Women in Transport Network

Ventura holds open days for women at its Dandenong depot, encouraging prospective drivers to learn more about the industry from women who are leading the way.

Bus driver Maria welcomes these initiatives, saying women quickly become important assets to these companies because of their ability to build relationships.

“We’re loyal. We’re nurturing which is great for the passengers. There are amazing benefits to having us on board.

“The nurturing thing, I’m sure it’s not just me. We’ve all got it in us. If we see something, we’re more likely to check in and ask if we can help.

“I like to make sure elderly passengers can hop on and off the bus alright. I like to check that people know where they’re going when they get off.

“I want to make sure everyone is okay. Young ones, teenagers, someone on their own late at night. Mama Maria comes out. I suppose it’s about my own peace of mind.”

And Maria’s passengers respond to this level of service, sometimes with a wink and smile, and other times with gifts.

“The funniest gift I’ve ever gotten was from a lady who’d just done her shopping,” Maria explains.

“She was so happy with the journey, with the service, the greeting, that she gave me a box of Omo washing powder right out of her shopping bag. So you develop these little friendships.”

Ventura senior supervisor Michelle is conscious that hundreds of passengers are relying on her each day to get to where they need to go.

She is driven to do everything she can to ensure every service goes out on time.

“Sometimes buses break down and you can run out of buses, so I’ve got a shift to fill but I’ve got no bus,” Michelle says.

“When something like that happens, it really stresses you out, but I don’t like leaving things half done or accepting that something’s too hard to fix.

“There’s always a solution.”

The relationship between bus drivers and their passengers can be a special one.

Michelle says the simple sight of a female bus driver can make someone’s day. 

“There’s always someone lovely, almost every shift I’ve had,” Michelle says. 

“I’ve had one lady come up and say ‘you know what, it’s so good to see a young female driving because I’ve never seen it before.’

“And it makes you feel good, it brings some happiness into your day. I’ve made someone’s day and they’ve made mine.”

What led you to this career? 

I wanted to do something different, something that was hands-on. I love being outside, enjoying the 'Melbourne weather'. Whether it's a hot and sunny day, or a bit wet, it's nice to be able to enjoy that. We still have to do a bit of paperwork and things like that, so it's sort of the best of both worlds. You're always working with others and you have the opportunity to drive big machinery in the yard. I just love the variety of it. I love a challenge, and the work can be challenging! Especially the views of some people who think they know who should or shouldn't be in the industry. 

What's a day in a life of you?

As I'm doing my Cert 3 in civil construction, there is still a bit of theory side of it, which isn't too bad, but my everyday depends on planned works in the office and either hazard runs or defect runs.  Recently, we've been doing more hazard runs. We go out with a buddy or co-worker and check if any signs are down, road maintenance, just the construction side of it, anything that could be hazardous to a vehicle. And we fix that, or report it. Programmed or planned works could be anything between, going out to fix a landslide, or trying to fix little bits and pieces. We don't do major works, that gets contracted out. 

What are some of the challenging parts to the work you?

We attend vehicle crashes. Recently, I went to a truck turnover. Depending on if there is a fatality or not, that is what you're seeing.  I went to a truck rollover on a car, and a motorbike incident on the highway. It's very varied, and luckily I haven't been personally affected by anything, but it can take a toll. 

Are there many females in this line of work?

There are a few more females within the office environment here, but I am one of the only female apprentices from around this region. I guess it's a challenge because I don't necessarily have someone else to chat to about certain things. Generally speaking, it's not too bad, I think the industry is getting used to the fact that females will jump on board if encouraged.

What barriers to women face in this industry?

Being a female in a very male-dominated environment, that's the biggest challenge. I know I won't have the same strength as some guys, but just trying to prove myself and to say to myself, I can pick up that shovel, I can do this, I can drive machinery. There may be the occasional guy saying something, and I do stand my ground because I have a strong personality, but I know that other women may not be able to do that so confidently.  On the other hand, there is so much variety of opportunities within this industry, you can analyse rocks, work in the office, be on the road doing manual work. There is a lot more that I didn't know about this industry that women might be interested in pursuing.

What do you think women bring to this industry?

I think we add a level of detail that often men might not see. We can just offer a different perspective which may not have been viewed before. 

What would say to a woman considering this line of work?

It's a great challenge. Some people may say, oh it's such male industry. Well just prove them wrong. Actually, it's not really proving them wrong, it’s more about having a go. If you do want to have a go at something different that is outdoors, you're driving machinery, you get to do a variety of things, no day is the same.  It's also great if people are interested in the construction side of things, it's a perfect foot in the door. For an apprentice, it's all about learning as you go, so there isn't the added pressure of 'you should know'. It's a great way of being able to grasp what's happening in the industry. At the end of the day, you are no worse off. If there's something that's slightly intriguing, you just give it a shot.

What led you to this career with Metro?

