There’s this idea floating around in the trades that if you can’t do five full days, full noise, no excuses, then maybe you shouldn’t be here.
I don’t agree.
In this blog, I have written about part-time apprenticeships and flexible working arrangements. Not because I think everyone should work less, but because I think more people would stay in the industry if they knew they had options.
Let’s start with apprenticeships.
In Australia, an apprenticeship is a contract between three parties: you (the apprentice), your employer, and your training provider (usually TAFE or a technical college). That contract is managed by an organisation like MEGT or another apprenticeship support network provider.
If you want to move to part-time, it’s not impossible. It just requires everyone on that contract to agree.
That’s it.
It’s a conversation, not a rebellion.
Why Would Someone Choose Part-Time?
There are so many reasons.
You might be a parent who needs flexibility around school or childcare.
You might be managing a chronic illness and physically can’t sustain five long days.
You might be transitioning back after an injury.
You might simply need breathing space to stay in the trade long-term.
One of my clients recently completed a part-time apprenticeship because her body fatigues quickly due to a chronic condition. She still wanted the trade. She just couldn’t sustain full-time hours.
So instead of quitting, she adjusted.
And that adjustment is what kept her in the industry.
With the current skill shortages across trades, this is one of the best times to ask. Employers would often rather have you part-time than not at all.
Sometimes it’s not “full-time or nothing.”
Sometimes it’s “what can we make work?”
Flexibility Isn’t Just About Formal Part-Time
Even if you’re not changing your contract, there are so many ways to create time flexibility.
I’ve personally negotiated:
- Working an extra hour Monday to Thursday and finishing at midday Friday.
- Four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days.
- A nine-day fortnight (nine 9-hour days instead of ten 8-hour days).
- Shifting which weekday, I had off depended on what was happening in my life.
- Staying back earlier in the week to leave early for something important.
Flexibility doesn’t always mean fewer hours.
Sometimes it just means redistributing them.
And when you’re paid hourly, especially, it becomes a practical conversation.
Why It Actually Benefits Your Employer
Here’s the thing people don’t think about:
If you’re distracted because you’ve got something heavy on your mind, you’re more likely to:
- Make mistakes.
- Work slower.
- Injure yourself.
- Take unplanned time off.
If you’re exhausted and dragging yourself in because you “don’t want to let anyone down,” you’re not operating at full capacity.
Taking a structured day off to rest or sort something out is often far less disruptive than an injury, burnout, or extended sick leave.
Flexibility isn’t weakness.
It’s prevention.
The Conversation
If you want formal part-time, you’ll need to:
- Speak to your employer.
- Speak to your training provider.
- Speak to whoever manages your apprenticeship contract.
If you want informal flexibility, it can be much simpler:
“Hey, I need to finish early Friday — can I stay back Monday and Tuesday to make up the hours?”
Or:
“I’ve got a lot going on now. Could we trial four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days?”
You’re not demanding less work.
You’re proposing a solution.
When you come with a practical plan, most employers are far more open than you think.
Society’s Programming (Yes, It Shows Up Here Too)
A lot of resistance to asking for flexibility comes from internal beliefs:
“I don’t want to be difficult.”
“I should just push through.”
“I don’t want them to think I can’t handle it.”
But flexibility doesn’t mean you can’t handle the trade.
It means you’re building a sustainable career instead of a short-term sprint.
You are allowed to design a working arrangement that helps you stay.
Final Thought
There is no gold medal for burning out.
There is no trophy for suffering in silence.
If adjusting your hours keeps you in a trade you love, ask for it.
If redistributing your week gives you the energy to perform better, ask for it.
If part-time keeps you moving forward instead of dropping out, ask for it.
Full-time, part-time, nine-day fortnight, four 10s — it’s all still commitment.
The goal isn’t to prove how much you can endure.
The goal is to build a career you can sustain.
And sometimes the bravest thing you can do isn’t pushing harder.
It’s asking for what works.
If you’re a tradeswoman or tradesperson who’d like some help navigating this journey, I’d love to chat. You can book a coaching consultation with me here:
https://calendly.com/louise-azzopardi/coaching_consult
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