Australia Needs More Electricians. Can Big Sister Help?

Australia needs more electricians, and one organisation believes helping more women complete their apprenticeships is part of the answer.

Big Sister is working with apprentices, employers and training providers to improve the number of women entering electrical trades and, just as importantly, staying long enough to become qualified.

The work comes as demand grows for electricians capable of installing solar, home batteries, EV chargers and the other equipment needed to electrify Australian homes.

Why Aren’t There More Female Electricians?

Women currently account for only 2.6% of Australian electricians. Increasing that share would give the industry access to a much larger pool of potential apprentices.

The organisation Big Sister provides mentoring and support for women entering traditionally male-dominated trades, including electrical work and clean energy apprenticeships.

Research into the challenges facing female electricians has highlighted:

• Families and schools discouraging young women from pursuing electrical apprenticeships, and a lack of female mentors within training programs and the industry;
• Employers pursuing informal hiring practices that favour men, perceiving women as a waste of resources because they might have children, and offering a lack of support for caregiving responsibilities;
• Inadequate workplace facilities such as limited toilets and sanitary facilities, as well as uniforms and protective equipment designed for men;
• Worksites grappling with incidents of harassment and intimidation.

What’s The Answer?

Rather than simply encouraging women to sign up, Big Sister focuses on what happens after they enter the workplace.

Its work includes connecting apprentices with experienced tradeswomen, helping them build professional networks and giving them somewhere to seek advice when problems arise.

It also works with employers to examine whether workplaces are properly set up to recruit and retain women. This can include practical matters such as suitable amenities, correctly fitting protective equipment and having clear processes for dealing with workplace problems.

Big Sister also visits schools and promotes trade careers to girls who may not have previously considered becoming electricians.

Not every female apprentice will experience these problems, and some employers are trying to make their workplaces more supportive. But Big Sister says the same issues appear often enough to discourage some women from entering the trade or completing their training.

Big Sister Mentor Lead Gaynor Maree at the Western Adelaide Jobs Expo 2026 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Support Before Problems Become Resignations

One theme running through Big Sister’s research is the value of early support.

As one industry participant put it:

“Early warning signs are not being picked up early enough and the early warning signs are there before they drop out.”

An apprentice who is struggling may not initially raise a formal complaint. They may simply leave, leaving the employer to recruit again and the industry with one fewer potential tradesperson.

A mentor outside the apprentice’s immediate workplace can provide practical advice before a manageable problem becomes the reason someone abandons the trade.

Employer support is also important. Retention is unlikely to improve if programs concentrate entirely on preparing women for trade workplaces without also helping workplaces prepare for a more varied workforce.

More Electricians For An Electric Future

No single initiative will solve Australia’s electrician shortage.

But with women making up such a small share of electricians, they represent an obvious source of potential workers at a time when the industry needs more of them.

Australia’s shift towards electric homes will depend on more than solar panels, home batteries and new technology. It will also require enough qualified people to install and maintain them.

Programs like Big Sister won’t be the only answer to Australia’s growing demand for electricians. But if they help more apprentices qualify and remain in the industry, homeowners looking to electrify their homes stand to benefit too.

To find out more, visit the Big Sister program website.