Bec Newman - teacher story

At age 17 Bec Newman started an apprenticeship with her family’s electrical business and she hasn’t looked back

At the time there were no other women at trade school or at worksites, and Bec says she’s thankful her Dad supported her career choice. “As a female on a job site 20 years ago, there was an element of having to prove yourself. It wasn’t a great culture for females in trades at that time,” Bec says. “Only once other tradies recognised that I was there to do a job just like they were, that I was very capable, that’s when I was accepted as just another tradesperson on the job site.”

Having worked as a qualified electrician for many years, Bec jumped at the chance to become a TAFE teacher. The mum of three was looking for job security and a better work-life balance.

Bec, who is a member of a local cricket club, says her involvement in community sport gave her skills that have helped her with training students. “If you enjoy being a mentor, or coaching people in team sport or at sporting clubs, you already have skills that can help you succeed TAFE teaching,” she says.

As an educator, Bec says her favourite parts of the job are teaching apprentices, sharing her industry knowledge and being able to retain links to the electrical industry. “I would recommend TAFE teaching as a career pathway for anyone currently working as an electrician, it’s very rewarding,” she says.

These days Bec says it’s not uncommon to see women on worksites and she loves seeing more come through her workshop at Chisholm.

“It’s so good to see females taking up trade apprenticeships, they are just as capable as anyone else to work in a trade,” Bec says.