Cadet
Name: Sabina Abi Kabalane
Career stage: Still studying!
Working: On site, Office
High School Subjects: Modern History, Hospitality: Food and Beverage, General Mathematics, Business Studies, Standard English, Studies of Religion 1 & Entertainment
Favourite: Definitely Modern History - I find history in general to be really interesting. I love learning about how civilizations came to be or why dynasties ended and all the big and little things that have led the world to where is it today
Further study: University
where and what: I am currently studying a Bachelor degree in Construction Management at the University of Western Sydney - Parramatta Campus
“I grew up in an immigrant family, living in Western Sydney and almost every male I knew was working in construction in some capacity, so I've always been surrounded by conversations about the industry."
the inside scoop…
What does a Cadet actually do? I'm very new to this role so here's my basic understanding so far - A site engineer focuses on making sure that what is being built is actually what has been designed by an Architect. This includes reading drawings like a floor plan, elevations and detail drawings and understanding what has been designed so we can then coordinate with trade professionals to bring what's on paper to life.
What does a day in your life at work look like? A typical day can include tasks such as; following up with trades regarding the progress of their work, site walk-throughs with trades, clients, consultants or your own team for inspections, creating and updating reports which help break down tasks, problem solving issues/complications which may come up, read through architectural detail drawings to make sure a task is being completed correctly or to prepare for a task - just to name a few.
What's the best part of your job? I find being on a construction site in general to be pretty cool and I think 15 year old me would think so too. As a site engineer, being able to build relationships and work alongside industry professionals means your constantly learning and building industry knowledge. I like that everyday is a new day that brings its own routine, issues and tasks. But my favourite thing about the construction industry by far is seeing the progression of a project from start to finish and knowing you were part of the team that created something so amazing.
What made you realise construction could be for you? I grew up in an immigrant family, living in Western Sydney and almost every male I knew was working in construction in some capacity, so I've always been surrounded by conversations about the industry. Almost 10 years ago now, my family started a home renovation project (which fyi is still in progress!). My dad is a 'do it yourself' type' with enough experience in most trades that he was able to complete a lot of the works himself and also got my sisters and i involved. During this process, my mum and i became really involved in the planning and design process and i found i really enjoyed it but for some reason never considered looking into the construction industry for potential future careers. When the time came for me to think about careers, I was really unsure of what I wanted to do but I knew I enjoyed being creative so was leaning towards interior design or architecture. I ended up enrolling in an interior design degree, and then moved to an architecture degree over the course of 2 years but ultimately, couldn't see a future for myself in those industries. At the beginning of 2020 when Covid hit and lockdowns were enforced, I got to thinking about my future and what I wanted to do career wise. I kept thinking back to when we first began our home renovations and how much I genuinely enjoyed the entire process - reading the architectural drawings, the manual labour of actually building the house and eventually seeing the project come together. A year later I enrolled into my current course and it was the perfect fit. I never thought I would enjoy studying but that first semester was one of the most exciting and motivating experiences. Now that I'm working in the industry, I can confirm - this was one of the best decisions I ever made.
What do your friends and family think about working in construction? My parents are definitely really proud and love bragging about my job every chance they get. The general response from friends and family is how amazing it is that I'm a female in construction as though it's unheard of, which always makes me laugh, although they are still really supportive. The funniest is when I mention to a stranger what I do for work and having a random guy try to undermine my job or knowledge. They back down pretty quick once they realise I actually know what I'm talking about.
Tell us about a favourite project you're working on. Definitely the project I'm currently working on - Archwood Residences in Roseville. It's 42 terrace houses over 6 blocks with a lobby, 2 basement levels and community space. I'm still fairly new to the team but it's been such a great learning experience so far. Each block is in a slightly different stage so I'm able to get involved in and experience the different phases of the construction process simultaneously. Working on this project, it's probably the most responsibility I've had so far which was almost daunting when I first started but now that I'm more familiar with the project and I've gotten to know the site better, I'm really enjoying it. I'm most excited for the projects completion so one day I can drive past, point out the window and say "Hey I helped build that!"
Tell us about balancing work with your other interests, or family. The biggest thing was getting used to the long and often exhausting work days. At first, it can be overwhelming, and I found I could only focus on work and uni and had very little time for maintaining a social life or hobbies. I'm lucky to be working with a company and project teams who understand that as a student, work wasn't my only priority so having a full day off per week which could be dedicated to my studies was a massive help. Over time, i became more accustomed to working and studying full time and learnt how to manage my time better and what I wanted to prioritise in my life. I make sure to utilise free time after work and on weekends to see family and friends, i use travel time on the train to and from site as an opportunity to relax and destress by reading or listening to music and i use my annual leave for a yearly trip so I'm not burnt out and am still performing at my best for both work and uni. It also helps that I genuinely enjoy coming to work. I am definitely not a morning person but the 5:30am wake ups are not too bad when I'm actually excited to get to site.
Sabina is open to engaging further via: Taking a student for work experience, Speaking at a high school, Mentoring a student.
If you'd like to enquire more, please email hello@tomorrowswomeninconstruction.com.au with the subject: "Sabina Abi Kabalane engagement enquiry" and we'll pass your message on.
