Williams Landing resident Mandeep Kaur completed a bachelor of information technology in India before migrating to Australia three years ago. Ms Kaur, 24, said that as COVID-19 hit and job opportunities in the IT field lessened, she decided to become a bricklayer. She chats with Alesha Capone.
Why did you decide to take up bricklaying?
I was inspired by my friend’s husband who is a bricklayer. He encouraged me to pursue a trade so I enrolled in Melbourne Polytechnic’s certificate III in bricklaying and blocklaying mid-2020.
What was it like when you started studying?
When I started bricklaying, the kinds of things I would hear is that I’m ‘not strong enough to be in the trade’. I was often asked questions that doubted my abilities. It’s been challenging as a woman pursuing a male-dominated trade. I was one of the only women in my course.
What would you say to other women and girls who want to study a trade?
You have to be strong to face such a male-dominated environment, but trades for women is a great path. I would definitely encourage women to pursue trades. There’s been a shift of thinking when it comes to gender roles and anything a man can do, a woman can do.
What did you enjoy about studying?
I enjoyed everything, the college, my teachers, learning about the bricks and bricklaying.
What are you doing at the moment?
I’m doing brickwork at the moment, I’m working for a company where the boss hired me around a month ago. My boss is a very good teacher and is teaching me a lot on the job site.
Do you want to have your own business one day?
Maybe, maybe not – there are lots of different things I’m interested in. COVID gave me the chance to become a bricklayer.
What do you like about Williams Landing?
Williams Landing is good, there are lots of libraries, the train station is right there, the shopping centre and a lot of greenery.