The job I had in the telecommunications industry was quite monotonous and when I saw this position advertised with the opportunity for a work-life balance and so much interaction with people, I was very interested. I’m so thankful I chose this path. I’ve been here since April 2010 and I enjoy every aspect of my job.

What energizes you about your work?

Being able to help and interact with people of different backgrounds on a daily basis gives me satisfaction and keeps me energised.

What’s one thing that surprised you about your position here?

The importance of having the latest information on bus routes and their frequency, as well as knowledge of surrounding streets, schools, hospitals, shops and stations up and down the line.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

The language barrier would be the most challenging part of my job, but with technology improving and being able to translate conveniently in various languages, I’m happy this won’t be an issue for long. 

How do you deal with challenging situations, such as passengers who are upset or angry?

I always try to listen to what the customer has to say, remain calm, understand the situation and offer different solutions to try and solve the problem.

What’s the best experience you’ve had on the job?

Generally being able to help people in distress. One recent example involved a passenger who left his mobile phone in the disabled toilet at Clayton station. He got off here and asked me for help, so I phoned the staff at Clayton who retrieved his phone and returned it to him. Days later, I received a thank-you email from him through Metro.

What happens behind the scenes here every day that we all take for granted?

Making sure the myki machines and myki readers are working, completing safety checks and making sure the station is clean and presentable for morning peak.

There’s a lot of maintenance and renewal work going on. Why do you think it’s important?

To keep up with the expanding network, we need to make sure we keep our infrastructure up to date, providing a safe and sustainable train network for the benefit of future generations.

Who uses Huntingdale station and how is it changing as Melbourne grows?

I have noticed a variety of people using the station, from university and school students to tourists, families and friends simply catching up for coffee at the station.

Huntingdale is a hub for students from Monash University’s Clayton campus. What are the connecting bus services like? 

Route 601 is a high-frequency service running express between Huntingdale station and Monash University every four minutes during university days and every eight minutes on non-university days. Other bus services to Monash University from Huntingdale are Route 900, which is a SmartBus service from Rowville to Caulfield, and Route 630 from Elwood to Monash University.

What’s the difference between weekdays and weekends?

The station is far busier on weekdays than weekends. During the week, services run every four minutes during peak and the station is manned in the morning. On weekends, services are 10 minutes apart and far less crowded. And with Monash University not open on weekends, Huntingdale station is far less busy.

What does a normal day look like for you?

A normal day can start as early as 2am. If you’re doing a morning shift, it can take an hour to prepare your train which means checking the brakes, identifying any faults and making sure it’s safe to drive on the network.

Every Driver needs to understand how the train works, so that if there are any issues you know how to fix them. It’s also important to keep up to date with things like changes in the weather and be across any issues on the line, like trespassers on the track. We need to adjust our driving to suit that while getting our passengers from A to B as quickly and safely as we can.

It sounds like the training required to become a driver is pretty intense.

It’s sort of like an apprenticeship, with time in the classroom and out driving with an On the Job Trainer driver. Once you finish all of that and pass all your exams and everything gets ticked off, then you’re ready to go out and drive by yourself, which is pretty daunting at first.

How did it feel doing your first solo trip?

I remember bringing the train into the platform and it was about 7am so the platform was choc-a-block full of peak-hour passengers going to work. There were hundreds of faces staring at me and I remember thinking to myself, ‘you people have no idea it’s my first day.’ It was scary at first, I definitely had the white knuckles going for the first couple of days. It’s pretty surreal looking back in the rear-view mirror and seeing the 160-metre long train behind you and seeing people piling onto your train and thinking I’m responsible for nearly 1,000 people.

How did you get to this point in your career journey?

I studied Nursing at university, straight after high school. Towards the end of it, I started to get this inkling that it wasn’t for me. I thought, ‘I’ll finish it, but I don’t think I want to do it as a job.’ So then I got into the fitness industry and still do a bit of that now as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. It’s sort of my release on the side. After that, the nursing led into pharmaceuticals, so I worked for Pfizer manufacturing chemotherapy drugs. I did that for a good couple of years, but I was just looking for more, I knew I could do more and stretch my wings. I remember seeing Metro ads in the newspaper, targeting women. I thought it’d be pretty cool for a girl to drive a train. I sort of left it for a while, but it kept coming back to me and I thought, ‘this is fate, I have to apply.’ The application process is pretty long. Everyone’s different, but it took me from start to finish about 10 months to get into Metro Academy.

Looking back when you first left school, did you ever think you’d be driving a train?

Not at all. Jumping from nursing to train driving, it’s a bit different. Even now, I think it’s funny driving past places I used to catch the train from when I was in high school. Now I’m driving these trains past stations that I’d wait at to go into the city, so it’s pretty crazy but it’s well worth it.

What do you love about your job?

