Female plumbers are certainly making a mark in the plumbing industry, and they are calling for more women to join them.
Women make up only about 3% of construction tradespeople. However, more and more women are breaking down the gender barrier and living out their dream of being a plumber.
In this article, we will highlight five such plumbers living out their passion, and they share why they are so passionate about plumbing.
Nicole Harrington
In 2021, Rheem had the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Harrington from Ryano’s Plumbing and Gas Fitting. Nicole is not only an experienced plumber capable of producing amazing work such as this, but is also very passionate about her job and wishes to see more females in the industry.
“It’s about what it would bring to the industry. I think girls are pretty tough when they want to be and if they come with the right attitude and do the job right, then I think there should be so many more females in the industry,” said Nicole to Kelly Pares, Sales Representative at Rheem.
“More females would be great. I think we bring a little bit of finesse to the job and it would be great to soften everyone’s hearts to the girls on site.”
You can catch our interview with Nicole on the Rheem YouTube channel here or watch below.
georgia ugov
In 2020, two female plumbing apprentices were granted a Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grant to help kickstart and develop their careers. One recipient was then 17-year old Georgia Ugov. Georgia, part of the Simmo’s Plumbing and Corring Team, loves plumbing and aims to make a difference each day.
“I knew from a young age that I never wanted to get stuck behind a desk but instead have a career that involved using my hands and problem solving. After completing the Women in Trade program, I realised without doubt that my future involved plumbing,” said Georgia.
“As a woman in the industry, I have come to accept that I will never be as physically strong as some of my male colleagues. At times this can be frustrating because it puts me at a disadvantage with tasks that require great physical strength, but I’ve learned to not be afraid to ask for a hand and that no one is going to think less of me because of it.”
jasmine garner
The second recipient in 2020 was Jasmine Garner, part of the Cooke & Dowsett Plumbing Group, also holds similar beliefs about plumbing.
For Jasmine, plumbing provides her with the opportunity to challenge and express herself each day, which further enhances her love for plumbing. As a result, the community benefits because they have a plumber who loves their job.
“I love plumbing because it allows me to challenge myself every day. Whether it’s learning new techniques, problem solving or adapting to new technologies, I’m always learning and pushing myself to be a better tradesperson,” said Jasmine.
“I would love to see more women involved in the industry! Plumbing is a great trade and I believe women have a lot to contribute to the industry. It would be great to educate high school students and young women considering their future on the benefits a career in plumbing can provide.”
Teisha Jayde Sethi-Swindail
Teisha Jayde Sethi-Swindail from Jeff Maguire Plumbing was one of Rheem’s Apprentice Grants recipients in 2021.
In an interview in March 2022, Teisha told Rheem why she is passionate about plumbing and how we can see more females in the industry.
“I’ve got loads of family in the construction industry, so I’ve grown up around it. I’ve always been pretty hands on, going through school I knew I was never really going to be stuck behind a desk,” said Teisha to Michael Albanese, Executive Account Manager at Rheem.
“I love so much that no two things are the same with plumbing. You’re constantly problem solving, you’re always being creative and thinking. I love that there are so many different aspects to it; you’re not always stuck doing the same thing.”
When asked about why there is a low proportion of females in the plumbing industry, Teisha said it starts with everyone’s mindset.
“Once everybody stops looking at it as a female doing a male’s job, that’s when things are really going to change”, said Teisha.
You can catch our interview with Teisha on the Rheem YouTube channel here or watch below.
AMBER Granzien
One of our Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants’ recipients in 2022 was then 18-year old Amber Granzien from Clayton Granzien Plumbing Pty Ltd.
“I am overwhelmed at being chosen as a recipient of the 2022 Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grant,” she said. “I have faced many challenges and criticism over my choice to become a female Plumber in a male-dominated industry. Receiving this honour has validated and endorsed my decision, Rheem has seen my passion for the trade and given me the support I need to pursue my passion.”
Growing up in a family of plumbers, Amber has always known she wanted to pursue a career in plumbing. In an interview with Rheem earlier in 2023, Amber said, “I grew up in a family business. I’ve always been interested in it, always liked it. I watched dad and what he was doing, and I was always interested in it.
“On Saturdays, when he had emergency callouts, I’d go to them and got to learn.”
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