Georgia finds her spark working on locomotives

Meet Georgia. Georgia is a passionate, award-winning Locomotive Electrical Maintainer with Aurizon based out of our Jilalan depot in Sarina, North Queensland.

In the spirit of this year’s International Women’s Day theme ‘Give to Gain’, Georgia shares her career journey, what she has gained from others and what she is giving back to Aurizon apprentices and other young people – particularly women, in her community.

“I’m a proud Sarina local working in North Queensland where I help undertake the electrical maintenance for Aurizon’s critical assets – our locomotives.

The team I work in is responsible for delivering safe, reliable and efficient locomotive maintenance. We focus on electrical fault finding, repairs and preventative maintenance to ensure our locomotives are fit for service, meet safety standards and support Aurizon’s operational performance.

Pursuing a career in this field didn’t immediately stand out for me when I was at school and considering my options. Having done a range of work experience such as teacher aiding, as well as contemplating following in my dad’s footsteps of being a Fitter and Turner – something clicked for me when I discovered the electrical field. I thought it was really cool and interesting, and a good fit because I enjoy problem-solving and working hands on.

After finishing school, I then chose to take on an Electrical Apprenticeship with Aurizon. The apprenticeship pathway offered by Aurizon stood out because it was combined structured learning with real world experience, strong mentoring and long-term career opportunities within the rail industry.

Working at Aurizon has given me the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues, develop my skills from a first-year apprentice to now a tradesperson, and be part of a very supportive team environment where safety and teamwork are prioritised.

My hard work and passion for my trade have also been recognised through Aurizon apprenticeship awards and a bursary from Community Bank Sarina partnered with Central Queensland University. Most recently I made the top three finalists for the Queensland Training Award for the Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year, which I’m really proud of. That recognition meant so much to me – it validated the effort I was putting in and showed me what was possible if I kept working hard.

Throughout my apprenticeship, I also attended many career expos and school talks. That’s when I realised just how many opportunities were out there – and how many young people, especially women, needed to hear that they belonged in trades and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields too.

I’ve gained so much knowledge, confidence and support from both men and women at Aurizon. Having people willing to share their experience, knowledge and advice has encouraged me throughout my apprenticeship and has made a huge difference in my development and my trade.

Now I am giving this support to the people coming through their apprenticeships and also new tradespeople that need a little confidence. It also makes me feel successful when I can see how far I’ve come and that I can now pass on what I’ve learnt. I also take the time to share my story at schools, community and industry events in the hope that my journey will help encourage and inspire others to take up a trade.

My advice to people considering their career options is to try everything and step out of your comfort zone. If there’s something particular that you enjoy through work experience or within a job, find a way to pursue it and people who will support you. There are so many different opportunities and types of roles available – even in the electrical field.

If you have experience and knowledge that you can share, take the time to give that to others. It can make the world of difference for someone in achieving their goals and progressing their career.

The next goal for me is to continue developing my skills, build further experience within electrical maintenance and take on greater responsibility within the team and, as I say to others, I’ll continue to dream big, work hard and stay curious.”