Chicks in FIFO with Kayla Part 1

 

Episode Transcript:

– So that’s the biggest thing. It was really funny when I first started, a lot of my supervisors would tell the boys.

– Good day, and welcome to another episode of Fit4FIFO.

– You got it out here to suffer–

– Louis, is that you?

– You really need to stay focused.

– Who, me?

– If you’re a little bit weak-minded you can be led astray, and there’s a few things that guys can get a little bit led astray on.

– Oh, right, in FIFO. Things like what?

– It’s the–

– Whoa, hang on a second Louis, your episode’s already been released, mate, it’s Kayla’s turn. If our subscribers want to check your episode out they can find it on our channel, mate. So, as I was saying, on this week’s episode we have the lovely Kayla, who’ll be sharing with us her experience of working as a young lady in the industry. She’ll also tell us about another option for those who want to work in the industry but don’t want to live in the FIFO camp. So, let’s get into it. Kayla, welcome to Fit4FIFO.

– Thanks.

– Our first girl on the show.

– Mmhm.

– Just tell us a little bit about yourself outside of work and inside of work.

– Okay, outside of work now I’ve just quit the FIFO life they call it. I’m two days in and I’m feeling a little lost because all of a sudden I have all of this time on my hands. And so work life, yeah I’m a jewel trade electrical and instrumentation tech.

– So firstly actually, tell us, so, a lot of people in FIFO actually stay in a camp.

– Yeah.

– But your situation is a little bit different. Do you want to tell us a little bit about that?

– Yeah, so I live in Gladstone and APRNG, where I was working, is on Curtis Island, which is just off Gladstone, so I get to do the local roster but I do the four and one. So I have four weeks at work, as a FIFO would, and then have a week off. So it is different, I’m not quite the FIFO worker, but I get to come home every night, but that means I have to travel an hour there and back every day, so my 10 hour shift turns into a 12 hour shift including travel. So you kind of lose any kind of time to do anything around that, so yeah. I get to come home every night so that’s the biggest thing, I get to see my family, I get to see Shane, still get to have somewhat of a social life. That’s why I went for the four and one roster so I could have that one week off to kind of get things done.

– It’s quite typical for a lot of these big jobs to have the option of living in the nearest town or city or living in camp.

– Yeah, Darwin has. Darwin is. So they do offer that to people and working with the guys they do struggle being away from their families. Everyone starts off positive and after that six months or so, you start seeing people deteriorate, and really starting to get to them that they’re not seeing their families. So it is a really good option, and I’m glad I’ve been able to do it.

– [Host] And you’re about to start your first, is it your first?

– Yeah, first actual fly-in stay in camp.

– Is it good working in the same industry as your partner?

– It is because we can come home, or now talking to him on the phone, and say “How was your day, what did you do?” and actually get to talk about it and get in-depth. And I understand what he does throughout his day and he knows what I do with mine. So it makes it easier because it gives a bit more of a conversation now that he is working away it’s not just a “Oh, how was your day?” “Good.” “What’d you do?”

– Yeah you can actually understand, that’s cool. So you’re an instrumentation tech slash electrician. How would someone who’s straight out of school, what would their best route be to get into your position?

– What I would do first, when I was in school, I did three months worth of work experience. This isn’t what I wanted to be originally, I wanted to do drafting and architecture. But when I did work experience and actually hated it, I hated just sitting there inside all day, and my mom actually said “Why don’t you try this?” Tafe they offer a lot of courses to do, like the theory side, so I was doing that as well as doing work experience and that’s how I found out I love the trade. So if you get onto Tafe they offer the external courses after school, and do some work experience and find you like it. When I was applying for an apprenticeship, all of the industries really loved that I had done the work experience and did the Tafe course that they offered. So yeah that’s a really good way to start and obviously just applying everywhere. Gladstone is a pretty, I’m pretty lucky, we’ve got six major industries here in Gladstone. And three that offer the jewel trade.

– And did you do a jewel trade apprenticeship from the start?

– Yes I did, so that’s five years. I actually didn’t know you could do instrumentation without doing an apprenticeship. When I first started I had no idea what instrumentation was and I had no idea it would get me to where I am now, really. I knew I wanted to be an electrician but this instrumentation side of the trade, I’ve found I love it more, more interesting work.

