Woori Yallock boilermaker Carley Attard has been named as the State Apprentice of the Year at the annual Master Builders Victoria awards held at Marvel Stadium.
Ms Attard, who works at Nuform Steel Fabrications in Bayswater, also won the MBV Employer Nominated Apprentice of the Year award.
Having arrived at the 18 May event, Ms Attard’s employer Greg Cole suggested she should write a speech “just in case” she won, to which she thought wouldn’t be necessary.
“It was awesome. I was not expecting it at all,” Ms Attard said. “It was a good feeling having all the hard work I’ve put in recognised,” she said. “There’s not many boilermakers that get nominated or even make it that far.”
And despite not being prepared to go on stage and deliver a winner’s speech, Ms Attard made the most of the opportunity.
“I asked for a day off while my boss was on stage with me, so he couldn’t really say much,” she joked.
Ms Attard received her qualification from Chisholm last August and has since been working as a foreman on site in Lilydale helping construct Yarra Ranges Council’s new offices.
“Having won this, it opens more doors for me, people are starting to realise that I do actually know what I’m talking about and take me a bit more seriously.”
Ms Attard said she hopes other people can realise their opportunity to join a trade after seeing her success at the MBV awards.
Metalwork wasn’t always on the cards for Ms Attard as she previously worked at Coles, but found the job wasn’t taking her to where she wanted to be. So determined to find a new career path, she set out to nearby businesses to hand in her resume.
“I was working in the deli and I initially wanted to move up into management there. But I wasn’t given that opportunity and I wasn’t going anywhere and I wasn’t happy anymore so I decided I wanted to do something else,” she said.
“I thought a trade would be good. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and I’m not afraid to get dirty. Where I was working in Coles was in Bayswater where there is a big industrial area.
“I started handing out resumes and talking to different people and Greg pretty much gave me a job on the spot. That was it. I was welding on the second day. He said, ‘anyone who wants to come in here and ask for a job, I’ll give them a shot’.”
It was that sense of initiative of entering a new industry by approaching various employers that impressed the MBV judges. Ms Attard was also commended for her creativity and passion for the process of building, not just the result.
“I like the fact that I can look at something from nothing and see what it’s going to be. Or be handed a set of drawings and be able to make it into something awesome.”
Having taken home two awards, Ms Attard collected a pool of prizes from vouchers to power tools. And while they may not be applicable to her unique trade, she said she’ll be using them to renovate her Woori Yallock home.
MBV CEO Rebecca Casson said the win was a fantastic achievement and proof that there is a place for women in the building and construction industry to develop successful and rewarding careers.
“We know that women – when given the opportunity – thrive in our industry, and we know their workplaces benefit too.
“Carley’s win is a testament to her ability as a young woman to tread her own path and follow her dreams even when they weren’t presented to her as a first choice,” Ms Casson said.
“A career in the building and construction industry is for everyone, and I encourage anyone looking for work to consider it.”
Ms Attard shared her experience of being a woman in the male dominated construction industry and said she wouldn’t want to be treated any differently.
“It’s been great, all the guys I’ve worked with have been fantastic. On site, most of the guys are pretty good. You get some weird looks though, I’ve noticed. Most of the time I’m wearing a hardhat and all my hair’s tied up and I’ll have people turn around to me and say, “hey buddy… oh sorry”.
“I’ve had some guys pick things up for me. I can do it and if I need help I’ll ask for help. I appreciate it, but I’m really fine. I’m not a little delicate flower, I can do this. I wouldn’t have gone into the trade if I couldn’t.”
