Meet Alanah Craig, HVAC&R Apprentice

From school-based training to WorldSkills, Alanah shares what drew her to the trade and what she has learned along the way.

Now completing her HVAC&R apprenticeship with Airmaster’s South Australian team, Alanah began exploring different trade options while still at school.

Since joining Airmaster, she has gained practical experience on site, taken on more responsibility and had the opportunity to test her skills at the WorldSkills Australia Regional Trials.

Alanah recently shared more about the people and experiences that shaped her decision, and what she has learned since starting her apprenticeship.

Finding the right trade

Alanah’s interest in a trade started well before she began her apprenticeship. With a carpenter for a father, hands-on work had always been familiar. During her time at Temple Christian College in South Adelaide, that ambition was further encouraged by her math’s teacher, Mr. Leibbrandt, who became an important mentor.

“He always encouraged me to follow my ambition of entering a trade,” Alanah says. “He was very important during my time at school.”

In Years 11 and 12, school-based vocational education and training gave her the chance to explore different options through PEER, a South Australian trade training provider.

She began with two electrotechnology courses and was considering becoming an electrician. Soldering was a part of the work she particularly enjoyed, but a PEER instructor later suggested an Advanced Certificate II in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

The course introduced Alanah to working with copper pipe through brazing, flaring and bending. Completing those tasks brought a different kind of satisfaction and helped her decide which trade she wanted to pursue.

“Although I really enjoyed the soldering involved in electrotechnology, it wasn’t as satisfying as successfully blazing, flaring and bending copper pipe,” she says. “It was those specific challenges that drew me towards refrigeration and air conditioning.”

By the end of the course, becoming a qualified technician was the goal. Alanah was eager to begin her apprenticeship after leaving school, even if the early mornings took some adjustment.

“I feel very fortunate to have found the perfect trade straight after school,” she says. “I’ve met tons of great people, and my only regret is that I couldn’t have started earlier.”

Learning on site

Her father had prepared her for one common part of starting an apprenticeship: cleaning. While that has featured, the role has also brought regular opportunities to build practical skills.

“I’m grateful for just how much hands-on experience Airmaster gives me beyond the cleaning,” Alanah says.

The apprenticeship has also involved adjusting to parts of site work that were completely new. Working at heights was unfamiliar at first, while physical strength was another concern, particularly when thinking about project work involving heavier equipment.

Experience and the use of portable lifting equipment have helped change that perspective.

“Advancements in portable lifters have been a game-changer, making roles in physically demanding areas like projects more accessible,” she says. “That said, I’d still like to get stronger.”

Completing her first job from start to finish marked an important step in Alanah’s apprenticeship. The task involved replacing an outside air damper, which controls how much fresh air enters a building through its heating and cooling system. After removing the old component, she fitted and sealed the replacement herself.

“Taking full ownership of it from beginning to end really boosted my confidence,” she says.

That confidence has grown with the support of those around her, particularly when learning unfamiliar work and finding her place in the trade.

“Getting support is very important when you’re starting out, and the culture at Airmaster is fantastic. Whether I’ve been at PEER, in the office or out on site, I’ve never felt treated differently because I’m a woman. The focus has always been on the job and whether you can do the work, which I really appreciate.”

Putting her skills to the test

Another challenge came when PEER selected Alanah to compete in the WorldSkills Australia Regional Trials. The competition gives apprentices and trainees an opportunity to demonstrate their trade skills through practical tasks completed under timed conditions.

 Her task was to build a functioning can cooler from scratch by assembling a small refrigeration system capable of chilling a drink can. Being selected was welcome recognition, although the opportunity to gain more practical experience appealed most.

“I was excited when PEER selected me,” she says. “It was nice to be recognised, and I knew I’d be gaining lots of hands-on experience through the event, which was the highlight. Plus, I don’t mind a challenge.”

That challenge became more intense on competition day, with limited time and judges watching each stage of the build.

“WorldSkills was a real rollercoaster,” Alanah says. “It was a mixture of excitement, stress and pressure, but ultimately lots of fun.

“The whole event pushes you to perform at your best under strict time constraints, with judges watching your every move."

"I was incredibly relieved to have a functioning cooler at the end.”

Alanah placed third in South Australia and is estimated to be ranked in the top 30 apprentices nationwide.

The result followed plenty of preparation, with support from Airmaster’s South Australian team. State Manager Ryan Schutte, Service Manager Nick Whittington, Service Supervisor Tom Pryor and Refrigeration Technicians Andrew Howard and Ryan Bishop helped Alanah get ready and continued to support her throughout the event.

“Their support really made the difference,” she says. “I’d recommend that anyone offered the chance to compete takes it on.”

What comes next

Becoming fully qualified is Alanah’s next goal. Further into her career, she hopes to pass what she has learned on to others entering the trade.

“I’m most excited about continuing to learn and eventually being in a position to pass on my knowledge to others,” she says.

For anyone considering a trade, her advice is practical.

“Doing a VET course through school is a great introduction to a trade. Alternatively, I’d recommend taking on work experience to get a feel for the industry.”

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Thinking about a HVAC trade career?

At Airmaster, we are proud to support diverse career pathways and help shape a more inclusive and accessible future for the building services industry.

If you are considering a future in HVAC, automation or building controls, whether as an apprentice, technician or engineer, you can view current roles on Seek or register your interest via our Careers page.