Meet Steve Ellis, a Campbelltown father who has made a career pivot from banking to the trades, and with the help of TAFE NSW, is now working as an apprentice electrician at the age of 50.
Mr Ellis spent decades working in various credit control roles, but a chance conversation with his best mate in 2021 changed his career trajectory.
Eager to find a job that couldn’t be easily replaced in future by AI [artificial intelligence], he enquired with his friend about a potential apprenticeship with his business, Machine Automation Technologies.
He is now a fourth-year apprentice with the company.
He’s one of many to make a career move like that: the recent ABS Job Mobility Report found nearly one-in-seven Australians who changed jobs in 2025 moved to technician or trade roles.
And according to Hays’ 2025 Skills Report, 87 per cent of workers believe the skills required for their jobs will change within five years, helping drive a surge in reskilling and career-transition.
“I’m sitting in my office with a job that’s easily replaceable and just thought, I have nothing else to fall back on, no piece of paper, no formal qualification,” Mr Ellis said.
“So I took a leap of faith and decided to ask my best mate for an apprenticeship. It’s one of the best decisions of my life.”
Mr Ellis works as an industrial electrician, helping troubleshoot electrical issues in factories and attending TAFE NSW to hone his practical skills and knowledge.
“It was quite surreal going to TAFE NSW in my 40s, I was walking into a classroom of teenagers and I was older than some of my teachers,” he said.
“But the teachers have been absolutely brilliant. They’re so passionate about the trade and there’s never been a question I’ve asked that they didn’t know the answer to.
“I really think I’ve found my job until retirement. The world needs office workers, but I can drive down the street in Campbelltown and see the factories that I’ve helped get back up and running. It’s just so satisfying.”
