An injury led Renee to a new career and further study

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 / Success Story

After I was injured in a roller-skating accident, breaking my hand and arm I decided it was a good time to have a career change. I left my job in the healthcare industry and decided to study a trade.

I began exploring my options on the SWTAFE website and decided that studying electrical might be the right fit for me. I started a pre-apprenticeship course and within weeks of starting I was offered an apprenticeship with BH Electrical.

Starting in the electrical industry was both exhilarating the challenging. Crawling through roof spaces and under buildings was the easy part; learning different wiring requirements, intricate switchboards and troubleshooting problems was much more challenging.

The mix of both physical and mental challenges was what drew me to studying electrical.

In 2025 I won a Bunnings Women in Apprenticeships award. I was proud to win the award, however I didn’t want to stand out as an electrician just because I was female.

I was raised believing that male or female, we’re all just as capable. Now I’m in a trade, I can see there are challenges to being a female. Being mature-aged has been a benefit for me because I’m much more assured about who I am, and I'm proud to be a role model for other women considering the career path.