Grace is out of the office and on to site

“This roof has taken three days, and then I’ll be signed off,” Grace began, reflecting on her time at the fully-equipped trade workshop at the Ipswich campus where she’s spent significant time completing her Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220).

“After this I’ll be working full-time with my employer and I’ll also move into a Diploma of Building Construction (Management) (CPC50320) — just to open up some more career pathways,” Grace said of her future plans.

The carpentry trade is a significant (but still related) change from where she started — Grace originally was studying architecture at university — but left due to feeling office-bound. 

An apprenticeship was a great fit for Grace as it combines hands-on, practical training with paid work. This meant that she could gain the skills and experience needed to build a lifelong career while accessing Fee-Free TAFE’s free funding for high priority apprenticeships.

And choosing to pursue a trade instead is a decision Grace is very pleased she made, and she has many words of encouragement for women contemplating doing the same.

“Just go for it — everyone I’ve met has been super supportive, with the exception of one or two, but you just take it in your stride and go for it — it’s been great,” offered Grace.

“My workplace is supportive — they employ four women at the moment.”

TAFE Queensland is committed to working closely with government, industry and employers to foster inclusive training and work environments for women pursuing careers in male-dominated trade industries.

“All the apprentices here at TAFE Queensland are supportive, as are the teachers — Dave Cole and Sam Mottram — they’ve been especially great,” explained Grace.

“The first place I was employed at as an apprentice expected more of me in terms of physical ability, but you sort of work around it.” 

“You find safe ways to take things up, leverage materials — and you also just ask your team mates to help. You ask anyone really — it’s not all about doing it yourself — most of it’s a team effort regardless,” Grace said.

Grace’s employer is one of more than 13,000 businesses who partner with TAFE Queensland each year to deliver User Choice funded apprenticeship training.

“When I started my apprenticeship, the registered training organisation selected was TAFE Queensland — which I was happy with as they’ve got the best reputation,” shared Grace.

“TAFE Queensland’s got everything you need. They’ve got all the tools, they show you everything you need to know. The facilities are really good. The workshops are good. At TAFE Queensland they teach you all the practical skills.”

“I’ve really enjoyed learning the physical aspects of the job, like working with all the hand tools, and all parts of carpentry like framing and hanging doors,” said Grace.

Plus Grace will graduate without any student loans or having paid any course fees, as she is accessing Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s funding. The State Government initiative supports young Queenslanders up to the age of 25 by providing access to fully subsidised training across a range of priority apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications.

It was quite a bold choice to pursue a vocation without any family history — although Grace’s uncle is an electrician and it was one of her best friends who is also a chippie who encouraged her to enrol and ‘stick with it’. 

And Grace is so happy she did.