Showcasing Excellence:
Tailah in the Electrical Industry
Meet Tailah and hear her story about how she found herself in the electrical industry
Choosing a career path after finishing Year 12 can feel really hard for young people. Tailah knew she didn’t want to sit at a desk all day, so she looked for other options with the help of her school, Marist Regional College. Tailah got the chance to do work experience with Genr8 one day a week, on top of her regular schoolwork. Now, three years later, she’s in her third year of an electrical apprenticeship.
Tailah’s workday starts at 7:30 am. If she’s not installing solar panels, she might work on five or six different jobs in a single day. It’s a busy schedule, and she’s on her feet a lot, but she loves that it keeps her active and healthy. Her workday ends at 4:00 pm, giving her lots of free time. She only works weekdays, so she has time for her hobbies, like representing Tasmania in sports. She’s played in the Tasmanian Women’s State team twice, in 2019 and 2024, and she’s been a part of junior teams in the past.
Being an electrician can involve heavy lifting and sometimes working in tight, uncomfortable spaces. Tailah says that anyone thinking about joining the trade shouldn’t be afraid of small spaces because you often work in roofs and under floors. If you’re installing solar, you’ll be on roofs most of the day, so you also can’t be scared of heights.
Tailah’s training follows a clear plan. Her apprenticeship lasts four years, and each year she spends six weeks in two-week blocks at TAFE. At TAFE, she learns the theory of how energy works and practices it through hands-on assessments. On the job at Genr8, she applies what she’s learned under the guidance of a qualified electrician. At the end of her apprenticeship, she’ll take a final test covering everything she’s learned, but she’s confident that with enough study, she’ll pass.
When asked what excites her most about the energy industry, Tailah talked about how homes have changed and how much more they can do now. She’s really interested in making homes "off-grid" and self-sufficient. If she builds her own house, she’d design a lighting plan to save energy, install a heat pump hot water system, and, of course, add solar panels. If her budget allows, she’d include a battery to make her home as energy-efficient as possible.
After more than three years in the trade, Tailah is happy with her choice. She feels supported and welcomed in what is mostly a male-dominated industry. Her goal is to stay with Genr8, become fully qualified, and eventually take on a leadership role to help other apprentices get the same opportunities she did.
Tailah’s hard work has already been recognised. In her third year, she was nominated for both the NECA Women in Energy Award and the TAFE Young Apprentice of the Year— an honor she’s very proud of.
Tailah’s advice to others facing tough career choices at 18 is not to worry too much. She suggests trying work experience, as that’s how she discovered her passion for the electrical trade and found her path with Genr8.