Trailblazing electrician Emily Waras hopes to inspire other woman to take up a trade.
The Kangan Institute graduate works full-time as an electrical carriage maintainer for Alstom V/Line Maintenance.
Her role involves maintaining, repairing and modifying all electrical components on V/Line’s fleet of passenger trains
The mother-of-two completed certificate III in electrotechnology electrician apprenticeship at Kangan’s Broadmeadows campus and shared her story as part of the TAFE’s International Women’s Day celebration on Tuesday, March 8, which focused on this year’s theme, #BreakTheBias.
Ms Waras’ journey to becoming an electrician was somewhat unconventional – she discovered she was pregnant midway through apprenticeship at Kangan Institute, which meant training adjustments and navigating a return to the industry as a new mum.
Ms Waras completed her apprenticeship in 2019 and was named Kangan Institute’s Apprentice of the Year. A year after, she was named Blackwood’s Tradie of the Year.
These days, Ms Waras is committed to inspiring other young women to #BreakTheBias and works with Tradeswomen Australia as a mentor for new apprentices.
