After almost 20 years working as an exercise physiologist in rehabilitation and fitness, Ingrid Fuhrmann felt it was time for a change. “I just wanted to do something different,” she says. “I always had some interest in computers and wanted to challenge my brain, learn something completely new.”
That desire led Ingrid to South Regional TAFE, where she enrolled in a Certificate IV in Information Technology (Networking)(opens in a new tab) , a course offered at a heavily subsidised rate. “I paid only the resource fee,” she recalls. “That was even greater motivation to get started.”
Naturally, it was daunting at first. “I wasn’t sure if it was for me,” Ingrid admits. “There were a lot of younger males in the classroom, and I’m much older. I didn’t know if I’d have the technical skills to keep up.” But over the year and a half she spent at TAFE, her confidence grew. “The lecturers were well-prepared and had a lot of knowledge and experience. That made a big difference.”
During her studies, Ingrid proactively sought out a work placement to gain more on-the-job experience. That placement led to a chance encounter with a staff member from Albany Secondary Education Support Centre (ASESC), who was about to go on paternity leave. Ingrid stepped in to cover the role and now works there in Technical Support.
Her role involves more than just fixing computers. “It’s not only technical stuff,” she says. “You need to know how to deal with people. A lot of the time, a major part of the job is understanding what’s going wrong and talking to stakeholders.”
Ingrid encourages other women to consider careers in industries like IT. “We bring different skills including interpersonal skills and empathy, that are really valuable in tech roles.”
South Regional TAFE offers a range of courses designed to prepare student of any computer literacy for a fascinating career in IT. Courses are available at campuses across the South West and Great Southern regions including Albany, Bunbury and Busselton.
Start your career in Information Technology(opens in a new tab)