When Kimberly Trathen walked into IntoJobs Rockhampton (QLD), her world was in a holding pattern. Facing unstable living circumstances and a suspended learner’s license, she lacked both the means to get to work and a clear direction of where to go.

The first step was finding a spark. Through White Card training and information sessions on Women in Trades, a new path emerged. Suddenly, Kimberly wasn’t just looking for a job; she was looking for a trade.

The IntoJobs team worked with Kimberly to tackle the practical barriers first, specifically the hard work required to regain her driver’s license – a non-negotiable for a career in construction.

The road wasn’t smooth. Kimberly faced personal setbacks along the way, but she leaned into the support available to her. She utilised Allied Health appointments to build her resilience, but a critical turning point came when she joined the EmpowHer program. This initiative – a collaboration between IntoWork Group businesses IntoJobs, iTFE, and Mas National – gave her the specific support she needed to cement her confidence and self-belief.

That momentum led her straight to a major opportunity. Kimberly secured a full-time Construction Worker Traineeship with Fulton Hogan.

She is now working on the Rockhampton Ring Road – a transformative project for the Bruce Highway. It’s a fitting outcome: the woman who once struggled with transport barriers is now helping build the very infrastructure that keeps her region moving.

IntoJobs services in Queensland are delivered by MRAEL, both part of the IntoWork Group.