Trainee electrician, Air Force

Apprentice Air Force electrician Sheree switched from nursing to Defence to fulfil a lifelong dream to do an electrical trade

Before joining Defence, Sheree was a nurse, but she was always interested in engineering and electrical work.

Now she’s underway with an apprenticeship in the Air Force and looking forward to a career as an electrician.

“Defence offered me the mentally diverse and physical side of work I was looking for,” Sheree says.

“I like to be challenged mentally and physically. I knew that within Defence and the job role, I could achieve both and have longevity within my career.”

On a typical day, Sheree instals, maintains and repairs electrical components, often having to figure out why something isn’t working. “And learning about how electricity actually works and connects – which isn’t just flicking a switch and everything magically turns on apparently,” Sheree jokes.

She appreciates the camaraderie that comes with working in Defence, be it on regular tasks or in field exercises and competitions.

During her recruitment, Sheree was enrolled in a in a Women in Defence program with like-minded women also keen on joining Defence. The program helped her gain the physical fitness required to pass fitness tests, like scaling 4-metre walls!

Fully-funded scholarship places to study a trade at TAFE are available for women who have just finished school, are returning to work or are seeking a career change.