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Libby Ireland

from working at a fast food restaurant to Cadet Site Engineer
I help manage workers and keep the job running smoothly
Industry
Construction and infrastructure
Company
Hutchinson Builders
Job Level
Entry

Ask me about

  • If I always knew I wanted to go in the construction industry
  • How I manage working and university full-time
  • How to succeed in construction and engineering roles
  • What skills matter most when working on a construction site

About me

  • Regional Background

I began my construction journey in Year 10 as a non- ATAR student, where I completed a TAFE Trade Taster course and quickly realised I loved the industry. This led me to compete in the Australian WorldSkills Carpentry competition for Queensland, where I placed third. In Year 11, I completed a Certificate I in Construction through Hutchinson Builders and made an effort to put myself out there by asking questions and getting involved.

I asked to complete work experience and was given the opportunity to work on site for 5–6 weeks, two days a week. I then applied for a Cadet Administrator role and worked one day a week through the end of Year 11 and all of Year 12. After graduating, I moved into full-time work as a Cadet Site Engineer and am now progressing into a Junior Foreman role, while studying full-time at university.

About my role

  • Creative
  • Curious
  • Flexible
  • Passionate
  • Reliable

The Cadet Site Engineer supports the site engineering team with the planning, coordination, and delivery of construction works. They assist with setting out, checking measurements, and ensuring work is carried out according to drawings and specifications. The Cadet Site Engineer helps monitor progress on site, records daily activities, and reports any issues to the Site Engineer or Project Engineer. They also support quality control by checking completed work and helping maintain site documentation. Safety is an important part of the role, and the Cadet Site Engineer follows site safety requirements and promotes safe work practices. Through hands-on experience and guidance from senior engineers, the Cadet Site Engineer develops technical skills while contributing to the smooth and efficient running of the construction site.

Education

  • High School Certificate
  • Diploma of Architecture
  • Bachelor of Built Environment and Construction Management
  • Cert 3 in Retail and Supervision
  • Cert 1 in Construction

Subjects

  • Biology
  • Building and Construction Skills
  • Dance
  • English
  • Industrial Technology

Awards

  • Australian Worlds Skill Competition: Carpentry - 3rd place
  • Vice Captain

Hobbies

  • Beach adventures
  • Bike riding
  • Camping
  • Photography
  • Running

Pets

  • 2 Dog

15 year old me!!

“Ask questions, say yes to opportunities, and don't let not having an ATAR limit what you believe is possible.”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. TAFE trade taster discovery
  2. WorldSkills carpentry competition
  3. School-based construction cadetship
  4. Full time cadet site engineer and university
  5. Progressing into Junior Foreman

My typical day

My employer

Hutchies has been building the structures in which Australians live, work, study, shop and play since 1912. As Australia's largest privately owned construction company, our business capability allows us to build not just in big cities but also in the most remote regions of Australia and across multiple sectors including: commercial and residential high-rise, health, education, retail, and aged care – just to name a few. We pride ourselves on providing the best possible value, ensuring buildability without compromising quality or design. Hutchies was born as a family business, and we’ve held on to the same core values for 110 years; investing in relationships, taking care of the community, and giving our people the knowledge, skills, and tools, they need to grow and develop and delight our clients through their work.