Lady Tradies save Lismore family from winter cold with insulated room project

A group of Northern Rivers women under leadership of Female Tradie Penny Petridis have constructed an insulated room for a flood-impacted Lismore family still living in a tent in Lismore.

The Northern Rivers is currently playing host to workshops geared for women wanting to take up roles in the construction industry.

Women in trades: Breaking the Barriers Program has attracted women from Casino to Mullumbimby to participate in the five-day workshop in Lismore.

Lead trainer and founder of Female Tradie, Penny Petridis, is taking a group of 10 North Coast women through a project to build an insulated room for a flood-impacted Lismore family still living in a tent 16 months on from last years flood disaster.

Penny Petridis is a carpenter and female tradie. She says more girls and young women are interested in the trades sector because they know they can make money. Picture: Hollie Adams

Ms Petridis said her focus for the program will be to support the family and build a warm space for them to live.

“We’re teaching the women on-the-job skills they can apply as life skills,” she said, “And also get some people warm during these cold months.”

The state government believe women’s participation in the trade workforce is crucial to the economic prosperity of NSW.

The $10 million Industry Innovation Program announced late last year is designed to support industry-led initiatives to break down the barriers stopping women from considering a career in construction.

The Lismore workshop program is funded under this strategy by the NSW government.

Lismore resident Scott Vidler has been living in a tent inside his workshop after 2022 floods destroyed his and his partners home. Participants in The Women in Trades: Breaking the Barrier program have attended to build an insulated room inside the shed to help the couple through winter.

Lismore resident Scott Vidler told the Northern Star he was renting before setting up camp in his studio.

The large open shed has been housing them as Mr Vidler’s partner’s home remains unlivable.

“I do lots of woodworking, crafty stuff,” he said.

“The idea was to set the place up as a workshop for building and repairing instruments – then it flooded.”

Floodwaters reached three metres in depth above the raised floor through the Keen Street studio.

“Everything was covered in mud,” Mr Vidler said, “We had to throw away most of our things and start again.”

The project at Mr Vidler’s studio came about through his contact with Resilient Lismore.

“I got a call one day from them then Penny called me and said she had a team of people that she wanted to bring in and do some training and stuff with.

“I was all for it.”

Women in Trades: Breaking the Barrier program participant Brooke Brennan, of Casino measuring wall sheeting in Lismore. She wants to use the workshop as a springboard into a carpentry and building trade. Picture: Cath Piltz

Brooke Brennan, from Casino, said she wanted to use what she learns from the weeks program as a springboard into a carpentry or building trade.

“I’ve tried getting into the trades for about five years,” Ms Brennan said, “I want to be a carpenter. A builder.

“I’ve owned a couple of houses and renovated them and that’s inspired me to move on.”

With women only making up 2 per cent of qualified trade workers in Australia the NSW state government sees women as an “untapped resource” to address the major skills shortage in construction, electrotechnology and automotive industries.

Currently working in a warehouse after working night security Ms Brennan wants to meet more local tradies and increase her networks.

“I started building and renovating and thought “I could do this every day – this is great”. I love it.”

Women in Trades: Breaking the Barrier program participant Eliza Luchetti, a nurse from Mullumbimby wanted to upskill and be able to tackle jobs herself. Picture: Cath Piltz

Mullumbimby nurse, Eliza Luchetti said she wanted to use the workshop to help her transition into carpentry work.

“I still want to be a nurse,” Ms Luchetti said, “But I’d like to sort of, mix it up a bit.

“I want to be able to do things myself and be more self-sufficient.”

Each workshop will consist of five days including trade tasters, successful female speakers from the industry and apprentices.

Trade tasters will get a feel for different trades and also an in depth training of power tool workshop with a small carpentry course.

Day five will consist of a BBQ networking event to start conversations between trade specialists, women in trades, apprentices, apprentice boards, potential employers and employment agencies.

Another workshop is planned for Mullumbimby.

Women in Trades: Breaking the Barrier program participants and leaders at Lismore.