By CASEY NEILL
DANIELLE Kazi-Shedden is doing things a little differently and picking up plenty of awards along the way.
The Cranbourne 24-year-old will speak about her pathway from VCE to her carpentry career at the Smart Manufacturing ’16 symposia on Tuesday 17 May.
The Drum Theatre will host presentations throughout the day as part of the expo-style event that will take over Dandenong’s CBD to promote the region’s capability and capacity.
“I just started in 2009 when I didn’t really know what I was going to do and had no real direction with my career path or anything like that,” she said.
“I did all my exams in year 12 and didn’t get the results I wanted. I didn’t really care about anything back then.
“I ended up being unemployed for nine months after that.”
Danielle eventually landed a job at Jayco in Dandenong South and over the next three years tried her hand at several different roles.
“I came out with a joinery/carpentry sort of interest. From there I was looking for an apprenticeship and found this shop-fitting role with Whytehall.”
Working in a male-dominated industry doesn’t bother her a bit.
“I find it really rewarding,” she said.
“I use it as a positive. I think being the only girl is really good.
“I end up telling them what do.”
Last year she went to her first awards night with Chisholm and won the TAFE’s Building and Construction Apprentice of the Year.
“From there I was nominated for the Master Builders’ award and went for an interview with a panel of five judges and had to do a presentation on myself and tell them why I thought I should be a winner,” she said.
“From there I got an invite to the Master Builders’ awards and won the overall Joinery Apprentice of the Year, Metro Apprentice of the Year, and Victorian State Apprentice of the Year. That was last year, in April.
“I was a little bit in shock at the time, it didn’t really sink in.”
It all happened again this year.
“I won the Chisholm Building and Construction Apprentice of the Year again and the overall Apprentice of the Year. I also won the CEO’s award,” Danielle said.
“It’s provided me with a lot more opportunities and different directions that I want to go with my career now.
“I just got a scholarship to do some more courses with Chisholm so I’m signing up to do a certificate four in building and construction and then, hopefully, I’ll move onto my diploma.”
