Shanica’s no stranger to the outback. Whether its in Albany, or Kalgoorlie, she’s having a blast as an apprentice chippy.
To say Shanica Banham loves the open road might be a major understatement. The 19-year-old has already spent much of her life travelling across Western Australia as well as the Top End.
Part of this has been due to her naturally adventurous spirit, but carpentry has also played its part.
Shanica started her apprenticeship in her ‘hometown’ of Albany, WA.
“Originally, I was a horse trainer, but that job fell through,” she said.
“One of my really good mates who’s a carpenter offered me a job as a labourer with him.
“His boss offered me an apprenticeship and yeah … here I am three years later still doing it.”
Shanica’s passion for horses still remains strong, but becoming a chippy has opened up even more chances to scratch that creative itch.
“I like the hands-on, I love being outdoors and it gives me opportunities to see how things are actually done,” she added.
But eventually, Shanica’s eagerness to grow as a carpenter led her 7.5 hours north to Kalgoorlie.
“Originally (in Albany), I started with a manufacturer just doing wall frames and trusses then they get sent out on-site – I never saw how they actually got done,” she said.
“Now that I’ve moved up here (to Kalgoorlie), and now I’m working on a massive basketball court and we’re starting jobs with the Department of Communities here.
“I get to travel a lot for work now too which is awesome. Both my former and current bosses are mates so we all get along really well.
“It just made it easier for TAFE if I came to Kalgoorlie and did more on-site work compared to when I was down in Albany.”
Dust off
Working for Acorp Construction; Shanica is getting plenty of carpentry know-how under her belt.
As much as she’s used to dryer climates, Shanica admitted that she missed the pristine blue vistas of Albany.
“I do miss the beach, that’s for sure,” she said.
“It’s a different change to what I’m used to, but I’ve also lived up in the Northern Territory so it’s pretty similar to what I’m used to.”
Every so often, she’ll make the long trek down to see her two beloved horses … oh and mum of course.
“I try to see them once a month because my mum’s down there,” Shanica said.
“It’s a very long drive, and it’s mostly dirt roads. But it’s worth it when I get down there though.”
Into the sunset
Shanica was one of few talented tradie apprentices to be recognised in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Bunning Trade’s annual Women in Apprenticeships Awards.
She initially came across the nomination process via email – and like many cautious folk nowadays – assumed it was spam.
View this post on Instagram
“I nominated myself originally because I got this email and I though it was fake,” Shanica said.
“Then I re-read it and decided to just do it and see what happens.
“My mum nominated me as well, then two weeks later I got a call saying I had made the top 20, then I realised it was real.
“Then two weeks after that, I got a call saying I had made the top 10 and won an award.”
Shanica didn’t know too much about NAWIC and its work before, but boy is she a big fan now.
The award came with a tonne of tools and equipment, which has helped tremendously with Shanica’s apprenticeship.
“It’s given me a tonne of opportunities now, I’ve got my own toolbox which is decked out on my car which makes it super easy,” she added.
Shanica still has a little bit left in her carpentry apprenticeship, but she’s far from done learning trades.
“The plan is after I do my apprenticeship is to move over to the mining side and do my electrical apprenticeship then travel Australia after that,” she said.
“I want to learn both so I can build my own house in the future.”