The relationship with other drivers, we’re like a little family. Everyone looks out for you. I had a trespasser incident at work a little while back and there were so many calls and texts from people making sure I was okay, which was really lovely.

And the interactions you have with passengers are pretty special. If I’m assisting someone in a wheelchair get on and off the train, I really try to make an effort to have a chat to them, asking them ‘how’s your day? And what are you up to in the city?’ Often you’ll pick them up again, so you’ll remember where they’re getting off. They really love that, that friendly interaction.

Once I had a guy at the platform in a wheelchair who was non-verbal. With his disability, his arm was permanently raised, but I didn’t realise, I thought he was giving me a high-five. So I gave him a high-five and then it dawned on me that he wasn’t putting his arm down. So I got him onto the train and got back into the cab and had a bit of a giggle at myself. The next day, I did the same run and he was there again, but this time he angled his wheelchair so we could give each other a high-five again. I love those kinds of interactions, now I’ve got a bit of a connection with him.

Are passengers ever surprised to see a female train driver?

You get some lovely and funny comments, especially if you get out to help someone on. It’s always positive. I had an older man in a wheelchair not long ago and he said, ‘Oh, you’re a girl! Good to see some pretty girls driving trains.’ Bless him.

On the weekends, there are lots of families out with their kids. It’s really nice when the little girls are waving and their face lights up when they see it’s another girl driving. It’s great for them to see that girls can do what guys can do. We can drive this million-dollar train and crawl around under it and fault-find if we have to. Metro don’t treat you any differently, male or female, you do exactly the same job, it doesn’t matter who you are. I think that’s really awesome.

Has there been anything that’s surprised you about this job?

You get some lovely and funny comments, especially if you get out to help someone on. It’s always positive. I had an older man in a wheelchair not long ago and he said, ‘Oh, you’re a girl! Good to see some pretty girls driving trains.’ Bless him.

On the weekends, there are lots of families out with their kids. It’s really nice when the little girls are waving and their face lights up when they see it’s another girl driving. It’s great for them to see that girls can do what guys can do. We can drive this million-dollar train and crawl around under it and fault-find if we have to. Metro don’t treat you any differently, male or female, you do exactly the same job, it doesn’t matter who you are. I think that’s really awesome.

What are some of the challenges?

Everybody’s different. For me the shift work is sometimes difficult, just trying to get your body clock back. I also find disruptions challenging. Sometimes there might be a delay so you’re coming into a platform five minutes late and people will give you a dirty look. But they might not know that there’s been a trespasser or weather issues. If it’s really hot, we have to go slower. You can communicate over the PA, but people just want to get home or get to work so they’re frustrated. It can be hard to bear the brunt of that.

You mentioned you had a fatality, is that something you’re comfortable talking about?

It’s part of the job. You are prepared for it in training, but you never know how you’re going to react. You’re shown videos and you’re told the procedures you need to follow, but you don’t know if you’re going to fall apart or be fine and it depends, every situation is different.

I was really calm and I was surprised about that. There’s a lot of support with Psychologists and counselling available at Metro. They give you as much time off as you need which I think is really good. And then when you are ready to come back, you come back and drive with someone else. I used all of those resources to make sure I was okay. But when you’re driving that line again, you do think about it.

Has this job taught you anything about yourself?

It’s shown me that I can handle intense pressure. You’re not sure how you’re going to react in certain situations, but now I know I can deal with pretty extreme circumstances. The other thing is information retention. There were times when I was studying that I thought, ‘my head is full, I can’t do it anymore.’ But you can do it. It gets absorbed somehow and comes out when you need it.

Are there many other women train drivers?

I think we’re sitting somewhere above 25 per cent. Metro is keen to train up more female drivers to reach 40 to 50 per cent gender balance. It’s good to see so many other women here from all walks of life.

Do you think there are any barriers that might prevent women from considering a job like this?

I think there’s definitely perceived barriers and I did have them coming in. I thought that it was a male-oriented profession. Growing up, I only saw male train, bus or tram drivers, so I think that thinking is still there. When you see a female driver, it’s still an anomaly. But as I said, there are more females coming in. Metro doesn’t treat females any differently, you do exactly the same work, including all the heavy lifting. So there maybe is a perception that it’s a job for men, but it’s not the reality.

What advice would you have for a woman who might be interested in becoming a train driver?

Do it. Just do it. For me personally, it’s honestly the best thing I’ve done career-wise. I bloody love it. It’s just the best job in the world, it’s never boring. You can tailor it to suit your lifestyle, so if someone’s got a family, you can chase certain shifts so you can still pick the kids up from school or take them to footy. If you’re curious about it, try and seek out someone who can give you more information about it. And just give it a go, you won’t regret it.

What does a normal day look like for you?

