00:02Changing tracks in her career, Nicola Huggins swapped out accounting for an electrical apprenticeship
00:08at Sydney Trains.
00:09It really intrigued me, it really intrigued me, so now I'm here.
00:14And Arianna Gatzkovski is following in her father's footsteps.
00:18He worked high up and he started where I am as a fleet electrician.
00:23As two of this year's 97 new apprentices, they're learning the skills needed to repair
00:28and eventually build trains.
00:30I've never really touched tools much before this, so it's been great being able to use
00:35the big machine, the guillotine, the bender, the grinder.
00:39A new skills centre with a 3D printer and wiring simulations is providing hands-on experience.
00:46The sorts of things that maybe in the days gone by people would have tinkered with on weekends
00:51with their mums and dads, we've now got apprentices in the digital age.
00:54New South Wales is on a mission to produce 50 per cent of the next generation fleet locally.
01:00But worker shortages in trades dominated by men are putting those plans at risk.
01:05We want to build more trains here.
01:08We want to invest in the reliability of our rail network, but we need the people to do it.
01:12Women make up around 11 per cent of all apprentices at Sydney Trains.
01:16That number is rising every year, with teachers saying they're determined to make working on
01:20the tracks an exciting option for women.
01:23For Ariana and Nicola, it's proving to be a labour of love.
01:27In the end, you're so happy once you complete the job and you're proud of yourself.
01:31And it looks like there are no delays on their way to success.
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