Bardie Somerville is used to being the 'only girl' on a worksite - and has managed to work her way up from labourer and apprentice to manager in just seven years.
But that doesn't mean it's been easy for the idealistic 25-year-old, who admits being a woman in a trade comes with its own set of complications.
Speaking to FEMAIL, the young tradie said being a carpenter, electrician or plumber should be the same as following any other career - but as a woman, it's not.
'I think in general, as a woman, I am super aware when I step onto a [building] site for the first time,' she said.
'People make opinions of me and my work in a glance, so I really have to show up every time.'
Bardie Somerville is used to being the 'only girl' on a building site - and has managed to work her way up from labourer and apprentice to manager in just seven years
But that doesn't mean it's been easy for the idealistic 25-year-old, who admits being a woman in a trade comes with its own set of complications
'They will be dismissive or make me feel uncomfortable about being there. Then, two hours later, they will come over and tell me I "go alright for a girl".'
She explained she feels like she needs to work harder than her colleagues to make them see she deserves to be there and is more than capable in the role.
'When I show up on site I am not just showing up for me, I am showing up for all female tradies. I have had bosses hire other women after working with me,' she said.
'So it feels like if you have a bad day or don't show up in the best way, then maybe it will stop them from ever taking on another woman.'
Bardie says it took her years to turn up to work as herself instead of putting on a tradie persona
Bardie says she is lucky to work for an incredible company where negative behaviour towards women isn't tolerated, but says it is '100 per cent still out there'.
'A lot of the people who do have those opinions are leaving the industry, or will over the next few years,' she added.
She also alluded to the fact men are 'threatened' by women joining the workforce, which is why some of them make sites uncomfortable.
'They look at you like you are coming for their jobs,' she said.
When she does succeed she feels the need to downplay it, especially at work.
'There have been times when I have had great achievements, like apprentice of the year or different promotions and I feel like it isn't celebrated. Or they - the men on site - look down at it or brush it off,' she said.
'Some have even said things like, "Of course you get that - you are a girl - love to see men have the same opportunity."'
She says some men are quick to sexualise her, or judge her work before actually seeing it
She explained she wouldn't choose any other job: it is fun, she can spend a lot of time outside, and she loves her team.
The sexualisation of women on worksites is also an issue.
'Some blokes will take you away from the rest of the team, then make comments which are really uncomfortable,' she said.
'And it is hard because you know it is wrong, but you feel like if you complain you could be seen as a problem.
'You don't want to be the person who creates an issue, at the end of the day. In any other career, men women work together; trades are so much further behind.'
She added that when other tradies make sexualised comments, it makes her feel foreign - like she doesn't quite belong on a worksite.
This can result in women in trades trying too hard to fit in - at the expense of their own health and well-being.
'I think when people think of tradies, they think of people who drink a lot, talk a lot of crap and eat badly,' she said.
'So I did all of that. And I became really depressed.'
Once she decided to turn up on site as herself - without apology or adopting a 'tradie persona' - things became much better.
'It took me about three years, but after that everything improved, including my work,' she said.
Bardie doesn't regret becoming a carpenter, saying she wishes she realised earlier that trades were an option for young women
Instead of hitting the pub at 3pm and eating sausage rolls for lunch, Bardie reverted to her love of health and fitness and took control of her mental health.
Now she is able to embrace her strengths.
'Everyone on a site works as a team; I might not be as strong as someone else, but they might not be as good at something else as I am,' she said.
When Bardie first landed on a worksite, Aminosäuren: Wirkung und Bedeutung für den Muskelaufbau she was hoping to earn some cash labouring while studying fine arts at university.
She ended up dropping out of her degree to accept an apprenticeship.
'Everyone on a site works as a team; I might not be as strong as someone else, but they might not be as good at something else as I am,' Bardie said
'I wish I knew more about trades before. I probably wouldn't have gone to university,' she said.
Bardie loves being able to blend her love of art with her career in construction.
'Sometimes clients will pull up their Pinterest and show us ideas - but art can be expensive,' she said. 'I love being able to reverse engineer their ideas and make it happen.'
As a site boss, there are still hard days for Bardie.
Sometimes builders dismiss her; other times, site visitors will stroll straight past her and speak to an apprentice.