– Yeah.

– Yeah.

– And a lot of people probably have no idea what instrumentation is.

– No.

– I’ve had people, when I tell them about instrumentation, they think I’m talking about musical instruments.

– Yeah I’ve had that a few times, yes.

– So do you want to just tell us a little bit about the difference or what instrumentation actually is?

– So how I like to explain instrumentation to people is say you’ve got a tank and you want to know, tank full of water, and you want to know what temperature the water is, what level the water is in the tank, the devices that do the measuring are instruments. So we work on those instruments, and we calibrate them, we make sure they work accurately, And, yeah, that’s our job. And then it all ties into a big system like an LNG plant. So yeah.

– Would you say it’s a big benefit doing the jewel trade as opposed to just doing an electrician apprenticeship?

– Yeah.

– I suppose a lot of people have probably never heard of it before or maybe they just heard about it and know nothing about it. If you had the option would you say go for the jewel trade?

– I definitely would, there was a skill shortage when I first started, so there’s so many more job opportunities having the jewel trade. And because I do have it, it did make it easier for me to get work on the island and this job I’m going for now is also because of the instrumentation side so it’s definitely worth doing.

– So, as for being a female working in the industry, would you say there’s any benefits?

– I don’t know, it’s different. It’s so different. I try to not let it segregate me when it comes to work, but you do notice it, people do treat you with a bit more respect. It’s a hard game out there working with a lot of men and they’re all away from home so they’re not really themselves sometimes. So it can get uncomfortable but most of the time it’s good. You know me, I’m pretty good around guys.

– And as you said before they treat you with respect, would you find that’s the case in most circumstances that the guys are pretty good with you?

– Yeah, the guys are really good. And it’s funny I think guys just appreciate being able to talk about different things with me because obviously most guys in this game are really blokey blokes so when they talk to me they can kind of have a conversation they wouldn’t have with another guy at work. So it’s quite nice, I really get to know people. It’s quite interesting, really.

– Would you recommend the industry to other girls?

– Oh yeah, I love it.

– Yeah?

– Yeah, I really love it. I actually wouldn’t even know what it’s like to work in an office with girls, I don’t even know how it’d go in there. I definitely enjoy it, it’s really fun. I think that’s what makes doing this easier is the guys you get to work with.

– Yeah, cool. What would you say are some of the misconceptions about being a female working in the industry? And what would you say the truth is in regards to maybe the way you’re treated or whatever?

– Misconceptions. That’s funny, I think it’s funny what other people think on the inside, so they see a female and they automatically ask me if I’m a TA or a Peggy, and there’s nothing wrong with it, that is fine but I don’t think people realize that women can be in positions that I am and that’s quite good. I’ve only worked with two other girls that have the jewel trade. But guys didn’t really make me feel uncomfortable I suppose, they really try to make me feel a part of the crew so there’s not that barrier there.

– And would you say that the industry itself, like the employers, are they quite open and accepting with girls?

– Yeah, it was really funny when I first started, a lot of my supervisors would tell the boys “Don’t swear around Kayla.” And I swear half the time anyway. so I just try and make sure people don’t feel they have to be someone different around me because you don’t, you know?

– So what message would you give, or what would you say to some girls, maybe, say, one of your friends that said she wanted to get into the industry but she was a bit scared, what would you say to them?

– I’d say definitely give it a go. It can be scary, when I first got in the industry I was 17 straight out of school, and then going on a construction site with 3,000 workers, it’s a bit daunting but it’s great work. The money is great as well and the lifestyle, if you get to live because of it, is good as well. Definitely say give it a go.

– Yes! Oh, I enjoyed that! If you have any questions for Kayla or myself or suggestions about things you’d like to see on Fit4FIFO please leave them in the comment box below. Don’t forget to subscribe and here’s a sneak preview of what’s on next week.

– All people talk about, I suppose after a year of being on the the job is. Because I see it now, I’ve worked with guys and they do say that to me and it’s hard. Obviously I’m all ears.

– Yeah, that’s what it’s all about!