Jasmin builds a brighter future

Twenty-year-old Hervey Bay resident Jasmin Corby is among those making the most of the anticipated 18.9 per cent increase in employment opportunities for carpenters and joiners across the Wide Bay region over the next five years. The proud Kungarakan and Gurindji woman's apprenticeship is the first step towards her dream of running her own building company and supporting other First Nations people, particularly women, to succeed in the industry. 

Jasmin has always been drawn to the idea of building and creating, earning recognition as a teenager for her skill with two high school subject prizes for woodworking, and receiving the Young Cultural Award of the Year at the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Australia Day Awards in 2022 for her efforts in encouraging people to showcase their culture through woodwork. So when it came time to decide on a career, Jasmin knew her future lay in the world of construction.

But for Jasmin, choosing the right path became a struggle between what she wanted, and what she felt she should want.

“When I was in high school I wanted to get into carpentry, but I was told that because I had good grades, I should go to uni. The head of department at my school was an engineer and told me to look into that, so I thought I’d give it a shot and did a semester in a dual degree in landscape architecture and civil engineering,” said Jasmin.

“When I realised how computer-heavy it was, I knew it wasn’t really for me – that it was someone else’s dream,” she said.

“I’m not the sort of person to sit in front of a computer all day—I like working with my hands and wanted to do the kind of work that would allow a project to come to life rather than be a design on a screen—so I reached out to a family friend to start an apprenticeship in carpentry and I haven’t looked back since.”

Employed by Cam Killen Constructions, Jasmin is now undertaking a Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220) at no cost under the Queensland Government’s Free Apprenticeships funding, and has been able to continue her qualification stress-free after receiving a TAFE Queensland scholarship.  

“I always wanted to take every opportunity that came by and by completing a Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220) through TAFE Queensland, I hope to gain skills that will allow me to eventually build or buy property for myself and my family,” Jasmin said.

“As an apprentice, I’m already on a lower wage, so having my qualification funded and receiving the scholarship on top of that has definitely eased the stress.

“Life is expensive at the moment, so the scholarship in particular has really helped take the pressure off by covering the cost of tools and transport to and from jobs.”

Now in the second year of her apprenticeship, Jasmin said that while she knew she’d enjoy the hands-on aspect of her trade, there are other elements to her role she has discovered a love of throughout her apprenticeship.

“My boss takes on a lot of jobs that require us to travel and I get to meet a lot of different people. And you’re interacting with plenty of other handy people too, so I’ve been able to make some great connections,” Jasmin said.

“But really, I’m just loving learning the whole process of building and about all the different ways there are to do things.”

While Jasmin is currently focused on completing her qualification and building her experience in the industry, she is also immensely proud of her culture, and is keen to use her own career to inspire and support others in her community.

“I think, historically, First Nations people haven’t been allowed to be loud and proud, but the more loud and proud we are, the more others will be too – just as the more we encourage and provide opportunities for others to step up and do their best, the more we’ll see them succeed,” Jasmin said.

“My ultimate goal would be to start my own Indigenous-owned and operated business prioritising the employment of other First Nations carpenters. I want to continue on to do my building and construction licence so I can work on a wider range of projects, and then eventually I’d like to approach high schools in the area to offer other Indigenous students, and hopefully girls like me, apprenticeships in carpentry.” 

“Being Indigenous and female, it has not always been easy stepping into traditionally male-dominated spaces, and it is my hope that I will be able to make it easier for others. I want to show that if I can do it, they can do it too.” 

Jasmin urged other young women considering an apprenticeship to follow their passion and not let anyone deter them from pursuing the career that’s right for them.

“If it’s a career you’re interested in, get in and do it. It’s not as daunting as you think.”