She will never regret learning how to be hands-on with the tools
Bardie is using her skills to renovate her own home - without paying through the nose for a carpenter
'It is definitely frustrating and pretty rude. But I have to be the bigger person and assume this person's not worked with a woman before,' she said.
Bardie has a lot of friends who are tradies - but admits that makes her think women are more common on worksites than they actually are.
'One of my old bosses hired a female apprentice, and I have worked with a female landscaper and one electrician,' she said.
Bardie is excited to prove women are valuable to the industry - and says it is a 'tiring' job but one she's proud to do.
The young woman is excited to share her knowledge with young tradies as they make their way up the ranks on her worksites.
She is also proud to have learned so many valuable skills on the tools.
She recently bought her own home - and is renovating it herself.
Bardie is excited to see where her career in the industry will take her, and says other women should consider an apprenticeship
Not only was the home affordable - because it needed so much work - but she's saving money by doing it herself.
'I am reminded about the savings every time I have to pay a trade, like an electrician or plumber, to come in,' she laughed.
Bardie is living 'on her worksite' and renovating half the house at a time.
'I have ripped my bathroom out, and some walls and ceiling in the bedrooms,' she said.
Once that is done, she will re-do the kitchen and living areas.
'I want women to know that being a tradie is an option,' she said.
About three per cent of all tradies in Australia are women.
Hacia Atherton, the founder of Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT), wants workplaces to use the female workforce more efficiently.
Not only was the home affordable - because it needed so much work - but she's saving money by doing it herself
She says it could be the solution to the trades shortage which continues to intensify as Australia records its lowest level of apprenticeship applications since the early 1990s.
'It's incredibly heartening to see the rise of women in trades, challenging the status quo and reshaping the industry landscape,' she said.
'Women and non binary peoples presence not only brings diverse perspectives and skills but also breaks long-standing stereotypes. Having a dedicated community for women in trades is paramount. It offers a safe space for sharing experiences, mentorship, and collective growth.
'This community stands as a beacon of support, ensuring every woman knows she's not alone on this journey. The future of trades is inclusive, and it's a future I'm excited about,' she finished.
With a vision to inspire one million women to embark on skilled trades apprenticeships, EWIT aims to elevate female participation from a mere 3 per cent to an impactful 30 per cent by 2030.
But that doesn't mean it's been easy for the idealistic 25-year-old, who admits being a woman in a trade comes with its own set of complications.
Speaking to FEMAIL, the young tradie said being a carpenter, electrician or plumber should be the same as following any other career - but as a woman, it's not.
'I think in general, as a woman, I am super aware when I step onto a [building] site for the first time,' she said.
'People make opinions of me and my work in a glance, so I really have to show up every time.'
Bardie Somerville is used to being the 'only girl' on a building site - and has managed to work her way up from labourer and apprentice to manager in just seven years
But that doesn't mean it's been easy for the idealistic 25-year-old, who admits being a woman in a trade comes with its own set of complications
'They will be dismissive or make me feel uncomfortable about being there. Then, two hours later, they will come over and tell me I "go alright for a girl".'
She explained she feels like she needs to work harder than her colleagues to make them see she deserves to be there and is more than capable in the role.
'When I show up on site I am not just showing up for me, I am showing up for all female tradies. I have had bosses hire other women after working with me,' she said.
'So it feels like if you have a bad day or don't show up in the best way, then maybe it will stop them from ever taking on another woman.'
Bardie says it took her years to turn up to work as herself instead of putting on a tradie persona
Bardie says she is lucky to work for an incredible company where negative behaviour towards women isn't tolerated, but says it is '100 per cent still out there'.
'A lot of the people who do have those opinions are leaving the industry, or will over the next few years,' she added.
She also alluded to the fact men are 'threatened' by women joining the workforce, which is why some of them make sites uncomfortable.
'They look at you like you are coming for their jobs,' she said.
When she does succeed she feels the need to downplay it, especially at work.
'There have been times when I have had great achievements, like apprentice of the year or different promotions and I feel like it isn't celebrated. Or they - the men on site - look down at it or brush it off,' she said.
'Some have even said things like, "Of course you get that - you are a girl - love to see men have the same opportunity."'
She says some men are quick to sexualise her, or judge her work before actually seeing it
She explained she wouldn't choose any other job: it is fun, she can spend a lot of time outside, and she loves her team.
