When Talia Rebech finished Year 12, she didn’t have a plan, and she’s the first to admit it.
“After 13 years of schooling, I felt like I was expected to know what came next, but I really didn’t,” she says. “A lot of things felt impossible because I was looking at the end goal without knowing how I was going to get there.”
Today, Talia is an apprentice boilermaker with Dawson’s Engineering and a recent Tafe Student of the Year winner, and she’s proof that you don’t need your whole life mapped out at 18.
Taking the opportunity
Growing up in a small town, Talia didn’t do any work experience in Years 10 to 12. She had no clear direction and no one to help her find placements. She had considered becoming an Army nurse and looking back, she says exposure to the ADF or the trades while still at school would have been valuable.
After a gap year, she needed a job. Her parents thought she’d suit a trade and suggested boilermaking. Her mum’s advice stuck with her: be willing to work, take opportunities when they come, and remember that even if you don’t stay in the trade forever, an apprenticeship gives you a skill, a work ethic and real experience.
“I decided to give it a chance, and I’m really glad I did,” she says.
“What started as something I was encouraged to try has turned into something I genuinely enjoy and take a lot of pride in.”
An apprenticeship across workshops
Talia began her apprenticeship at Mager Construction in Mission Beach. When that business was sold, she moved on to continue her training elsewhere, eventually joining Dawson’s Engineering.
Rather than a setback, she sees the moves as a strength.
“Every workplace does things differently, and each one has its own skills and knowledge to offer,” she says. “In boilermaking, you never really stop learning.”
Talia’s artistic side has definitely translated into her work as a boilermaker.
“I’ve always been particular about the small details and how things look, and that carries over into the quality of my work. I take pride in what I make and I want to know that I’ve done it to the best of my ability. I can be a bit picky with my work, but I see that as a positive because it pushes me to get things right and not just settle for “good enough.” I also learn from my mistakes and use them to improve the next time I do something”.
Meeting the challenges
No two days look the same. She might be measuring, cutting, grinding, fitting or welding. Some jobs are repetitive; others are completely new. Working in a physically demanding, male-dominated trade has had its challenges, but she’s learnt to ask questions, take her time, listen and give things a go.
“I’ve learnt that I don’t have to know everything straight away. Every difficult job or mistake is another opportunity to learn,” she says.
Talia takes particular pride in seeing her work out in the community. “There’s something pretty cool about driving past houses or seeing sheds and knowing that I’ve had a part in building them.”
Recognition that matters
Winning Student of the Year, she says, “brought a spark back.”
“I’m constantly trying my best and putting in the effort, so it meant a lot to feel seen and appreciated for that. It reminded me that the work I put in does matter. Since winning, I’ve found myself enjoying my work more and feeling motivated to keep improving. It’s made me push myself and do even better”
Advice for young women
Her message to other young people, particularly young women, is simple: give it a go.
“Don’t let the fact that you’re a young woman make you think a trade isn’t for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, make mistakes and keep learning. Most importantly, believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to take up space in an industry where you might not always see many women.”