“One day I'll be able to tell my daughter that I was an electrician"

08/03/2023

When she started her apprenticeship back in 2016, Nikita was the only female tradesperson on site at Downer’s Hexham workshop. Now, she’s leading the way for the next generation of women as a mentor and role model.

Currently pregnant with her first child – a little girl – Nikita hopes to be an example to her daughter of all you can achieve as a woman, tradesperson, and mum.

Working in Downer’s Industrial & Marine line of business, part of Facilities & Asset Services, over her years with the company Nikita has worked across many iconic sites in the Hunter region, from the Newcastle Interchange to industrial work on coal loaders at the port, eventually progressing to a leading hand role out on projects.

She even wired up the very birthing suites at the Maitland Hospital where she will have her baby girl.

“I was working up at The Maitland Hospital when it was getting built, and that was pretty cool to see it from start to finish. I started there when it was just a hole in the ground,” she says.

“Now I'm pregnant and I'm literally about to give birth in that exact same hospital. I had a midwife appointment recently, and when they took me to see the birthing suites I thought – ‘oh I kind of already know what they look like. I actually wired all the lights and power in this room’ – and that’s very surreal.”

Being pregnant and a tradesperson hasn’t always been easy going, but she couldn’t have asked for a better employer in Downer, Nikita says.

When working out on projects became too difficult with her growing bump, her manager was the first to jump in and make accommodations so she could keep working, be comfortable and safe.

“When I told my boss I was pregnant, he straight away said ‘Just tell us how we can make you comfortable, what we need to do, and we'll do that’.

“I asked to come back into the workshop, and the workshop’s been really good, you’re not travelling around to site all the time carrying a heavy tool bag and I’m more comfortable. Even things like my return-to-work plan after parental leave, they’ve been very flexible with that for when the time comes.”

The business hopes Nikita is the first of many tradespeople they are able to support through pregnancy and beyond.

“Nikita is very highly regarded in this organisation and a trailblazer for women pursuing trade work. We will continue to manage her work activities to make her as comfortable as possible while she is pregnant and look forward to her returning to our business when it suits her,” says Stuart Nelmes, Area Manager Newcastle.

There’s lots for Nikita to look forward to as she starts this new chapter, including sharing her experiences with her daughter when she’s old enough.

“One day I'll be able to tell my daughter that I was an electrician, still on the tools whilst I was pregnant with her. It's a pretty cool story.”