Cairns teens Samarra Porter and Keira-Lee Knott take on Qbuild apprenticeships

Two Cairns teens are helping the state’s ambitious target for women to make up a quarter of the construction industry by 2025.

Two Cairns teens are helping the state’s ambitious target for women to make up a quarter of the construction industry by 2025.

Samarra Porter and Woree State High School captain Keira-Lee Knott are the latest inductees to the Queensland Government’s building and construction program.

The Indigenous 17-year-olds will join 30 other apprentices as part of the

2023 QBuild intake.

Keira-Lee Knott (left) Samarra Porter (right) are the latest inductees to the Queensland Government’s building and construction program. Picture: Supplied

National Association of Women in Construction Queensland president Sheree Taylor

said the association’s goal represented “an important leap forward in creating cultural change

for the construction industry”.

“Young women such as Samarra and Keira-Lee taking on apprenticeships is

important for the male-dominated industry and sharing these stories allows other

women to open their minds to a rewarding career in the construction industry,” she said.

Ms Porter wants to build homes for families in rural communities once she’s finished her QBuild apprenticeship.

She said she was inspired to pursue a career in construction after seeing her father renovate their home.

“I wanted to get in and do the same thing,” she said.

“He’s really proud of me.

“I want to help others and build houses for other people … in outer regions like

Cooktown.

Samarra Porter was inspired by her father to embark on a career in carpentry and construction.

“I heard about QBuild through the school-based apprentice program, put my name

down and was able to carry out a week’s work experience.”

Ms Knott is also keen to help Queenslanders get into homes and combat a statewide shortage of tradies.

“I actually cried when I was told (about the apprenticeship) and can’t wait to start,”

she says.

“I hadn’t heard of QBuild until the school-based apprentice program was offered.

“I did work experience last year. It was so good. I got to get my hands on stuff and

show the boys up.

“I really enjoyed my week of work experience at QBuild – I liked working with the

team and carrying out repairs on the properties.”

Excited about their new career, Samarra Porter (left) Keira-Lee Knott (right) said they are looking forward to a career in construction. Picture: Supplied

Cook MP Cynthia Lui said QBuild workers go beyond the Cape – up to Thursday

Island and to other remote communities, helping build government

employee housing and complete maintenance on public buildings.

“Without their expertise, many of these communities would struggle to maintain their

public facilities and the government would not be able to provide services to these

areas appropriately,” Ms Lui said.

“And the invaluable role QBuild plays after natural disasters, such as cleaning and

repairing schools and hospitals after cyclones or floods, or even rebuilding after

bushfires, helps communities recover much more quickly than they otherwise would.”

Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said with Queensland facing a severe shortage of qualified workers in all trades, graduating apprentices helped boost the workforce.

“Many choose to stay with QBuild for their entire career but others transition to

private industry, helping combat the shortage of workers experienced by most

construction companies,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns teens Samarra Porter and Keira-Lee Knott take on Qbuild apprenticeships