Learning on the Tools: How Emma Gardner Is Building Her Future at Daly Bay.

For Emma Gardner, the path into her career didn’t begin with a university lecture theatre — it began with curiosity, hands-on learning, and a willingness to try.

Straight out of school, Emma started an electrical apprenticeship at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty Ltd (DBCT P/L, also known locally as Daly Bay), unsure exactly where it would lead, but certain she wanted work that was practical, varied, and real.

“I wanted to do something hands-on,” she says.

After trying different trades during school, Emma narrowed her focus to electrical work and took a leap. Four years later, she’s completed her apprenticeship and stepped into a full-time role as an electrician — a significant milestone in a traditionally male-dominated trade.

Emma’s days are fast-paced and problem-focused. From maintenance and fault-finding to repairs and step-by-step troubleshooting, no two days look the same.

“You get to do something different, exciting, and challenging every day,” she says.

That variety is what keeps her engaged — and growing. With each completed task comes a sense of pride, especially when a job is finished successfully.

“When you’re assigned a job and you complete it, you feel quite proud of yourself.”

Walking into a male-dominated environment as a young woman hasn’t always been easy.

“Originally it was very daunting,” Emma admits.

Like many women entering trades, she’s faced moments of self-doubt — questioning whether she belongs or whether she’s capable, even after completing the training.

“I face challenges every day,” she says. “But I work through them.”

What’s made the difference is culture. Emma speaks positively about the support she’s received and the shift she’s seeing across the industry.

“The mentality around women in male-dominated industries is shifting,” she says. “It’s very accepted nowadays.”

Mentors and teammates who have taken her under their wing have helped build her confidence — reminding her that learning is part of the job, and leadership develops over time.

Emma doesn’t describe herself as a finished product — and that honesty is part of her strength.

“I’m a work in progress,” she says.

As she moves from apprentice to electrician, she’s beginning to step into leadership in small but meaningful ways. Her goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress.

“I have a goal set and I work towards it.”

She hopes to become the kind of leader who motivates others and helps teams work towards shared outcomes — a leadership style grounded in collaboration rather than ego.

Emma’s story matters because it shows what’s possible.

For young women considering a trade — especially those unsure whether they’ll fit in — her journey offers reassurance: you don’t need all the answers at the start. You just need the willingness to begin.

Her joy comes from friends and family, her strength from persistence, and her purpose from building a career she can grow into.

As part of The Just Saying Project’s storytelling series with Daly Bay, Emma Gardner’s story is a reminder that the future of regional industry is already here — and it’s being built, one skilled woman at a time.