This role is all about moving trains within a big network. I start at five in the morning and take over from whoever’s done the night shift. I find out if there’s been any incidents, if there are any circulars for the day, or extra trains. We have the Pakenham/Cranbourne panel which controls from Pakenham all the way up to Dandenong, and then we have the Westall panel which also controls Springvale and Oakleigh. Because of the complexity of the panels and how large the area is that we control, every day is different and it brings challenges of its own. I love that. I love the complexity and responsibility of the panel.

What is signalling and how does it work?

We use the latest technology to control the trains through computerised panels. We’ve got different sections of track and the signals control each of these sections. What we do is we give the train a route from one signal to the next. In between the big stations like Dandenong, Pakenham and Cranbourne, the trains run on automatic signals until they come back into our control again. 

What let you to this career?

That was actually quite an adventure. My husband was a railway man back home in India and I grew up as a railway man’s child. But I wanted to do something different, so I went to university. I became a commerce graduate with a major in accounting and then I went and worked in a big industry in Bengaluru. After I got married, I settled down, and customer service became my focus. We came to Australia in 2000 with our three little kids. One day, I went into the city to drop off a job application for my husband who was a train driver back home. The recruiter asked me what my background was and after I told him he said: “Would you like to work for the railways yourself?” I was shocked but I said yes. He replied: “You can start on Monday.” Over the years I’ve worked at Melbourne Central, Pakenham and now Dandenong. 

What do you love about this job?

I like the challenge. It’s very satisfying. We get a lot of incidents that happen across our network. It’s really very busy, you’ve got to be multi-tasking. You’ve got to be on the phone, sending trains, talking to drivers, talking to Metrol. At the end of it all, you sit down and think: “Wow that was a good day” because you’ve managed to keep everything under control while following the rules and regulations and keeping everyone safe. The team I work with are very supportive and encouraging too. I don’t think I would have been able to bring up my three kids, who are adults today, if I hadn’t had the support from my colleagues.

What’s been the most memorable moment of your career so far?

In 2014, I was at Pakenham Station and running the signal panel. There was a lot of commotion outside and I saw a train stopped. I realised a 19-year-old boy on his cycle had tried to beat the boom gates and he got hit by a train. I had been talking to a customer in the foyer and she happened to be a nurse, so we ran out there together. I took my radio and got all the signals to stop while she cradled the boy in her arms. I called all the emergency services and managed to reach his poor grandfather who came to be with the boy as his parents were at work. He went off in an ambulance and we didn’t know what his condition was or even if he survived. A few weeks later, he came back to the station in a wheelchair to thank me for helping him. I’ll never forget it. 

Tell me about some of the challenges in this job.

There are a lot of challenges in this job. The rules and regulations have to be adhered to at all times, you cannot take shortcuts. You’ve got people’s lives in your hands, so I’ve realised if you are in doubt at any time, ask the question. Don’t guess. It’s not right, it’s not worth it and it builds your integrity. I think communication is the key thing in this job. When there’s a disruption, it’s so important to let people know what the situation is and explain what their options are so they can make decisions about whether they’re going to wait for the next train or try to get a bus and so on.

Thinking back to before you arrived in Australia, would you ever have thought you could do a job like this?

Never! I remember seeing movies back home on a little screen in India and looking at the lights and people travelling in cars in the night, that was never thought of for a woman to do back home. We had to just look after our kids, run the home. That was our role. Even when I got married, I stayed 10 years at home to take care of my kids, so I never thought I’d have a job like this. When I came here, I was so grateful because I would have never seen this side of the life if I hadn’t had this opportunity. I tell people out there, signalling is the best job you can have - every day is a challenge. It’s exciting, you don’t know what’s going to happen, and it’s very satisfying.

Are there many other women working in this field?

We’ve got a lot more coming into the industry now which is great. I’d encourage them to keep doing that. I wouldn’t have been able to have three adult kids today if I hadn’t had the support and encouragement that I’ve had from this job. The people you work with, they’re so accommodating. “If you’ve got something on, we’ll help - family comes first,” they say. I’ve been able to have a very good family life working in the rail industry. 

Do you think there are any barriers that might discourage more women from joining this industry?

I think the biggest barrier is us restricting ourselves and saying we can’t do it. There’s nothing that you can’t do. I say there’s no can’t. You’ve got to try and the more you try the better you get at it. Nothing can stop you.

Do you have any advice for fellow women who might be considering a job like this?

Sometimes I think you could look at a job like this and think: “Oh, it’s really too hard.” But I say put your hand up and make it happen, make it possible. Tell yourself you can do it. I was so nervous when I started in signalling, but I thought if I don’t give it a try, I’m going to have that regret all my life, so I gave it a try and here I am today. I’m grateful for all the opportunities that I’ve had. I wouldn’t change it for anything. 

What led you to this career?

I had just finished uni and I needed some work in the meantime, and my mum who was already in the railways encouraged me to put in for a job. “Just see how you go,” she said. I got a call back in a week and am now coming up to 10 years’ service. It was meant to be a temporary gig, but I love it!

