Brisbane woman’s circus past motivates her to pursue six-figure career
A former gymnast is using social media to inspire others to pursue an uncanny six-figure career in a male-dominated industry.
Work
Don't miss out on the headlines from Work. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Brisbane woman who traded acrobatics for a career in the sky, has revealed why she’s taken to social media to share her “unique” lifestyle.
When Toni Cartwright finished school just over a decade ago, her athleticism and passion for gymnastics scored her a role as an acrobatic aerial circus arts performer.
But despite representing Australia in the sport at just 16-years-old, her love for the skill dwindled three years later with Ms Cartwright seeing it more as a hobby than a career.
Her experience as a circus performer inspired her to get her rigging qualifications, which involved moving, securing and putting down loads while using appropriate shifting equipment.
The 29-year-old now earns a six-figure salary in a role she never thought she would have pursued back in high school.
“My life got thrown on its head,” she told 7 Life. “I simply dove head first and followed opportunities that presented themselves from that point on.”
Not for the faint-hearted
Ms Cartwright kicked off her career in constructions shortly after becoming qualified to operate rigging machinery.
Initially she was a machine operator, before acquiring qualifications in forklift and crane operating, which saw her working on mobile cranes for four years.
But in a bid to challenge herself, she later learned how to manoeuvre a tower crane – the large lifting structures typically seen in the city or on tall building projects.
When anchored to the ground such cranes can be as high as 80 metres, and can reach greater heights if they’re secured to a building.
Crane operators typically have to climb multiple ladders, which tend to sway in the wind, to reach the operator’s cab.
The role isn’t for the faint of heart, particularly those who have a fear of heights or falling.
Ms Cartwright also added in a TikTok video, the job can be “mentally draining” and tough on the eyes.
However, due to her experience as an aerial acrobatic, Ms Cartwright isn’t phased about the above fears, and rather enjoys scaling the city’s skyline.
Despite her qualifications and fearless attitude, securing a job as a crane operator didn’t come easy for Ms Cartwright who had to wait six months for an employer to respond.
“(I applied for) every crane operating job on seek …(but after) six months of no responses, I almost gave up and considered a career change to the army,” she said.
She finally received an offer for a two week trial from a builder after half a year of waiting.
“He could have picked any other crane operator, but he wanted someone in the seat that would just operate instead of trying to run the site … and that is exactly what he got.”
Why Toni Cartwright loves her job
The female crane operator has taken to social media to document her career which involves the construction of seven buildings, as well as several other jobs all around Brisbane.
Despite having to put up with constant sun glare from buildings, there are several aspects of the job she enjoys.
“I absolutely love that I work so hard here all day and then as soon as I come down and leave the site … I don’t have to take any work home with me,” she explained in one of her TikToks.
“The only thing I have to think about when I get home is what I’m going to eat the next day.
“I love that I can shut down and not have to mark reports or do what other people have to do when they’re home after work.”
Ms Cartwright also has several motivations when it comes to the reason why she enjoys sharing her work online.
Firstly she hopes she inspires others to pursue a career in construction and crane operating.
“I think that it is majority viewed as educational, eye-opening and aspiring to so many individuals,” she said.
“If any of my content educates, uplifts or inspires any males or females, then that far outweighs the few negative keyboard warriors.”
Among her several crane videos, Ms Cartwright and her “chippy” partner also document their renovations, which include concrete benchtops for their kitchen and a refurbished cinema room.
She believes sharing their work can open doors, including the hope that one day they can make it as contestants on the Australian reality series The Block.
“Who knows what opportunities may surface,” Ms Cartwright said.
Originally published as Brisbane woman’s circus past motivates her to pursue six-figure career
‘Real thing’: Canada on edge at Trump threat
Justin Trudeau has said he believes Donald Trump’s threat to annex Canada and make it America’s 51st state is far from a joke.
State’s push for 4-day week to be ‘standard’
Moving to less days at work could reduce youth crime and improve parenting – so says a campaign to change Aussie weeks.