
Young women get hands dirty taking up trades
TIARNEE Malins and Sophie Smith are proud to join the new wave of young women taking up trades in Central Queensland, preferring garages to offices and hair salons.
The teenagers are just a few months into a Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation at CQUniversity's Rockhampton City Campus and have just as much enthusiasm for the trade as their male counterparts.
"I'd rather get my hands dirty than sit working at a computer or doing beauty," Tiarnee said.
Sophie, who is in Year 11 at The Cathedral College, said she was following on the interest for engines she developed while helping her father on their family property.
"I've always found working on engines really easy, and I hope to get an apprenticeship because there are more opportunities for a job," Sophie said.
Tiarnee said she hoped to enrol in more study with CQUniversity after completing Year 12 at Rockhampton State High School.
"I'd really like to get into a heavy machinery or diesel fitting apprenticeship," she said.
"If you set your mind to it, then anything's possible."