What energizes you about your work?

I enjoy the people that I work with – that’s the number one thing. We’re like a family. Sometimes we spend more time together as staff than we do with our own families! So we make it fun, with little celebrations that we do internally for birthdays and sharing our lunch. That makes it more enjoyable.

What’s one thing that surprised you about your position here?

How we work as a team. My mum was on the railways, but always worked on her own. Here we are a whole group. There’s PSOs (personal safety officers), drivers, maintenance staff, cleaners, the drivers of course, and we know the V/Line conductors on the trains too.

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

Before we had PSOs, one of the most challenging things I’ve noticed for females was having to clear the last trains. We have to make sure no one is stuck and it can be hard to move people on, especially the sleepers. Now we can flag the PSOs when we need help, and working with an extra person is a great thing.

How do you deal with challenging situations, such as passengers who are upset or angry?

Some time back, I had an irate customer at the window. I went out and said: “Just calm down, you’re safe in here.” Now that we have PSOs, you’re not alone and it’s safer for both us as staff as well as the travelling public.

What’s the best experience you’ve had on the job?

I really like to help the community here. We’ve done food drives and toy drives and at one stage we had a veggie patch and donated the food we grew to the local soup kitchen.

What happens behind the scenes here every day that passengers take for granted?

It’s the little wins. It’s taken us nine years to get a baby change table, but we got it last year which makes a big difference for parents. Before I used to feel really bad and I would bring people in to the office.

What are the little things that happen every day that can make a big difference to the people we’re here to serve? 

Now we have more myki readers on the platform which means there’s better access and a reduction in congestion. Toilets are a big thing here, so it’s important to keep them clean and stocked with toilet paper.

Tell me about your role.

A normal day for me is just arriving at the depot, logging on, getting in the bus and chooffing off. I have nine routes now, plus about six school runs, so it’s quite a lot. My favourite route is the 542, it’s nice a long one so you’re not rushing up and back all day which can get a bit repetitive. The longer routes make for a smoother day.

How did you get into bus driving?

A friend of mine was a bus driver and convinced me to give it a go. I was pretty nervous at first, but I thought I should at least try. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle the bus, that it would be too big for me. But with more practice, I became more confident and now I’m very relaxed behind the wheel. It didn’t take long to build up that level of confidence and feel like the bus wasn’t that scary after all. I’ve been doing it for 11 years now. 

What do you love about your job?

I do tend to be a bit social and I like to talk. I like that interaction with the passengers. Just before Christmas, a lady got on with an apple cake she’d just baked. It was still warm and you could smell it and she was taking it somewhere. We got to talking and she cut some off and gave it to me. Things like that aren’t unusual. I had someone give me a leg of lamb one time. And on hot days, I had one passenger who I’d drop off and he’d work out when I was due back and he’d be there with some cold water waiting for me. Little things like that. You meet some beautiful people and it makes the job really special. They appreciate the time you take to talk to them and I know not all bus drivers do that. You might be the only person they talk to all day, so it’s not a waste of my time to say good morning or hello.

What about the challenges?

The traffic can be a bugger. Driving a bus, I’ve had to learn patience. People do not want to give way to you, and they do want to abuse you. They’ll drive on the other side of the road and nearly cause accidents to overtake a bus. The challenge is remaining calm and keeping your patience.

Did you ever imagine you’d become a bus driver?

No, not a chance. So I take pride in the fact that I can do it and that I can do it well. I try to improve as well. That’s something with me, I try to think from the perspective of the passenger and improve my service. 

Are there many other female bus drivers?

There’s only three others at this depot. It can be a challenging job for a woman with children at home, but they are starting to respond to differing needs. They’ve just brought in part-time which will be a good option. 

Do you think there are any barriers that might prevent more women from becoming bus drivers?

Their husbands. If I even tell my husband about an issue that may have happened to somebody else, it stresses him because he has this fear that I’m out there and he hears these stories. There’s a perception that being a bus driver is more dangerous than it is. I tend to feel safe on the bus. It’s very rare that something might happen when you think ‘oh gosh this could blow up into something’. For me, I don’t get those situations. It’s a rarity. 

What advice would you give to a woman who might be considering working in this industry?

Don’t be afraid because we’re better than we think we are. We look at it as a man’s domain when in actual fact, buses are easy to drive. They’ve got power steering. Give it a go. The fear is all in your head. You can actually do it. It’s the mental blocks you put up. If you like people, it’s a good job to have.

What led you to this career?

I’m the second-generation in my family to work for the railways. Funnily enough, my father was Station Master here at Box Hill as well. He can tell me so much about this station because he was involved in its construction back in 1983. I’d always wanted to be a policewoman or a nurse, but I’d been a bit of a part-time student in my last year so the thought of doing more schooling wasn’t all that appealing to me. I got an interview with Victorian Railways when I’d finished school and the railway commissioners taking the interview could remember me as a kid playing around the Maffra Station in Gippsland where my dad was working.

