bits but they do my head in sometimes! If I have any problems, I’ll just go to any of them. It’s honestly like having five older brothers.

“That’s what you need to look for, someone that you can call family at work ’cause you’re always going to be with them. Gonna spend more time with the people you work with than your own family, so you want to feel confident and safe.

That said, Tash loves the good vibes and fresh perspectives when there are other women on the worksite.

“It’s always great having other minds on site looking at the plans, so I’d definitely recommend more girls to get into industry.”

Competent and confident

Tash’s skills and confidence have skyrocketed since she started out, due in no small part to her boss. “I did work experience with Jarod back in Grade 10 for JaySpec, and ever since then he’s told me he’s gonna put me put me on as an apprentice and show me the ropes. He has been there since day dot to support me through everything. He was the one who told me that I can do whatever I put my mind to, and he still tells me every day.

“When I first started anything to do with building, I was this little 16-year-old girl, shy, no confidence in herself and now three to four years down the track I’m full of confidence and feel like I could smash anything.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster to look back and see what you’ve done with your own bare hands.”