Lucy's trading places: a chippy off a new block

Lucy Minter discovered she loved carpentry after she missed the start of the university year while travelling in South America

AFTER missing the start of semester to study architecture, Lucy Minter, 23, looked for an alternative course while waiting to start her degree.

She opted for carpentry and discovered she loved it.

A student at the TAFE North Sydney Institute, she is now six months off finishing her apprenticeship.

But she said getting a start had been tough and involved more than 50 emails, and 20 phone calls.

``Taking on a first year girl (apprentice) was a big risk because they have never done it before, they don't know what is involved,'' she said. ``They don't know if women are physically capable and there is a stigma around women not being able to build, so there was a lot to get around as a first year,'' she said.

Joining the National Association of Women in Construction helped Ms Minter secure her current job.

She is employed at a company called Just Screw It in Leichhardt where there is another qualified female carpenter who offered her some sage advice.

``She says don't worry about trying to be a man, you don't have to be a man to work in this industry. Be a woman and do a good job,'' Ms Minter said.

CARPENTERS
*Average weekly full time earnings: $900
*Average weekly hours: 40
*10 year employment growth: 36.6 per cent
*Females in industry working full time: 0.2 per cent
*Males in industry working full time: 93.6 per cent
*For other women thinking about going into the construction trade, Ms Minter said: "Just get in there, don't take no for answer, go to sites and hand out your resume."
*Ms Minter's qualification allows her to travel and give back to the community. She has been to France and spent six months in Brazil

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