Matt and Corey sit down with Australian Apprentice of the Year 2022, Jennah Halley, to hear where it all began. Jennah shares how she found her way into the trades, starting with a cabinet making apprenticeship at 21, before life took a turn. A single mum of four kids, the youngest just one year old, she moved back to Cairns and found herself inspired by her brother, a refrigeration mechanic of nearly 20 years, to take on a new challenge.
Jennah gets real about what it means to show up , even on the hard days. As a parent and mature-aged apprentice, she used every single sick day on her kids and still dragged herself to work when she had nothing left. But rather than dwelling on the struggle, Jennah reflects on how the workplace has evolved. Employers are more understanding than ever, and the old expectation that mums stay home with sick kids is finally fading. The times are changing and Jennah says, for the better.
On her third qualification and now doing 80% of the estimating in her supervisory role, Jennah is proof that learning never stops. In this clip she talks about thinking beyond the tools, looking toward leadership, business, and what’s next. As the guys put it, she’s not just collecting trade qualifications, she’s building a career with purpose and intention. A clip for anyone who needs a nudge to keep backing themselves.
Wearing ten hats a day as a supervisor, coach, motivator, counsellor, Jennah opens up about what it really takes to lead people well. Drawing on her own experiences as an apprentice, she talks about knowing the difference between someone who needs genuine support and someone taking advantage, and why she believes it’s really not that hard to just be a decent human. A refreshingly honest take on modern leadership in the trades.
