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Tegan Doblinger

I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was finishing school. I’d studied maths, physics and any of the hands-on elective courses that I could literally get my hands on (electronics, automotive, woodwork), because I really enjoyed taking things apart and figuring out how they worked and then putting them back together…

Suhaila Muhamad

My journey may be slightly different than the rest! Before graduating from high school, I was offered a scholarship to study at an engineering university in Malaysia, one owned by the national oil company. That opportunity set my early career path towards the oil and gas sector, which suited my desire to travel and work…

Steph Byrom

My career path has evolved through a series of defining pivots. When I left school, I initially planned to pursue criminology, inspired by a version of the field that didn’t quite match the reality once I explored it further. After one semester, I shifted to studying International Politics at the University of Queensland, where I…

Rebecca Colley

When I was at school, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, and honestly, I’m still working it out. I went to university hoping it would buy me some time, so I enrolled in a science degree at UQ and sampled everything: engineering, psychology, technology, human movements… basically career…

Phoebe Salter

I’m a Civil Designer at Hansen Engineering Group and I love creating infrastructure that helps communities grow and stay connected. I grew up in Toowoomba and started my career as a Cabinet Maker, where I discovered how much I enjoy design and making things work smoothly. That interest eventually led me to Civil Engineering. I…

Ebony McGrady

I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life after I finished high school. I worked odd jobs from IGA to stacking pallets for distribution at Big W. At 20 years old, I worked at a small-town farm that produced, packaged and sold potatoes to markets in Brisbane. I worked my way…

Tayla Rowe

Not knowing where my application with the Queensland Fire Brigade would lead at 18, I took on a trade assistant role with a residential and commercial roofing company. After a year and a half, I moved to a residential construction company, where I discovered a deep passion for building and the industry as a whole.…

Kyra Galm

When I was in high school, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. I enjoyed graphics and physics, which naturally pointed me toward engineering. While I found engineering interesting, I struggled with the theory-heavy side of university, and maths was never my strongest area. To make sense of it all, I looked for…

Paula Douglas

Growing up in regional Queensland, I didn’t always have a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my future. It felt uncertain – like a blank page. But over time, I realised that not knowing gave me the freedom to explore, to dream big, and to figure out what truly inspired me. When…

Rose Pedler

I was living in Queensland from 12 years old and completed my Cert 3 in Business Administration straight out of high school because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I also knew that university wasn’t for me as I struggled to study and complete assignments. I now know that I am ADHD. After…

Piper Workman

In high school, I was always into maths and science, which led me to pursue engineering. I’ve always had a passion for the environment, and I knew I wanted a career that would make a real difference, so I decided to specialise in photovoltaic engineering, in other words solar panel engineering! During university I landed…

Julie Smith

When I was in primary school, I had my heart set on becoming a fighter pilot with the Australian Air Force. This dream influenced the subjects I chose at high school and upon completion of year 12 I was still considering this path. When the time came to decide, I was hesitant to leave home…

Melissa MacFarlane

Throughout school I was always that ‘arts’ student, enjoying music studies and performing arts. I could be found in a musical theatre rehearsal or a music room, loving the challenge of different roles and learning different instruments. All through school, and right up until I joined the fire service in 2016, I worked for a…