Maya Boeren, a 34-year-old pilot and former vet nurse from Islington, has swapped her captain’s hat for a hard hat after joining Transgrid‘s new intake of apprentices.
Maya is one of 19 apprentices in Transgrid’s 2023 intake and has just taken up her role as a communications technician apprentice based in Newcastle.
“I was looking for a career change, something different which was practical and had some more variety. There’s a lot to learn but it has been great so far and everyone has been so welcoming,” Boeren said.
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Before joining Transgrid, she spent a decade in aviation as a pilot.
“Flying was my first job and I piloted charter and scenic flights for tourists in the Northern Territory and Western Australia for many years and also flew volunteer medical transport flights with New England Volunteer Air Transport,” Boeren said.
A stint in mining in Western Australia led to a role as an apprenticeship co-ordinator helping young people start their careers.
“It’s an interesting twist to now find myself as an apprentice but having helped others I now know what to expect and the reward is definitely worth it,” she said.
Sparked by an interest in a trades career, Boeren applied to Transgrid’s pre-apprenticeship course for women in 2022.
“I really enjoyed the course, it was good to see the work culture and what we would do, and the variety of jobs and it was a great idea to get started and make sure this is the job I want to do,” she said.
Twenty-seven-year-old Tristan De Jonge from Warrimoo in the Blue Mountains has joined Transgrid as a second-year substation apprentice at the Wallgrove depot in western Sydney.
“Before joining Transgrid I was a motorcycle mechanic, a completely different field to anything I’ll be doing now but I like where it is taking me.
“I applied because I’d like to be part of the green energy transition. it’s been exciting seeing all the upcoming projects and the community atmosphere that I can be part of and how in depth Transgrid is with safety,” De Jonge said.
Transgrid’s high-voltage transmission network connects more than 3.5 million homes and businesses across NSW and the ACT and delivers safe and reliable electricity.
Apprentice lead Kailee Standen, who started as an electrical apprentice with Transgrid, said the Apprenticeship Program can open many doors.
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“The pace of change in the energy pace is only accelerating and Transgrid is building the major projects that will form the energy superhighway that millions of Australians will benefit from.
“Our apprentices receive valuable hands-on learning in a supportive environment and may work on some of Australia’s largest and most important energy projects,” she said.
The prospect of working on nation building infrastructure is one that excites Maya Boeren.
“I’m looking forward to having a front row seat and to watch how the energy system adapts to all the renewables coming into the system, as far as opportunities go the sky’s the limit,” she said.
