Daniela Lopez defied stereotypes about female carpenters by getting the first apprenticeship in her class.

"I immigrated from Columbia four years ago. I’ve always loved working with my hands and decided to do a carpentry pre-apprenticeship after I saw how much building was going on in Melbourne.

My family discouraged me at first because in my home country this is a job for poor people. But they could see how happy I was.

My teachers taught me all the skills I needed, and I was first in my class to get an apprenticeship. My teacher recommended me before I finished my pre-apprenticeship because he saw how much I wanted to succeed.

I work all over Melbourne doing framing, building decks and helping with renovations. I don’t get treated any differently as a woman. I love being on the tools, but one day I’d like to manage my own building company."

Courses studied

Certificate II in Building and Construction (Carpentry) Pre-apprenticeship, 2011

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