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Media release
TAFE NSW Randwick | 17 December 2025
Canberra hairdresser trades scissors for sprinklers in a fitting career change
“I get to work in some cool places, like Parliament House, and it’s good to know the work I do is protecting people’s lives.”
Montanna Weir, TAFE NSW student
A former Canberra hairdresser has made an unlikely career pivot to the booming field of fire sprinkler fitting. She’s one of a small but growing band of women to enter the male-dominated industry.
Chisholm resident Montanna Weir, 21, left school with dreams of becoming a hairdresser. However, she soon became disillusioned with the industry while working as an apprentice.
Eager for an in-demand career and a fresh challenge, she took a leap of faith. She applied for an apprenticeship at Wormald, where her dad was working as a sprinkler fitter, and describes it as the “best decision of my life”.
Now a second-year apprentice, Ms Weir attends TAFE NSW Randwick for a one-week “block” each month. There, she learns the practical skills and theory to thrive in her role.
“I’m a hands-on person by nature but never did I imagine I would be in the same trade as my dad,” she said.
“It was hard at first; I wasn’t always taken seriously as a female when I turned up to jobs. Some people would even ask if I was the receptionist.
“But Canberra’s a small place and now I’m being seen out and about doing the job, people have become more accepting and take me more seriously.
“I get to work in some cool places, like Parliament House, and it’s good to know the work I do is protecting people’s lives.”
She said her TAFE NSW training had helped arm her with the industry knowledge and practical skills to see her thrive in her role.
“You learn things at TAFE NSW that are important, but you’d not really consider on the job,” she said.
“I’m on the service side of sprinkler fitting but I’m learning about things like plumbing and construction, which will help me grow in my role.”
Sprinkler fitters work in a highly specialised trade. They install, service and maintain fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers, hydrants and hose reels. Apprentices complete a Certificate III in Fire Protection.
The job's been listed on Jobs and Skills Australia’s Occupational Shortage List for 4 consecutive years. This reinforces the critical skills shortage facing the industry.
Australia’s fire protection services market is worth about $4 billion annually, according to IBISWorld, and growing. Stricter building codes and regulations, growth in construction and ageing infrastructure are driving demand for more fire protection plumbers.
TAFE NSW Randwick fire protection plumbing teacher Peter Edmonds is a 46-year industry veteran. He also consults for a number of peak industry bodies. He says Ms Weir was among a growing number of females entering the male-dominated industry.
“The industry really is changing and it’s great to see young women like Montanna making their mark,” Mr Edmonds said.
“As safety regulations have improved over the years, the demand for sprinkler fitters has grown quite substantially.
“TAFE NSW really is the go-to industry for training in fire protection, and we give graduates the real-world, hands-on skills to succeed.
“A number of our graduates are able to open their own businesses as soon as they qualify, which you can’t say for many trades.”
Media contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 02 7920 5000.
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