The sexualisation of women on worksites is also an issue.
'Some blokes will take you away from the rest of the team, then make comments which are really uncomfortable,' she said.
'And it is hard because you know it is wrong, but you feel like if you complain you could be seen as a problem.
'You don't want to be the person who creates an issue, at the end of the day. In any other career, men women work together; trades are so much further behind.'
She added that when other tradies make sexualised comments, it makes her feel foreign - like she doesn't quite belong on a worksite.
This can result in women in trades trying too hard to fit in - at the expense of their own health and well-being.
'I think when people think of tradies, they think of people who drink a lot, talk a lot of crap and eat badly,' she said.
'So I did all of that. And I became really depressed.'
Once she decided to turn up on site as herself - without apology or adopting a 'tradie persona' - things became much better.
'It took me about three years, but after that everything improved, including my work,' she said.
Bardie doesn't regret becoming a carpenter, saying she wishes she realised earlier that trades were an option for young women
Instead of hitting the pub at 3pm and eating sausage rolls for lunch, Bardie reverted to her love of health and fitness and took control of her mental health.
Now she is able to embrace her strengths.
'Everyone on a site works as a team; I might not be as strong as someone else, but they might not be as good at something else as I am,' she said.
When Bardie first landed on a worksite, Aminosäuren: Wirkung und Bedeutung für den Muskelaufbau she was hoping to earn some cash labouring while studying fine arts at university.
She ended up dropping out of her degree to accept an apprenticeship.
'Everyone on a site works as a team; I might not be as strong as someone else, but they might not be as good at something else as I am,' Bardie said
'I wish I knew more about trades before. I probably wouldn't have gone to university,' she said.
Bardie loves being able to blend her love of art with her career in construction.
'Sometimes clients will pull up their Pinterest and show us ideas - but art can be expensive,' she said. 'I love being able to reverse engineer their ideas and make it happen.'
As a site boss, there are still hard days for Bardie.
Sometimes builders dismiss her; other times, site visitors will stroll straight past her and speak to an apprentice.
She will never regret learning how to be hands-on with the tools
Bardie is using her skills to renovate her own home - without paying through the nose for a carpenter
'It is definitely frustrating and pretty rude. But I have to be the bigger person and assume this person's not worked with a woman before,' she said.
Bardie has a lot of friends who are tradies - but admits that makes her think women are more common on worksites than they actually are.
'One of my old bosses hired a female apprentice, and I have worked with a female landscaper and one electrician,' she said.
Bardie is excited to prove women are valuable to the industry - and says it is a 'tiring' job but one she's proud to do.
The young woman is excited to share her knowledge with young tradies as they make their way up the ranks on her worksites.
She is also proud to have learned so many valuable skills on the tools.
She recently bought her own home - and is renovating it herself.
Bardie is excited to see where her career in the industry will take her, and says other women should consider an apprenticeship
Not only was the home affordable - because it needed so much work - but she's saving money by doing it herself.
'I am reminded about the savings every time I have to pay a trade, like an electrician or plumber, to come in,' she laughed.
Bardie is living 'on her worksite' and renovating half the house at a time.
'I have ripped my bathroom out, and some walls and ceiling in the bedrooms,' she said.
Once that is done, she will re-do the kitchen and living areas.
'I want women to know that being a tradie is an option,' she said.
About three per cent of all tradies in Australia are women.
Hacia Atherton, the founder of Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT), wants workplaces to use the female workforce more efficiently.
Not only was the home affordable - because it needed so much work - but she's saving money by doing it herself
She says it could be the solution to the trades shortage which continues to intensify as Australia records its lowest level of apprenticeship applications since the early 1990s.
'It's incredibly heartening to see the rise of women in trades, challenging the status quo and reshaping the industry landscape,' she said.
'Women and non binary peoples presence not only brings diverse perspectives and skills but also breaks long-standing stereotypes. Having a dedicated community for women in trades is paramount. It offers a safe space for sharing experiences, mentorship, and collective growth.
'This community stands as a beacon of support, ensuring every woman knows she's not alone on this journey. The future of trades is inclusive, and it's a future I'm excited about,' she finished.
With a vision to inspire one million women to embark on skilled trades apprenticeships, EWIT aims to elevate female participation from a mere 3 per cent to an impactful 30 per cent by 2030.