From Tradie to Life Coach

An Interview with Louise Azzopardi

Louise Azzopardi is a Life Coach – and also a qualified Heavy Vehicle Mechanic turned Trainer & Assessor. Bowens sat down with her to discuss why and how she made the switch from tradie to Life Coach and why it’s so important to have someone like Louise in your corner.

Why did you decide to become a tradeswoman?

I become a Heavy Vehicle and Plant Mechanic when I was 15, because I didn’t like school and I knew that studying was not an option for me. I grew up working on the farm with my parents picking, packing fruit and veggies and repairing and maintaining machines. I loved it. I couldn’t imagine sitting inside a classroom. In 2012, I started my heavy vehicle apprenticeship and qualified when I was 19. Along the way, I won a few awards at TAFE, and then I competed in the regional, national and international World Skills competition. That was amazing. But I was looking at it and thinking, where are all the other girls?

How did you transition from trade to life coach?

I had been on the tools working as a mechanic for seven years and represented Australia in my trade. I had all these amazing accolades and, I was like what’s next?

I had my struggles throughout my apprenticeship, and I didn’t really feel like there was anyone that was ahead of me that I could look up to.

As I progressed, I found that I loved training apprentices. That’s when I thought, I want to become a trainer and assessor. I’ll be able to pass on all my knowledge and be able to mentor the girls that are coming up. Be the person that I didn’t have.

Then I found that if apprentices were struggling with their mental health, if they were struggling at home, then they were struggling to learn at work because they weren’t fully focused. So I spent a lot of time coaching them on life before they could excel and learn technically. In 2021 I stepped out of formal training and assessing and moved into life coaching.

” (…) I found that if apprentices were struggling with their mental health, if they were struggling at home, then they were struggling to learn at work because they weren’t fully focused.”

Life coaching can look like retention and confidence, but for them it’s managing stress, managing anxiety, working through any sexism, having difficult conversations to create that environment that helps build their confidence so they can become leaders and they can move through their apprenticeship confidently.

Why do you think support and services like yours are important in the construction industry?

I had my struggles throughout my apprenticeship, and I didn’t really feel like there was anyone that was ahead of me that I could look up to.

When I was stepping into that mentoring, coaching and the training space, I wanted to do what I wished the teachers had done for me, which is acknowledging the way that I feel. There are a lot of issues with communication on the softer things. Being able to say that you’re feeling overwhelmed, that you’re feeling tired, you’re struggling mentally, you’re not getting along with someone, or the stress is getting to you.

“I had my struggles throughout my apprenticeship, and I didn’t really feel like there was anyone that was ahead of me that I could look up to.”

Those conversations don’t happen in the construction industry for both men and women. I always refer to the stat, as it puts it into a perspective. Construction has the highest suicide rate of any industry. So, it’s not just the women’s problem.

You might fear if you speak up about an issue to your supervisor, then maybe you won’t be eligible for the next pay rise. Or maybe you’ll always be sent to the bad jobs. So, these services won’t just help trades women, they’ll help trades men as well.

“You might fear if you speak up about an issue to your supervisor, then maybe you won’t be eligible for the next pay rise.”

If trades are more confident, if they know how to deal with sexism, if they can manage their mental health, they’re going to be more focused on the job.

What advice would you have for young female trades starting out in this industry?

My main advice would be that you do belong here, especially if they’re the only girl on site. You do belong in your position. Another thing is the first year of your apprenticeship will feel like being dunked by a wave at the beach. That is normal. You will start to find your feet in your second year. Nothing has gone wrong.

People with 20 years’ experience will teach you something that took them 20 years to learn, and you’re there in five minutes trying to get it all. I think so many people start to feel overwhelmed at the beginning and think, ‘It’s not for me. It’s too overwhelming.’ But you are learning a whole new language, a whole new way to use your body all at once.

“People with 20 years’ experience will teach you something that took them 20 years to learn, and you’re there in five minutes trying to get it all.”

What is the best part of being part of a community like you Facebook “Tradeswomen Owning Their Power” community?

The way that I like to explain the community is they cheer you on for your successes, but they also support you in the hard times. Because let’s be honest, there’s still sexist people out there. There are still outright bullies out there. We still have mental health challenges and yes, there are professionals that can help us deal with these things, but there’s always something nice about having someone say, ‘I’ve been there. I understand how you feel and it’s going to be okay.’