Kamilaroi woman and mother of six, Shantelle Scholes decided at the start of the year she was ready for a life change. 

She took up a job at Majura-based indigenous company Yara Construction as a labourer and in administration after working as a full-time mum for her six children, ranging from ages seven to 17.

Shantelle was invited to meetings with TAFE NSW and the Worldview Foundation in Yara’s effort to create a training program that ensured its crew members didn’t feel like they were trapped in one spot. 

By the time the first program had been launched, Shantelle had signed up, keen to learn more about the construction industry. 

Shortly after, Shantelle’s eldest daughter Amber, 17, joined the program after seeing how much enjoyment her mum was getting out of it. 

“Amber has such an interesting way of learning, she’s very hands on and I’m just in awe of her,” says Shantelle. 

Amber says learning alongside her mum has been an insightful experience and there’s no one else she’d rather have by her side. 

“She’s the one that actually understands me and helps me through everything,” says Amber. “It feels like being home.”

The biggest drawcard about entering the construction industry for Amber was getting to work with big machinery and drive the big trucks. 

“It’s great to be outside and building things, being really hands-on,” she says. 

“I’ve never really liked computers,” she says. “I’d rather be outside doing something with my hands.” 

The TAFE class runs over six weeks and takes up to 12 indigenous students at a time. Amber and Shantelle will graduate with a Certificate III in Civil Construction (Plant Operations) with the necessary practical training and real-world industry experience to support them in developing skills for long-term employment in the sector. 

The course is presented week-on, week-off, which allows Amber to continue her studies while she gains practical experience within the construction industry. 

A traditionally male-dominated field, Shantelle says it’s been fun to break down the expectations that women belong behind a desk. 

“I’m lucky to have never [been judged] based on my gender on site, which is really cool,” she says. 

“There’s a little bit of an assumption that I can’t lift much, or anything like that, but I can lift as much as the next person and get into it, I don’t mind getting dirty.

“A lot of the guys are really open and they’ll let me have a go at something just as much as they would. The equality is really nice.” 

In a study conducted by Master Builders Australia in 2023, out of the 1.32 million construction workers in Australia, women only made up 15 per cent of the building and construction workforce with only three per cent of them “on the tools”.

However, Shantelle says this is changing rapidly. 

“It’s challenging but I love getting feedback from the guys that are helping me learn on job sites,” she says. 

“It’s an ego booster to know that I’ve exceeded their expectation or that they’re happy with how I’m learning and how I’ve [absorbed information].

Ultimately, her children are still her biggest motivation. 

“They’ve always been my number one priority and now that they’re getting older it’s great to set that example of whatever dad can do, mum can do,” she says. 

“We are breaking those stereotypes everyday and I want to be a good role model for them.”