After leaving school Althea "Tay" Kruizinga did what many her age did before COVID-19.
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She travelled overseas and when she returned to Australia started a career in the corporate world in Sydney.
But it wasn't long until Ms Kruizinga decided that was not for her and at 24 began exploring new opportunities closer to home.
"I was working as an accounts manager for a data hosting company at Circular Quay," she said.
"I had always had a passion for technology. But when I finished school it didn't seem like a career option for me.
"As a woman it wasn't an avenue I saw other people doing. But then I met a couple of female electricians and had a chat to them about their career. That sparked something in me and encouraged me to go for it. Which was great advice."
Ms Kruizinga, 30, achieved a great deal after starting a Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE NSW with host employer HVTC Illawarra.
Now she is inspiring other young women to explore non-traditional roles.
Ms Kruizinga she just been named Apprentice of the Year at the 2021 Illawarra and South East NSW Regional Training Awards and was also named winner of the Women in Non-Traditional Trade Award.
She will now go on to represent the region at the NSW Training Awards in October.
When she started her apprenticeship at BlueScope Steel four years ago Ms Kruizinga described it as a bit of a culture shock. Apart from her and one other female apprentice there were no other women on site.
"Adapting to an all-male workplace was daunting at first, but I quickly found my stride and took great joy in mentoring and providing support to new apprentices commencing on-site in the following years," she said.
After successfully making her own career change Ms Kruizinga has become an advocate for having more women in male-dominated industries.
"It is getting better and better every year," she said.
"That is something I really love seeing. I am really good friends with the other female apprentice who started the same time as me. Where we can we mentor the other apprentices as they come through."
Ms Kruizinga, who presently works at the BOS, described hearing her name for the Apprentice of the Year Award as 'awesome'.
"I felt so proud. It was great to get recognition for the hard work I have done," she said.
"I moved away from Wollongong and when I came back I fell in love with it again. So it is going to be great to be able to represent my home town at the NSW Awards."
Ms Kruizinga has now completed a Certificate IV in Electrotechnology and is about to start a diploma at NSW TAFE which she expects to mostly do online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said she was really lucky to have such a supportive employer in BlueScope who provided her with an opportunity after she had so many knockbacks from other prospective workplaces because of her age and sex.
"It is such an encouraging workplace. Especially when someone a little bit different comes along," she said.
"BlueScope are doing a lot of really good work trying to increase the number of women in the workplace and women in skilled and specialised trades.
"I love this work. It is the perfect mix of hands on work and mental stimulation. And I enjoy being a role model. I want to be what those two women in Sydney were to me. I would like to light a spark in someone to do something they might have been too scared to do before."
Ms Kruizinga was among many trainees and apprentices acknowledged for their achievements at the regional training awards hosted annually by Training Services NSW and the Illawarra Vocational Training Committee (IVTC).
Another major winner in the regional awards presented via Zoom was trainee of the year Alexia Lara who recently completed a Certificate III in business administration with employer Smart Financial and registered training organisation WEA Illawarra.
In 2019 Ms Lara, 18, was the first trainee Smart Financial in Shellharbour Village ever took on. But she did so well her manager saw the benefits of VET and that inspired the growing business to take on more trainees.
The former St Mary's student is now completing her Certificate IV in Business and wants to expand her knowledge in the Financial Planning Sector.
Mr Lara said vocational education and training has changed her life and given her a rewarding and fulfilling career.
"It has been so amazing," she said.
"I am so grateful and honored to be named trainee of the year.
"It is so good to be recognised for all my achievements and hard effort through the crazy time it has been through my traineeship.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant many changes to the way trainees studied. With WEA she was able to do that by correspondence.
Ms Lara,18, left school early to take up a traineeship with Smart Financial because she knew what she wanted to do.
"I knew I didn't want to go to uni," she said.
"I knew vocational education training would be the best option for me.
"I completed a VET Business Services course in high school and really loved it. So I thought I definitely want to pursue it."
Other major winners were;
- School Based Trainee of the Year - Vincentia High School's Kade King who completed a Certificate II in Animal Studies at TAFE NSW with the Australian Training Company and co- hosts Burraga Foundation and Nicolstoke Farm. His goal is to become a veterinarian. Mr King was also named VET Student of the Year for animal studies and won the Year 12 Advisor Award.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year - Maddison Peisley who has completed a Certificate III in Business Administration with Southern Youth & Family Services and TAFE NSW.
- Teacher/Trainer of the Year - Robyn Edwards
- Vocation Student of the Year - Billy Gasciogne
- VET in Schools Student of the Year - Claire Pettit
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- Wollongong founded COVID Facebook page for small businesses in lockdown
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
