Katie Thomas

Katie Thomas’s enthusiasm for Ara and how it changed her life is infectious. “I really am truly grateful,” she says. “It was mind blowing and I loved it.”

Prior to studying at Ara, 35-year-old Katie was a full-time mother. She also worked as a barista but wanted a change. “My friend is an electrician and he said I could learn a trade as an adult student. I’m arty and I love fixing and making things, so I got into engineering trades.”

Katie started with a course in welding and structural steel and followed it up with a Level 3 certificate in engineering fabrication, then another at Level 4. She says her course materials were easy to read and understand, and she spent a lot of time hands-on, making things.

She says the tutors gave her the knowledge and understanding to pursue her ‘exciting and challenging’ career in engineering. “I was born to be an engineer! Now I’m a qualified tradeswoman and I’m welding and fabricating my little heart out!”

Katie says she enjoyed everything about being at Ara. “It’s an amazing campus with excellent facilities and a great atmosphere. Everything is there to help you succeed. The tutors are awesome – down-to-earth, good honest people. I still keep in touch with everyone and feel very grateful to them for helping me get where I am today.”

In the future, Katie hopes to teach engineering trades. “Engineering is interesting and rewarding and I want to get people excited about it as a career. I hope I can inspire women and make them feel they can do it too, even when it’s tough juggling kids, work and study. It’s worth the hard work.”

Find out more about Ara’s engineering trades programmes here.