By Krystal Schofield

My name is Krystal, and before entering the SPARK Women in Construction Taster Program, my life looked very different to how it does today.

My personal story starts well before SPARK. It had been a long, hard two years of finding myself again after leaving my marriage and going through a divorce. I’d recently left my job due to workplace bullying, crashed my car, and was working hard with my caseworker to get some financial breathing room – negotiating grace periods on some debts and clearing others completely. My ACT Government Housing Application was going to the panel for final review, and I’d returned to Centrelink benefits, which connected me to Salvation Army Employment Plus.

That’s where everything began to change. They offered me the opportunity to attend an information session for the SPARK program. I was thankfully offered a position, and just a week before the program started, I finally got my housing sorted and signed my tenancy agreement. Everything was coming together at once.

Step 1: The information session

When I first arrived at the information session, I was unintentionally the first person there – and early. I’ll admit I felt a little embarrassed, but the team made me feel so welcomed that it put my nerves at ease pretty quickly.

I found the session genuinely inspiring. Listening to the stakeholders and their representatives talk about the program really resonated with me. My personal favourites were Jo Farrell, the director of ‘Build Like a Girl’, and Kate Anderson, the teacher from CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology). They made me feel inspired to keep following my goals and passions, even when everything else felt uncertain.

Step 2: The Program

Myself and 12 other women made up the team. We were fitted out with PPE and enrolled at CIT. On our first day, we attended the Ginninderry Hub and were introduced to the cross-border development of Ginninderry. We learnt about unconscious bias from Jo Farrell, which gave us a better understanding of where some of the stigmas we face as women in construction actually come from.

The next three days, we completed our White Cards, Asbestos Awareness, and Crystalline Silica Awareness training. I’ll be honest – it was tedious to sit through at times, but the information was extremely valuable and relevant to the construction field. We learnt about WHS procedures and policies within the construction industry, understanding what keeps worksites safe and compliant.

After completing those certifications, we moved into the workshop classroom with Kate Anderson. That’s where things got really fun. We learnt about basic construction tools, how to conduct calculations and take measurements. We built our own mallets and miniature saw horses, and as a team, we constructed a children’s cubby house frame.

But here’s the thing – while we were learning those practical skills, we were actually learning so much more.

We learnt how to connect and communicate with others who were complete strangers at the beginning but became friends. We met amazing mentors, developed team-building skills, and many of us stepped outside our comfort zones to test our own personal barriers and abilities. That growth was just as valuable as any technical skill we picked up.

Outside the classroom, Chrissi and Mel from UnitingCare supported me with organising funding from my employment agents to help get my car through a rego inspection and finally registered in my name. Having reliable transport has been crucial in staying active and following my goals in the construction workforce.

Step 3: Completing the program

Since finishing SPARK, I’ve been offered an opportunity for unpaid work experience with one of the stakeholding companies of the Ginninderry development, which I’ve gladly accepted. I’ve also applied to enter CIT’s Construction Certificate II under fee-free studies, and I’ll be talking with my employment agent about assistance with fees to enrol in Landscaping Certificate III.

The program hasn’t just given me skills – it’s helped me make concrete decisions about what path I want to take in my career and life.

My experience

I would absolutely recommend one of the SPARK taster programs to anyone looking to change their career path but feeling uncertain about which direction to take. This program has definitely helped me make a more solid decision about my future, and I’m looking forward to moving forward in the direction of my dreams and goals – not just personally, but at a community level too.

You’ll never know for sure unless you give it a good, honest try. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing women and men throughout my journey of completing the SPARK Women in Construction Taster Program.

The program found me at a time when I was rebuilding everything – my living situation, my finances, my confidence, my sense of direction. SPARK didn’t just teach me about construction; it gave me a pathway forward when I really needed one.

I want to thank all the sponsors and stakeholders involved in making these programs available. They are valuable, and they genuinely make a difference to people’s lives. They certainly made a difference to mine.

Krystal Schofield completed the SPARK Women in Construction Taster Program and is now pursuing further qualifications in construction and landscaping. The SPARK program continues to accept applications for upcoming courses. For more information or to contact the SPARK team, head to the SPARK page on our website.