Jacinta Marshall appointed a 2023 Queensland Plumbing Ambassador

The plumbing and gas industry, like many trades, continues to be a male-dominated field; but women are proving that they are making a mark, not just on the tools or in the business, but on school-leavers and career-seekers who might be persuaded to join the industry.

Jacinta Marshall was just 21 years old when she started working in the plumbing industry, and for her, it just was instantaneously a perfect fit. Nine years later, she is still making great strides in managing and improving the day-to-day operations of a plumbing business as office manager at Plumbrite Solutions. 

“I just really fell in love with the industry. I also worked with some great women in plumbing. Even though it is such a male-dominated field, the plumbing and gas industry has been very supportive. In fact, they are all super protective of you. I think I’ve been lucky with having some supportive teams where I have been,” she shared.

Challenges are a regular part of work and life, regardless of age or gender. And while it can be extra challenging to be a woman in a trade industry, Jacinta says that it made for a great opportunity to grow and push the boundaries of her comfort zone.

“It's something where weakness has turned into a strength for me. I feel resilient when someone says, ‘You can’t do it!’ but I show them, ‘Yes I can!’” she said.

Encouraging Women and Youth

Finding purpose in the work that you do certainly makes the everyday grind more meaningful.

For Jacinta, this shift in perspective came to light after being nominated and selected as a finalist in the Austbrokers Comsure Andrea Vogler Women In Business Award in 2022. Being amid equally inspiring women in different fields, she realised that she was in a great position to make a contribution to the advancement of female involvement in the trade industry. As an administration and office manager, she was hiring and training women to be in the plumbing industry—and that, in itself, already made a huge difference.

Being appointed a 2023 Queensland Plumbing Ambassadors alongside Warwick Royal of Plumbaround Pty Ltd and Nick Anderson of Evermore Plumbing & Gas has now added to that advocacy, which is to continue empowering more women and younger people to take up the tools or lend support wherever possible.

To the younger Australians still weighing their options and thinking about whether the trades is an opportunity they should consider, Jacinta has a few words to share that has helped ignite her passion for her work.

“The plumbing and gas industry is such a great industry to be working for. It’s something where, in 10 years’ time, when you’re driving past a house that you’ve worked in, you can say, ‘I contributed to that.’ To be able to see your accomplishment in every single street around Australia—that’s something to be proud of.”

Stay up to date on the work of the 2023 Queensland Plumbing Ambassadors on the MPAQ Facebook and Instagram pages. If you’re interested in becoming an ambassador in 2024, email your expression of interest to info@mpaq.com.au.