Refrigeration trade opens doors for Sarah

Studying a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220) at TAFE Queensland’s Cairns campus and completing her apprenticeship with J & R Refrigeration, Sarah recently took home not one but two honours at the 2025 Cairns Trade Excellence Awards – Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Apprentice of the Year and Female Trade Student of the Year.

Sarah is completing her apprenticeship supported by the Queensland Government’s Free Apprenticeships for under 25s, which has helped thousands of young Queenslanders kickstart their trades careers.

For Sarah, the recognition was both unexpected and empowering.

“It felt really good to be recognised, especially in air-conditioning and refrigeration,” she said. “It’s a very male-dominated trade, so to be acknowledged like that means a lot. Winning the Female Trade Student of the Year award made it even more special.”

Sarah has never been one to shy away from industries where women are under-represented. Before refrigeration, she worked as a trainee engineer for a Cairns-based expedition company, maintaining vessels at sea.

“I was one of the first women in an engineering role with that company,” Sarah said. “At first, some of the girls I worked with were nervous about moving into those roles. But when they saw me doing it, it gave them the confidence to give it a go – and once they tried it, they loved it.”

That experience lit a spark. Out on the water, Sarah was thrown into jobs that demanded creativity and problem-solving across multiple trades.

“You didn’t have the option of running to the store for a spare part,” she said. “You had to figure it out. One day I’d be working on engines, the next on plumbing or electrical. I loved the challenge – pulling things apart, putting them back together, and really learning how things worked.”

When it came time to take the next step in her career, refrigeration felt like the perfect fit.

Sarah says her apprenticeship at J & R Refrigeration has been nothing short of rewarding.

“J & R is such a good company to work for,” she said. “Everyone is so supportive, and you get to work across so many different aspects of the trade – from small repairs to big installations. Every tradesperson has their own specialisation and way of doing things, so I get to learn a variety of methods and approaches. That’s what makes it so interesting.”

The apprenticeship training model – combining block release at TAFE Queensland’s Cairns campus with on-the-job learning – has given Sarah the balance she needs to build a career while still supporting her lifestyle.

“Being able to earn while you learn has honestly been the only reason I’ve been able to do my apprenticeship,” Sarah said. “I built a house a couple of years ago, right when I started, and having that income from day one has meant I can keep moving forward without having to compromise.”

While refrigeration has traditionally been male-dominated, Sarah believes more women should consider it – and her own journey shows why representation matters.

“When women see someone like them doing the job, it makes them realise they can do it too,” she said. “You don’t have to rely on brute strength – it’s about problem-solving and finding smarter ways to get the job done. Using mechanical advantage and your brain is just as important as muscle.”

Her advice for other women thinking about trades is simple: take the leap.

“Don’t be scared to try. The trade has so many different pathways, and it really gets your brain working.”

With two Trade Excellence Awards now under her belt, Sarah is excited to keep pushing forward – and to keep paving the way for more women to join her.

“I love this job, and I love this trade,” she said. “It’s been such a good experience, and I’d really like to see more women give it a go. There’s room for us here.”

And with strong demand across the industry, the opportunities are there. According to the Australian Government’s JobOutlook service, employment opportunities in refrigeration and air-conditioning maintenance are expected to remain solid, with up to 25,000 jobs available over the next five years.

As the demand for skilled refrigeration and air conditioning technicians continues to grow, Sarah’s success is a reminder of the opportunities waiting for those willing to challenge stereotypes and back themselves.