Launceston firefighter Meghan Lownds never considered a career with the Tasmanian Fire Service when she was a young woman.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Because of that, she wants to share her experiences and encourage the next generation of female firefighters at a workers' forum for girls.
Ms Lownds is one of several speakers from across the state, including the Honourable Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner, who will speak at a conference for young women, held in Burnie.
The conference is hosted by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and was the brainchild of the union's state organiser Mike Wickham after he returned from a trip overseas.
Mr Wickham was concerned there was a gap in young women leaving school and joining the workforce and so the forum was born.
Ms Lownds said she had always been a "Tomboy" growing up and had never considered a career as a firefighter.
"I liked kicking the footy around and playing cricket or building, yet as a kid, there were, in my eyes, no female role models in firefighting, building and construction or the defence force," she said.
"My job is primarily about helping people, so if I can help these young students by giving them some insight into working for Tasmania Fire Service, what commitment that requires and what a person could expect to do in a day to day or night to nightly situations."
The conference runs on August 16 at Burnie and has a wide array of more than 36 successful women who will be at the opening night dinner to talk about their lives, trades and careers.
"It's not just the business houses, councils, schools and sponsors, but by trades and industries, totally closed off to women less than three years ago." union state secretary John Short said.
"Companies want to meet their next staff intake face to face...and have dinner and see how they perform tasks and the women's forum is the place to do this."
Young women from Launceston who want to attend the forum can do so, and the union is organising buses to transport to and from the event.
Ms Lownds said the most valuable lesson she has learned during her years of work is this:
"Happiness, feeling valued and enjoying your work is one of the most important things in life, that is a mantra I live by and I hope I can impart some of that onto the next generation."
Ms Lownds will be joined at the conference by speakers such as Police Commander Debbie Williams, Tasmanian Natural Garlic and Tomatoes founder Annette Reed, senior lecturer Maria Yanotti, Governor Kate Warner, Opposition Leader Rebecca White and My Kitchen Rules guest judge Shannon Martinez.
For more information check out the forum's Facebook page.