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Ashleigh didn’t like school. She would often wag class and when she did turn up, she would argue with her teachers. After moving interstate Ashleigh found herself out of school and unemployed.  

Her grandfather had been a truck driver and she enjoyed helping her uncle maintain vehicles. But without an education, Ashleigh’s employment opportunities where limited.  

In 2007, Ashleigh was referred by a job network agency to the Hand Brake Turn program.  As one of only two girls on the course, Ashleigh remembers her first day as she walked into a room full of guys. “It was definitely daunting, but the fact we where girls didn’t seem to matter to the trainers. They were really decent, and treated us just the same as the guys.” 

Her two highlights of the course were turning a car into a convertible and spray painting a memorial for her Grandfather on her car door panel. “It was great to be doing something I knew he’d be proud of.”  

Ashleigh completed her work trial with Auto Remount and went on to gain an apprenticeship with the same employer, as a diesel mechanic. A typical day is spent covered in grease, lifting truck tyres and maintaining engines. In June, she will complete her four year apprenticeship. Her dream is to one day own a fleet of trucks and be been seen driving down the road with her trusty German shepherd, Jack, at her side.  

Ashleigh says that the Hand Brake Turn program taught her not only the basics of mechanics, but gave her confidence to work in an environment as the only female. “It’s given me the chance to get my apprenticeship in diesel mechanics, and although in the long term I want to drive trucks, it’s step in the right direction.”