Debbie Stennings never envisaged her career trajectory would include “being a Homer Simpson” and working at a power station.
The AGL Loy Yang power station unit attendant certainly did not follow a typical career path to get where she is today.
Speaking to a group of female students from secondary schools across the Latrobe Valley as part of a STEM Sisters industry tour, Ms Stennings said she had no electrical background and no idea what is was employees did at power stations.
“My dad worked out here and I never knew what he did,” she said.
“There was no such program [as STEM Sisters] when I was at school.
“My career path has been very different to most people out here [at Loy Yang].”
“I used to be a snow board instructor … but I hurt myself and I came back and I studied travel and I was a travel agent for 10 years.”
After living and working all over the world, Ms Stennings took up an administration job at AGL Loy Yang where she became interested in health and safety. Ms Stennings completed a diploma in health and safety and after working in that field for a time, applied for the role she is in now.
“There were 2500 people that applied for the position … I was one them,” she said.
“We were the first female operators they had put on in 30 years – we didn’t even have female toilets outside,” she said.
“It has definitely changed since I started, there are more and more females.” Ms Stenning encouraged female students to get involved in STEM careers.
“I’d say study hard, but like my career path, never think that if you choose one career path, something else [can’t] come up, because I never thought I’d end up at a power station being a Homer Simpson.”
