As work modernises in Australia, some rare trades are in decline

As Australia modernizes, a number of traditional artisan trades are struggling to find new practitioners, risking a loss of valuable skills. Locksmith Kerry Hodgetts, with two decades in the business, notes that only one of his seven or eight apprentices completed their training. He fears traditional lock-smithing may fade as electronic security systems become more prevalent.

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To me, it'll be a shame. I don't know if it's just because I'm a tradesman, but I think trades are the greatest thing to do, learn a skill and get paid to do it.

The Master Locksmiths Association has launched a national recruitment campaign, appealing to potential apprentices, particularly women and school leavers. Martin Coote, head of the association, described the craft as 'almost invisible' to those considering trades and highlighted a significant shortfall in the workforce due to retiring professionals. The government is subsidizing TAFE courses and offering a $10,000 sign-on bonus, but the need for mainland training blocks and the cost remain barriers.

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We need thousands of people in our industry across Australia. We have people who are retiring out of the industry and just not enough people filtering through at the start of their career.

Lead-lighting is another craft facing a similar challenge. Louise Ridge, a leadlight artist with over 30 years of experience, is preparing to retire, noting that few people are taking up the demanding skill. While she teaches classes, few students commit to the craft long-term. Despite this, Ridge observes a current demand for stained glass art, with her business being busier than ever as people recognize it as a 'dying art.'

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It's just a shame people aren't taking it up. I do teach classes, but they won't follow through with it, they'll just dabble in it a little bit.

Both locksmithing and lead-lighting exemplify the broader issue of declining traditional trades in Australia. The efforts to attract new talent through incentives and recruitment drives underscore the urgency to preserve these artisan skills for future generations, even as technological advancements and changing consumer preferences present significant hurdles.

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People love it, it's in vogue and I think they realise it's a dying art and then it's going be harder and harder to get done.