You would have seen us promote the Rheem Apprentice Grants through our social media pages and newsletters earlier this year. Doing an apprenticeship under Master Plumber SA member Joel Wilson Plumbing, Bethany Wilson is the only recipient from SA this year.
Bethany is one of seven women who received a grant this year. At 43 years old, she is also part of the 50 per cent of recipients who are of mature age (over 21), reflecting a growing trend for those switching careers.
“As a rural based, mature aged, female apprentice I have found challenges that would be common to many apprentices, but also perhaps some that are more unique.”
We sat down with Bethany to talk about her experience in plumbing and what she wants to do with her grant.
MPA SA: How did you hear about the Rheem Apprentice Plumber grant?
Bethany: We got an email from Kerry, our Tradelink contact. From memory I applied after I saw that, but also there's a Rheem representative, Brad, that drops through to our site for and he dropped a flyer into our office.
We've got two other apprentices, I did point it out to them, but I think I'm the only one that applied from our workplace.
MPA SA: Yes, we do wish more of our apprentices would apply for the Rheem Apprentice grants.
Bethany: I think people that take on apprenticeships tend to be – without wanting to pigeonhole them – kids that don’t necessarily like writing things down, and don't normally express themselves through words. The application process is probably not appealing to some apprentices for this reason.
MPA SA: That almost covers the next question I had, of what was the application process like?
Bethany: I found the application process involved a fair bit of writing. My background is in admin and accounts, so I was quite comfortable with expressing my thoughts in writing. I did think about that the application process would be like for my workmates and other apprentices – I think there is a chance they would be put off applying because it's a written application. I don't know if it can be done any other way?
MPA SA: I wonder if uploading something like a video might be more natural for apprentices?
Bethany: The younger generation are probably a bit more comfortable in front of a camera than I would be. But yeah, it could be an option for sure.
MPA SA: This might have been covered in your application, what would you change about the plumbing industry in general?
Bethany: My thoughts about changing the plumbing industry are more directed towards the awareness of the opportunities that are available through doing an apprenticeship and achieving a trade qualification.
I hope that the range of career options that come with doing an apprenticeship is properly communicated to school kids. A trade is a really good option as a career, rather than just something you might do if you're not going to university. I think trades deserve a broader audience than that.
MPA SA: Yeah, it's something we're aware of at Master Plumbers. The messaging is very pigeonholed for students, “If you're not going to university, you may as well do this”.
Bethany: Yeah, that's right. It's generally young males that don't love a classroom and they just get steered in that direction. That isn't terrible, I just think there's other kids that would be really good at it, but probably don't really consider it as an option.
With an apprenticeship you get paid while you're training, which you don't get in a lot of current career avenues. I've found that trade school and the adult learning environment is really supportive. The lecturers are more than willing to go over and above to assist with the training and work with students who are struggling with any of the learning components.
Once you complete your trade, you can continue on as a Tradesman, go on to run your own business or do further training and go in to engineering or project management. I just think it’s a good avenue.
I worry that the school system gives the wrong impression that a trade is for the kids that aren't book smart, or academically inclined. To be a good plumber, you have to be pretty clever. I admire the lads I work with for this – they are really skilled at what they do. There is an element of practice involved, but there is also a lot thinking on the spot and using an engineering type thought pattern to get the job done. Each day is different.
MPA SA: Our apprentices often bring up that as something they enjoy, that they’re problem-solving every day. Plumbing challenges don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s complex.
Bethany: I think schools give the impression that going into a trade is just manual labour. And look, it is quite labour intensive, but there's a lot more to it. I think all trades have an admin element to them. At work, we have to be able to read the description of a task, understand it, record in writing what we did, and select the correct materials. If there are building plans involved, you've got to be able to interpret that information as well.
MPA SA: Especially if you want to get into running your own business, then you're looking at job scheduling software, invoicing and all of that.
Bethany: Yeah, for sure. There are lots of standards that have to be complied with, so we need to have a very good understanding and be able to interpret them. That’s on all of us to ensure we follow the relevant standard.
MPA SA: How did you get the news that you'd won the Rheem Apprentice Grant and how did you feel?
Bethany: Someone must have tagged my husband Joel in a Facebook post, and so he showed me. I was quite surprised and really proud to be chosen out of a group of applicants.
Doing an apprenticeship as a mature-aged female can feel a bit isolating at times and I do question whether I'm doing the right thing, so it was nice to be recognised.
A couple of days before, I had a phone call from someone and they let me know that I've been shortlisted. A couple of days after the Facebook post, Wayne from Rheem called me and let me know.
MPA SA: You’re doing your apprenticeship as a mature-aged woman. I believe you’re also working with your husband at Joel Wilson Plumbing and Gas?
Bethany: Yes, Joel started the business about 12 years ago now. At the time, I was doing other admin work. Now, I’m in my third year of my apprenticeship.
We're in a rural area, so it's quite tricky to find apprentices. We just had a couple of apprentices finish their fourth year and they decided not to continue with their trade but go work on family farms. We really needed people on the tools. I decided at that point to start an apprenticeship.
I've found working with Joel has been really good. It's been quite an eye opener for me. Honestly, I probably didn't give him enough credit for how complex it is – he's really smart! A lot of the time I do work with the other plumbers, which I tend to find is a better mix. It's not always ideal to work as husband and wife on the tools
I really enjoy that I am working for the business, and I am doing an apprenticeship with Joel. We have quite a lot of respect for each other and what the other person does day to day.
He supports me with the apprenticeship and the hours at work, but also around home as well. We talk shop a lot, but we did that before I started the apprenticeship anyway, and the other plumbers I find are really good lads.
They're very generous with their willingness to train me and tolerant with the fact that I ask a lot of questions about why we're doing things certain ways.
MPA SA: That’s good, we get that feedback from hosts all the time, that they love apprentices who ask questions.
Bethany: I like to understand what we're doing as much as I can, so if I don't, I certainly ask.
It’s like Joel can look at a project and almost visualise what's required. I don't know how he does it. We’ll be trying to unblock a drain for example, and the others seem to have a map in their head of what's under the ground.
MPA SA: So, you and Joel share duties as you get home? As your family and work is pretty intertwined.
Bethany: Yeah, very much so. Certainly, over the years it's been more traditional at home, I made sure the home was sorted and the kids were fine, but the duties crossover whenever Joel is home. If I've been busy, he'll do as much as he can to help.
MPA SA: From memory, you get $1000 to go towards tools through the grant. Do you have anything in mind?
Bethany: Yes, correct. I need a couple of sizes of pipe benders, and a few other things I have though been thinking about. I’ll also be sharing the grant with my two nephews that are doing an apprenticeship, to help them along a bit with their tools too.
I’d also like to help the guys that I work with and that help me learn. One of them has just finished his apprenticeship. One has got a young family, and the other one is a young apprentice. I believe they will really appreciate it.
MPA SA: How do you find attending trade school?
Bethany: Trade school has been great. I like that you can make a mistake in the workshop and be able to have another crack at it. There's no fear of making a mistake, it’s just a very positive, supportive environment.
Trade school can also be a bit isolating at times; the young guys just tend to group together. I'm 43, so I'm quite mature-aged compared to the others I have come across in the classroom.
I have not encountered any resistance or disrespect at trade school, or in the workplace.
Read more about the Rheem Apprentice Grants here: https://www.rheem.com.au/rheem/help/offers-and-incentives/rheem-apprentice-plumber-grants