Last year I said to my dad, because I never know how much longer he’s going to be here at 85, I actually want to thank you for getting me this job on the railways because I love it. I knew I couldn’t do Monday to Friday in an office, I thought that would drive me nuts. Getting into this has been perfect. I’ve never looked at anything else. After 16 years working at this station, I consider Box Hill my home. I’ve seen a lot of change in the railways over my time and it’s been quite phenomenal.

What energizes you about your work?

Doing a good job and doing it right. Making a difference to people’s day. Even the unhappy passengers I consider a lovely challenge because most of the time you can make their day better. A lot of what we do is community service. You’d be surprised how many lost dogs turn up at the station, so we get them reunited with their owners. I’ve had people come back with boxes of chocolates because of that. People see the “customer information” sign and think it’s for the whole of Box Hill, so we’re also tour guides in a way. Metro gives us phones and iPads to look things up for people like restaurants, youth hostels. We use Google Translate a lot! That’s why I love this job, there’s so much variety.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

There are always plenty of challenges. I love the idea of shift work, I grew up with it, but it can be challenging for others because it affects your social life. Of course there are always options for swapping shifts with advance notice, but sometimes you miss out. My daughter had her 21^st birthday party on a night she knew I was working and I missed it because I couldn’t change my shift. I think she’ll hold that against me forever! The bonus of shift work is getting blocks of days off during the week. When my kids were younger, I could take them to school, go to assemblies, help out at the canteen and go to reading sessions.

How do you deal with challenging situations?

I love dealing with challenging situations. In the big scheme of things, when you consider how many people travel, there aren’t that many disgruntled passengers. Sometimes there are disruptions on the train network, and a lot of the reasons are out of our control. Sometimes passengers are unhappy about disruptions, but you treat people like that’s your grandmother, or your child, or your brother. When someone is in a bad mood, I always say to the staff ‘you don’t know what’s going on in their lives’.

We had an incident here where a train had changed platforms at the last minute, causing a lady to miss her train. She was very upset and demanded an explanation, so of course I apologised and explained what happened. She came back a few days later with a bun from the bakery to say how sorry she was for how she behaved. Little things like that put a smile on your face.

What’s the best experience you’ve had on the job?

I met my husband at work. He’s third-generation railway, so we’re a big railway family. We both loved horses so we used to go riding together, and 30 years later we’re still going strong. Some people say don’t marry someone on the job, but it’s worked for us. We worked opposite shifts for a very long time when the kids were little.

What are the little things that happen every day that can make a big difference to the people we’re here to serve?

Metro has a designated pram area on the platform to guide parents to stand at the Driver’s end of the train. There are also Velcro straps on the platform seating to attach to the pram, in case you let go of it and you’ve forgotten to put the brakes on.

The bus connections at Box Hill are great, we have the SmartBuses and we also have the local buses. I believe there are 13 bus bays and the buses are constantly buzzing in and out, bringing in a lot of people to the station. The buses are timed in with the Metro routes, which helps cater for passengers travelling from Doncaster. It works really well.

Who uses this station?

Box Hill is such a big hub. You’ve got your commuters, you’ve got your students, and you’ve got people going to and from the hospital. The shopping centre here had 30 million people through the doors last year. A lot of those shoppers come through the train station.

How is the station changing as Melbourne grows?

It’s busier. There’s more frequent trains and the timetable is much better. We have a lot more express trains going from Box Hill, which has improved the service a lot.

What does a normal day look like for you?

I manage the guys that we’ve got in our accounts team, our operations team, our special vehicles team and our sales team. We’ve got our warehouse as well. I just keep an eye on everyone and make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing. 

How did you get to this point in your career?

When I was 19, I was a manager at KFC. After I came back from maternity leave, I found the job was too hard with two kids. Some days I’d be home at midnight. So I was looking for a new job and all the ads in the newspaper were saying “owner/drivers wanted”. I called one ad and they explained what kind of truck they were looking for, what size they wanted. I went to a used truck yard in Geelong, found the truck they wanted, bought it the next day and started work the day after that! 

Had you ever driven a big vehicle like this before?

Definitely not. Backing up took some work, learning how to do that. I was driving a Pantech with solid sides, so that was my biggest issue at the start because you can’t see, so you’ve got to really rely on your mirrors. It’s not like driving a car where you can look behind you. There were definitely blind spots, so that took some getting used to. 

What was your first truck driving job like?

It didn’t take long to learn how long and how wide my truck was, but driving around inner suburbs like Box Hill with narrow roads was a bit painful at the start. If I was driving on a freeway or around Dandenong where they’re used to trucks, it wasn’t so bad. When I first started driving trucks, it was for a family-owned business and I was in good company because one of their operators was female and there were already a couple of female truck drivers on board. They knew I had kids, so I could pick my hours and they just worked around it. When I came to Xtreme Freight, it was the same scenario. It’s a family business, so they understand my family situation. 

