Female Apprentice Mechanic Scoops Scholarship
A Luddenham teen who is an apprentice heavy vehicle technician, has scooped a $3,000 scholarship, thanks to the generosity of Citi staff.
The scholarship recognises young people who have overcome challenges and taken opportunities to gain skills and knowledge to join the workforce.
Megan Chetcuti, 19, is at the start of her second year of her apprenticeship with WPC Group, working at Daimler Trucks in Huntingwood.
“When I got the scholarship, I was very shocked. I still can’t believe it as I’ve never won anything,” said Megan, who finished her HSC last year. She grew up in Leeton, moving to her current home, a 25-acre rural property, with her family about four years ago.
“This time last year, I was in the middle of my HSC and still hadn’t worked out a career path. Mechanics was something I wanted to give a go. I’d hung around with my dad in the truck mechanic workshop at his work. He’s been a truck driver and in the industry for a long time.”
“Once I got into his workshop and began working with trucks, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I love the tech and computerisation of the engines. I really liked the fact that everybody in the workshop wanted to teach me. That made me want to work in a truck workshop even more.”
As soon as Megan finished her HSC exams, she looked for work. Her resume was looking a bit empty – she’d never had a part-time job because her responsibilities on the farm and helping out her dad.
When she went for a job interview with her now-boss at Daimler Trucks in Huntingwood, he recommended she undertake a job readiness program. That was the Citi New Recruits program funded by Citi Foundation. During her work experience there, her determination and talent impressed her supervisors so much that they put her on as an apprentice and nominated her for the scholarship.
Megan says: “Now I work on Mercedes-Benz trucks and do everything from working on clutches and gearboxes to working on diagnostics, engines and electrical issues. I like the challenge of working out what the issue is when a truck arrives.”
The scholarship money went towards her buying a toolkit—“in second year you have to have own. A basic kit costs about $2,000, and you have to keep upgrading it to have everything you need as a fully qualified truck mechanic,” Megan says.
Megan is in the career for the long haul and plans to study a CIV in Mechanics (Heavy Vehicles) and become a diagnostic technician. WPC Group General Manager Andrew Sezonov congratulated Megan and thanked Citi Foundation for its ongoing contribution to transforming the lives of young people. “Megan represents the very best of an amazing group of young Australians who’ve been given a chance to build a meaningful career thanks to the strong support we have through partnerships like our Citi Foundation relationship,” said Mr Sezonov.