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Tammy Dance

I had no idea I would be the Assistant Operation Manager at the Port of Brisbane. I would come out to the Port as a teenager and hang out with friends riding dirt bikes and playing loud music. I started my career in childcare and did work experience in Year 12 that led into a…

Emma McGivern

When I was in high school I was interested in math and science and also the environment, so I studied environmental engineering. When I finished university, I applied for various graduate jobs and was successful with Rio Tinto. I was not targeting mining specifically, but I immediately enjoyed the job, especially when I moved to…

Jaime Burnell

In high school, I assumed my career path would be in physiotherapy or nutrition due to my love for sports. At the same time, I excelled in Maths and Economics, which broadened my academic interests. My mother arranged for me to see a careers counsellor, who conducted strength-based and psychometric testing. This process ultimately led…

Candice McLean

I was 5 when I told my parents I wanted to be a lawyer but they were most surprised I continued with this career path. After graduating from Griffith University on the Gold Coast (my home town) I spent the next 7 years in private practice. I had my first son 10 years ago, after…

Nicole Berghuis

In Grade 11, we had a Scenes of Crime Officer attend our school for a presentation. I thought it was pretty cool, however, I found the Police uniform intimidating and was unsure of myself and how I would/could get from where and who I was to where and who I wanted to be. Between school,…

Julie Smith

When I was in primary school, I had my heart set on becoming a fighter pilot with the Australian Air Force. This dream influenced the subjects I chose at high school and upon completion of year 12 I was still considering this path. When the time came to decide, I was hesitant to leave home…

Jenny Whitaker

I had no clue what I wanted to do when I finished school.  I dropped out of my first degree (business) after 1 semester and started full time work as an admin assistant while I figured out what I wanted to do.  The State Government Computing Centre (now CITEC) was recruiting for computer operators and…

Machel Tamani

I went to high school in Melbourne, then completed my last two years of high school in Gladstone. Whilst in Gladstone, I had to complete two subjects via online distance education, as well as three subjects at the high school I attended. When I finished high school, I was set on studying Economics at university,…

Renewable Energy & Infrastructure Project Manager

The project manager is the key person for driving a project from start to finish, managing stakeholder/customer engagement and ensuring that the project stays within budget and is completed on time. Project managers handle the “project life cycle”. This includes the following stages:

Melissa MacFarlane

Throughout school I was always that ‘arts’ student, enjoying music studies and performing arts. I could be found in a musical theatre rehearsal or a music room, loving the challenge of different roles and learning different instruments. All through school, and right up until I joined the fire service in 2016, I worked for a…

Stephanie Castaldo

I left “mainstream school” at the end of Year 10 because I knew I wasn’t going to do well in my exams and get a good ATAR. I could never sit still or concentrate very well and was easily distracted. I moved to a sports school for Netball, to complete my Year 11 and 12…

Chantelle Love

I grew up in NSW riding horses and playing hockey. I moved to QLD when I was in grade 6 and started going to work with my dad during the school holidays. I studied woodwork & engineering at school as electives. In grade 12 I was offered a position at Gold Coast School of Construction…

Process Engineering Resource Recovery Manager

This role manages a team of engineers who look after the operation and fine tuning of 27 wastewater treatment plants to make sure they run optimally – and meet the required environmental standards at minimal cost (based on chemicals, electricity & other costs). People think it sounds a bit ‘yucky’ working with wastewater (or sewage)…