Have you had a particularly memorable truck journey?

When I started at Xtreme Freight, it was in an office position, but they’d also send me out in the van if they didn’t have a driver in the area. Once I had to drive two pallets to Queensland. Myself and another driver piled into the van with a heap of pasta and drove overnight to Queensland and back. 

What’s been your career highlight so far?

I was runner-up for the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia Young Achievers Award. We got flown to Luna Park in Sydney for the awards night. It was recognising people under the age of 27 who were up and coming in the industry. I was doing accounts at the time and now I’m executive manager. So I’ve come a long way in 10 years. It’s nice to see that the effort you put in when you start off being a driver, and then you’re in a warehouse, then you’re doing data entry and start moving up in the ranks. It’s good to see the progression.

What do you love about your job?

It’s the flexibility. If I wanted to be home by 3pm to pick the kids up from school, it was up to me to learn my run and make sure I knew where I was going so I could do it efficiently. And the ability to go, “oh the kid’s sick, they can come out in the truck with me for the day”. Even here in the office, if I need to bring the kids in, they come in. Most workplaces, if I was in an office block in the city and I needed to bring my kids in, that’s not happening.

After being in the industry for so long, are there any surprises?

I get surprised every day. We deal a lot with air freight and sea freight coming in, so we see some strange things enter the country. We’ve had to deliver a big elephant statue to Toorak, we’ve had to deliver an antique bell from a church in Italy to a house and we had to take a crane inside. I never know what’s going to come across my desk.

Has this industry taught you anything about yourself?

I’m stronger than I look. Some people might look at you and think “you’re a woman, you don’t know”. You deal with some dinosaurs sometimes who tell you “I’ve been around for 25 years” but I’ve learnt that when I put my foot down, eventually they’ll listen. It’s good to know that I’ve got that strength.

The CEO of Xtreme Freight is also a woman. What’s she like as a boss?

Amanda O’Brien is a great boss. I’ve been here for a long time, I’ve had two kids since I’ve been here and she makes it so I can work from home if I need to. Even now, the kids come in on school holidays, I make them do “PODs” [proof of delivery] and clean the office. Little jobs to keep them busy. 

Are there many other women at Xtreme Freight?

There are four of us out of an office of 25 or so. The good thing about Xtreme Freight is that the work is diversified. Females within this business aren’t segregated to the office doing clerical work or accounts. We have people in the trucks, we have people in the office, doing operations, doing accounts. We give people the opportunity to move within the business, so if you come in as a warehouse hand, you’re not deadlocked into that role. You have the chance to upskill.  For example, I got my forklift licence here. When all the other guys in the office were getting their forklift licence, Amanda said, “why don’t you jump in”. I didn’t want to, I didn’t need to because I was in accounts at the time. But now I have that skill which will be an asset to me for the rest of my career.

How important is it for women to act as champions for other women, like Amanda?

I think it’s really important. To have someone stand there and say, “I have faith in you, I think you can do it” or someone to pat me on the back and say “calm down, it’s okay”. It’s good to have someone who pushes you when you need to be pushed and also tells you when you need to stand down.

Do you think there are any barriers that might discourage women from working in an industry like this?

They might come across one of the dinosaurs, an old-school road dog who’s been in the job for 25 years. They’ve rubbed him up the wrong way and he’s reacted badly and they’ve just assumed everyone’s like that. But they’re not. It’s a big industry and nine times out of ten you won’t get a reaction like that.

What advice would you give for a woman who might be considering a job in freight?

Do it. Jump in with both feet and learn to swim. I did. I was 19 years old, had two kids, was a single mum and I went out and invested in a truck for a job that I knew nothing about. Sure, there were things I had to learn, and I had to learn them on the job, but that’s the same as any new job.  The good thing about freight is that there’s no real end in sight, there’s always going to be a role in transport in Australia. And it’s a really diverse industry. For example at Xtreme Freight, we worked with the government to develop an app for our drivers to help keep them safe on the job. So you don’t have to be a driver or do office work to get a job in this industry. There’s a whole range of options. 

So when she decided she needed a career change, she got her heavy rigid licence and started handing her resume out at Melbourne’s bus depots.

Today, she’s been driving buses for nine years, contributing to the five per cent of bus drivers in Victoria who are women.

Ventura is one bus company that is actively recruiting women, offering to pay for suitable candidates to get their licence.

Maria thinks the program is sensational and will go some way towards attracting women to a new career, albeit at a slow pace.

“I think for many women, the prospect of driving a large vehicle is daunting. Most of us are used to driving small cars,” Maria says. 

“Safety is another issue. But you know, I feel safe 100 per cent of the time because there’s duress alarms, there’s cameras, we’ve got these gorgeous guards. 

