Girls in Construction

Two young women from MMCC are breaking the gender stereotypes surrounding women in construction. Rita Sheikh and Maryana Kamal, both current Year 11 students, are enrolled in the Certificate II in Construction Pathways at St Yon’s Trade Skills Centre in Bankstown.

They are the only girls in their construction class and are held in high esteem by both their teacher and fellow students, who recognise their hard work and dedication. Both Rita and Maryana have already achieved competency in Task 1 of their course.

The girls have said that the course has provided them with ‘real world’ experiences. This has included the fact that both girls have to catch a bus and two trains in order to attend their class at St Yon’s, which they happily do because they enjoy their course. They have further learnt how to use hand tools and gained relevant industry information regarding legislative requirements. They will get the opportunity to put in to practise the skills they have learnt in their construction course when they attend their work placement in Weeks 9 and 10, this term.

Post school, Maryana would like to pursue a career in Carpentry, while Rita would like to further pursue a Diploma in Construction at TAFE and use the Diploma to gain access into a Bachelor of Construction Management at university.

We are proud of both girl’s accomplishments thus far and determination to achieve their post school pathway. Well done on striving to embody the Wakeley way!

Maria Fassoulas

Leader of Learning – Vocational Education and Training, Pathways and Partnerships