For young women considering their first career move, becoming a mobile plant technician may not always be the most obvious path. For Queenslander Lucinda Dries, however, it was a natural fit.
She knew she wanted a career that involved working with her hands, solving practical problems and developing skills she could apply in a hands-on environment. Growing up, she had never viewed mechanical work, sport or other traditionally male-dominated activities as being defined by gender.
When an opportunity opened up to begin an apprenticeship with Linde Material Handling Australia, Lucinda decided to pursue it.
Only a few months into her apprenticeship, she is developing skills across electrical systems, hydraulics and automotive fundamentals, while also gaining experience installing Linde’s FleetFOCUS technology.
At the same time, she is finding her place in a technical trade that continues to be predominantly male.
Choosing a different path
Lucinda knew from high school that a desk-based career was unlikely to suit her.
“I’ve always been a lot more interested in physical work rather than book work,” she says. “I like having something in front of me that I can work on.”
Her pathway into materials handling came through a recommendation from a friend of a friend. At the time, her knowledge of forklifts was limited. Having previously worked in a warehouse, she had experience operating a powered pallet jack, but little understanding of the mechanical and technical systems behind the equipment. That changed when she learned more about the scope of the apprenticeship.
“When I was offered the job, I realised it had a lot of aspects of automotive, hydraulics and electrical work,” she says. “I really love getting my hands on them and working with them.”
For Lucinda, choosing a hands-on career never felt unusual, something she attributes partly to her upbringing.
“My family have always been very supportive of women being able to do their own things, fix their own cars, play sports and whatnot,” she says. “It’s a family where you’re all hands-on and you get in and just get things done.”
Entering a male-dominated workshop
The gender imbalance across many traditional trades remains significant, and entering a predominantly male workplace can add another consideration for young women beginning their careers.
Lucinda was conscious of the environment she was entering, but says it did not deter her from pursuing a trade that suited her interests. What she did not necessarily expect was how quickly she would feel accepted within the team.
“They still exceeded what I thought it was going to be,” Lucinda says. “They’ve been extremely welcoming. I’ve already made close friends just from the few months that I’ve been here.”
Her experience highlights an important part of attracting more women into technical trades. Recruitment is only one element. Providing access to training, mentoring, development opportunities and a supportive workplace environment is equally important in helping new apprentices establish themselves within the industry.
For Lucinda, much of that support has come through the people around her.
“There’s always someone available if you’re overwhelmed or stressed out,” she says. “There are people either in the workshop or in the office who are always welcoming and willing to lend a hand.”
She points to a recent R U OK? Day barbecue, where employees came together to connect and check in with one another, as one example of the workplace culture she has experienced.
Learning from the people around her
Like any new apprentice, Lucinda began with a significant amount to learn. Already, however, she can identify technical capabilities she did not have before joining Linde.
“I know a lot of electrical stuff now, like soldering and actually understanding wiring diagrams,” she says.
She has also gained experience installing FleetFOCUS systems across different machines.
“It’s slightly different for every truck, but I know how to do it on a fair few now, which is a very nice skill to have,” she says.
“Electrical is not an easy thing to learn. I’m still just getting my hands on diagrams.”
Her apprenticeship has exposed her to technicians with different areas of expertise. She regularly works alongside different team members, giving her the opportunity to build experience across a broader range of technical disciplines.
This approach has helped create an environment where learning from others, asking questions and gradually building independence are part of the apprenticeship process.
Encouraging more women to give trades a chance
Lucinda did not expect her apprenticeship journey to attract significant attention, but she hopes sharing her experience may encourage other young women to consider careers they might otherwise overlook.
“I do hope that it reaches out to women who are looking to get into trades,” she says. “And I hope that it does encourage them to do so.”
Her advice is not to assume a traditionally male-dominated trade will be the wrong fit simply because it is unfamiliar.
“It’s alright to be scared, but you will find people who are very nice to you,” she says. “Hopefully you'll find mates who you'll be with for years after your apprenticeship as well.”
Her final piece of advice is practical.
“Just be prepared to get a little bit dirty.”
Building the next generation of technicians
Lucinda is still at the beginning of her apprenticeship and is looking forward to further developing her technical knowledge through TAFE and broader workshop experience.
She is particularly interested in expanding her exposure to older equipment, having predominantly worked on newer machines to date.
“I’m looking forward to helping on older machines,” she says. “I’ve been working on newer ones so far, and it would be nice to have a little change of pace.”
As materials handling equipment becomes increasingly sophisticated, the role of the technician continues to evolve across mechanical, electrical and digital disciplines.
For the industry, attracting people with the aptitude and enthusiasm to develop those skills will remain critical.
Lucinda’s experience demonstrates that widening the pathway into technical trades is not simply about encouraging more women to consider them. It is also about creating workplaces where apprentices can build capability, learn from experienced technicians and establish long-term careers on the strength of their skills.