“We’re taught how to deal with challenging passengers and, if I need to, I can radio in and there’ll be help waiting at a stop down the road. The response is amazing, it’s so quick.”

A mother of two, Maria now fills a casual rail replacement shift at Ventura which fits in with her commitments outside work.

“This casual shift is the reason I came back to the field after having kids,” Maria says.

“It’s quite flexible which is what a mum needs. It’s good they’re trying to be more family friendly.”

Ventura colleague Michelle started her career at Ventura in the graduate program. Now, the 26-year-old is the senior supervisor of operations at the company’s Pakenham depot.

She’s the only woman in her office, but she isn’t intimidated by the male-dominated workplace.

“I never really used to think about being the only woman in the office,” Michelle says.

“But now I have four supervisors working under me; all men and all significantly older than me.

“There are times when I’m aware of my age and being female and it’s a little bit scary that I’m in charge. 

“But I think having come through the graduate program, it’s given me the confidence to be able to manage these guys and they respond really well.”

Maria has also found confidence in her career and attributes driving buses to a personal transformation.

“Once I got over that daunting phase, I just loved it. And I still do,” Maria says.

“Look at what you’re doing, you’re driving this big vehicle! It’s quite empowering. I feel really proud.

“To any woman considering this as a job, I would say you do overcome that fear. And once it passes, it’s liberating, it’s fantastic.

“For me, it made me a different person. My confidence is sky-high and I feel like I can do anything.”

Where are you from?

Woodend, a little country town. I have three sisters and a brother; I’m the oldest. Most of them are at school or studying. My mum’s a farmer and my dad works for a local council.

What sparked your ambition to be an electrician?

I started a nursing degree after school, did two years then decided it wasn’t for me. I was always interested in being an electrician but was a bit wary due to the industry’s male dominance. I was like, ‘what if I don’t like it, what if they’re mean’?

Not a typical career for a woman.

Not really, but I think it’s becoming more popular; it’s a good career and any woman could do it.

How did your family and friends react – were they shocked?!

(Laughs) It was electrifying news! Not too shocked, they were very supportive and happy for me, and said, ‘good on you, give it a go’.

What attracted you to working in the rail industry?

When I did my pre-apprenticeship I thought, well there’s domestic and commercial, and that’s it. But then this Yarra Trams opportunity came up and it sounded really interesting.

Do you and your three female apprentice workmates have a lot in common?

We’re fairly spread out in age but we all want to have careers in this industry and are a good support system for each other at work.

How do you feel working in what is traditionally a ‘man’s world’?

I feel good about it. We’re getting to a point now where everybody’s onboard with women in trades. I have great mentors here and everyone is willing to help and teach you things and there’s no difference between how boys and girls are treated.

What does a typical working week look like for you?

I work at the depot four days a week on 6am to 2pm shifts and Thursday at trade school. We do two weekly basic services on the rolling stock trams. It’s our smallest service; takes an hour.

Do you change the oil and spark plugs?

(Laughs) Just checking and testing everything is working and stable – lights, console, doors, things like that. The rest of the day we fix defects on trams.

You’re so switched-on you’ve been given a 30-year-old B-Class tram to restore!

I suppose! But I think they’re going to give the same opportunity to the other apprentices.

What kind of shape was the tram in?

Not great as it was missing a lot of parts that had been taken for other trams.

When did you start working on it?

In December and it should be back on the road in a few weeks if everything goes according to plan.

Was it a challenging job?

Yes, because I’d never worked on a B-Class before, and didn’t know what parts went where. I was out of my comfort zone having to contact people I didn’t know to track down hard-to-find parts. I also had to perform tasks like wiring I’d not done before.

Have you bonded with your B-Class tram?

I love this tram and am pretty excited about it going back into service! I like working on old trams as you can trace from point to point how the tram is wired. It’s like working on an old car compared to a new one.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Women supporting women and women empowering women to do things that are not commonly done. This interview was important for me to do because I want to set an example for my younger sisters and other women. I want to say to them; ‘if you want to do something like this job, just do it as there’s no reason why women can’t be in trades’.

Any other advice for women contemplating a trades-based career?

Do a pre-apprenticeship, which are available for most trades. And just go for it as it’s not like it used to be and you’re not going to get discriminated against or picked on because you’re a girl.

Are there any barriers that might discourage women from joining this industry?

All I can think of are physical barriers, like things women can’t do if they’re not strong or tall enough. I had pretty much no experience with tools or power tools. I just walked in with a screwdriver. It’s like any job; you just learn how to do it, and I had a lot of help from all the guys.

What are your career aspirations once you’re a qualified sparky?

Not sure. I’m enjoying my apprenticeship and loving working with Yarra Trams. I can see myself staying here after my apprenticeship. I’m excited to go to other depots and work on other trams and see which one I like best.