My career in plumbing started when I was sitting in year 11 and realised I did not want to sit behind a desk for the rest of my life, I wanted to be working in an active environment, working with my hands. Once I had made my decision, I began gaining work experience in a…
When I finished school, I thought university was the only pathway to success. I completed two university degrees and spent years working in government compliance before realising I wanted a career where I could build something tangible every day. Starting a bricklaying apprenticeship as an adult completely changed my life. Today I’m one of Australia’s…
I’m a proud Djukun woman from the West Kimberley who has lived on Yamatji Country in the Mid West for the past 58 years. My work in education has taken me across a range of primary and secondary schools, where I have been privileged to support students, families, staff, and communities. I am deeply committed…
With more than ten years of experience in this regional leadership role, Peta-Anne has led and supported a broad range of collaborative projects and strategic partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for students, staff, schools, and local communities. She is passionate about bringing people together to build strong networks that enhance educational outcomes and strengthen community…
In high school, I wanted to be a journalist. I left after Year 10 and went to secretarial school instead. At 16, I started working as a Records Officer for Dept Transport. I fell pregnant and was let go, so I moved on to admin jobs in law offices until my son was born. To…
In high school, physiotherapy was often suggested as a career path because I was strong in STEM and enjoyed sport. But I wanted variety and problem solving, so I chose to study a degree in Construction Management instead. That decision shaped a career I’m incredibly proud of. Construction has given me the variety I wanted…
I began my construction journey in Year 10 as a non- ATAR student, where I completed a TAFE Trade Taster course and quickly realised I loved the industry. This led me to compete in the Australian WorldSkills Carpentry competition for Queensland, where I placed third. In Year 11, I completed a Certificate I in Construction…
When I left school, I had no idea I’d end up in construction — I actually studied videography. After travelling Europe on my OE, I landed a job in London with an infrastructure company, and that’s where everything changed. I realised I loved being part of something real — where ideas turn into buildings you…
Throughout school, my main focus was competing in athletics and sport. I enjoyed being active and challenging myself, and my favourite subjects included biology, physical education, and humanities. While I enjoyed learning, I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to become after school and struggled to see a career path that felt…
My journey may be slightly different than the rest! Before graduating from high school, I was offered a scholarship to study at an engineering university in Malaysia, one owned by the national oil company. That opportunity set my early career path towards the oil and gas sector, which suited my desire to travel and work…
In year 10 my school advertised an Australian School Based Apprenticeship (ASBA) called ‘Women in Construction’. The program enabled school girls to attend site 1 day a week for 24 months, rotating between different trades every 3 months. Having no clue what I was passionate about or what I would pursue after school I gave…
As a kid, I was obsessed with re-planning my room and begged my parents to take me to open house inspections, imagining how I’d redesign every space. After high school, I wasn’t sure what to do—architecture sounded amazing, but the maths and science felt scary at the time. I finished a Bachelor of Commerce, but…
From no clue what I wanted to do in high school, to still exploring my passions today, my journey has been full of discovery. In school, I was really curious and loved being involved – sports, dance & musicals, public speaking and volunteering. I finished Year 12 with a mix of subjects, many interests and…
When I was in Year 10 at boarding school, I described my exact job I have now to my friends. I remember it so vividly. I would be working at a school but not teaching, I would be helping young people with advice and insights on their future options, and I would have a lot…
I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life after I finished high school. I worked odd jobs from IGA to stacking pallets for distribution at Big W. At 20 years old, I worked at a small-town farm that produced, packaged and sold potatoes to markets in Brisbane. I worked my way…
From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue a trade. I entered the resources industry straight out of school and earned my Mechanical Trade qualifications four years later. My career has taken me across oil and gas, construction, building maintenance, mining, and rail – both in Australia and overseas. Often the only woman…
When I was in school, I enjoyed maths and science and being outdoors. The thought of being in an office all day wasn’t very inspiring to me! My dad works in oil and gas and suggested that I should do engineering, particularly environmental engineering, so I could have a job that pays well, a job…
When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I had always found maths and science came most naturally to me and were the most interesting subjects. My grandfather, father, and uncle had all worked as blue-collar construction workers when I was growing up, so I had some…
I have always loved building things, whether it was playing with LEGO or getting hands-on with projects. Throughout primary and high school, I really enjoyed maths and science but wasn’t sure how to turn that passion into a career. Luckily, engineering was offered as a subject in high school, and that’s when everything started to…
Leading up to the end of high school, I struggled to pick a career I wanted to study for, torn between my ‘competing’ interests in graphics, legal studies, and physics. My first part-time job as a jewellery sales assistant also sparked my passion for problem-solving, customer communication, and people management. When it came time for…