Women deserve to be seen
Skills, qualifications and commitment should be what opens the door. Women deserve the chance to put theirs to work.
Our why
Why Tradie Lady Hire exists
Built from lived experience. A community of women, a shared belief in their skills, and a way to connect them with real work.
Meet our founder
From a desk job to the tools
Stefanie Apostolidis, known online as Melbourne Chippy Chick, is a qualified carpenter, site manager and one of Australia's original female construction creators.
Her journey did not start on a building site. She swapped a desk job for traffic control, then took her uncle's advice and began her carpentry apprenticeship under her dad, a lifelong builder.
In her final apprenticeship year, she started @melbournechippychick. Sharing the everyday reality of being a woman on the tools helped her connect with other women who were finding their own place in the industry.
With 13 years on the tools, Stef has built a career that reaches beyond the worksite. She speaks at schools and TAFEs, reviews tools and works with industry brands, while raising three children under four.
That experience sits behind Tradie Lady Hire: women have the skills and the drive. They need to be visible, supported and connected with people ready to hire them.
- 13 years
- On the tools
- 2,000+
- Women in the TLC community
The movement
It started with connection
Tradie Lady Club grew from a need for women in trades to find each other. A place to share experience, ask questions, make friends and feel part of an industry where they were often the only woman on site.
More than work
Today, TLC connects more than 2,000 women. Through events, shared experiences and everyday support, the community creates friendships as well as professional connections.
A place to belong
Whether she is starting an apprenticeship, building her own business or years into her career, every woman should be able to find people who understand her journey.
The next step
From community to real work
Building a community revealed another challenge: skilled women were looking for work, while homeowners and employers were looking for women to hire. They needed an easier way to find each other.
Tradie Lady Hire brings those two sides together. It connects work with eligible women based on their skills, qualifications and location, so they can speak directly and arrange the next step.
It is not only for qualified tradies. There is room for women with tickets, licences and practical skills, as well as women seeking employment or an apprenticeship to get their foot in the door.
The goal is simple: make women easier to find, help them access real opportunities, and help businesses diversify their teams.
Why we keep showing up
Finding her should be easier
Homeowners and businesses want to hire skilled women. Those women are out there. The missing piece is a simple way to connect.
Belonging creates opportunity
A supportive community builds confidence. Real work opportunities help turn that confidence into a career.
Be part of it