ENGINEERING A ENGINEERING A ENGINEERING A CAREER IN CAREER IN CAREER IN ENERGY ENERGY ENERGY MARY THATCHER

For proud ETU member and 3rd year apprentice Mary Thatcher, the journey to the ETU took some time, but once involved, like everything else in Mary’s life, she’s giving it a red-hot crack

After completing a four-year mechanical engineering degree followed by 4 5 years working in the engineering field, 30-year-old Mary decided it was time for a new challenge, taking up a matureaged electrical apprenticeship in the mining industry Oh, and while working as an engineer completed a master’s degree in maintenance part-time as well

“I started studying science majoring in maths at university and switched to engineering when I realised it was essentially applied maths anyway – I was up for the challenge Coming out of university, I had a list of companies, a spreadsheet and just kept applying until I got a couple of offers Financial security was a high priority at that stage, I took the highest paid offer ”

When the pandemic hit, Mary started to reassess what she wanted to do Being a reliability engineer, she saw a lot of electrical issues come through – stuff she didn’t understand It got her thinking about new challenges, and she decided she wanted to understand another field

Worn out with desk work and seeking some work-life balance, Mary made the decision she wanted a change

“So, I took the plunge, seized the day, applied and was successful in gaining an electrical fitter apprenticeship One apprentice opportunity, one interview, one offer I took it and ran with it I got the impression that they don’t come around that often ”

Mary is adamant her studies and experience have put her in great stead in her new career

“While moving from being a mechanical engineer to an electrical apprentice took a bit of getting used to, I really enjoy the challenge, they are similar but different They both rely on spatial awareness, and past experiences do count ”

“I am a firm believer in not having regrets, I go through life with what I have in front of me I go with my interests, and I love challenges ”

Making the transition to apprentice hasn’t always been easy, but again Mary takes it in her stride and reaps the rewards Common factor is dealing with humans “Some people are warm and make life enjoyable, some are not, it’s no different in the workplace Given I’ve had a fair bit of experience working with people in my previous position, I get through. Even though sometimes I need small personal acts of resistance to keep on track ”

Being ETU

“Being in the union collective, it’s not all on your shoulders, and I find it creates optimism and I feel supported While sometimes it might feel like you ’ re the only one experiencing the challenges associated around respect at work or dignity at work (access to facilities and period products) or more general power imbalances; the reality is you aren’t alone, and the union is one way of sharing strategies to cope with the challenges And that is super uplifting ”

While not working with any qualified female electricians in her current role, Mary seeks out opportunities to connect with other women at work and those connections have had some great results It helps break down the loneliness and creates a sense of solidarity

It was through one such connection that Mary became more involved in the ETU

“I was having a chat with one of the women I knew in the union, she was talking about how she was looking forward to attending the ETU women ’ s conference and how great it will be to meet so many likeminded women, finally she said ‘why don’t you come as well?’ I thought why not, so I expressed interest and got an invite I came back from the conference buzzing, and my union journey took off ”

In the future, Mary, like many of our apprentices and newer members, has a keen interest in the rise of renewables and the opportunities they will provide

“Once I get my trade certificate, the world will be my oyster, and I want to make sure I use my skills and expertise to make a better, more sustainable future There are going to be lots of opportunities in the renewables space across, manufacturing, construction, maintenance, and what to do about repurposing renewable infrastructure such as solar panels I’m interested in reducing landfill and how we can create a circular economy which reuses and repurposes stuff like solar panels ”

Mary loves that her new career provides what she calls universal skills that can be used inside and outside of work

“I like that I learn new skills, some that haven’t been in accessible by women historically, I like that fact that, culturally, things are changing, and I am part of that change Simple transferable skills such as using power tools provide opportunities for resistance and empowerment ”

Mary has some sage advice for women thinking about a career in the electrical trade: just do it!