How Serena found her spark and rewired her future  

While expecting her first child, Serena, a young Torres Strait Islander woman, found the spark to pursue her passion for becoming an electrician.  

Now, she’s moving forward toward a bright and inspiring future for herself and her family.  

Once Serena knew what she wanted to do, she was quick to research her options and start lighting the path, not only to her ideal career, but to a stable future for her and her baby.  

Pursuing this career was not only a journey to find fulfilling employment – it was a journey of empowerment, to prove to herself and others that women can thrive in these traditionally male-dominated roles.  

“My mother would tell me stories of her time growing up in the Torres Straits and how a woman couldn’t do a man’s job.  I want to show other Torres Strait Islander Women that this is not the case. We can do what a man can do,” Serena said. 

She found a Career Starter Learning Program, offering Certificate II in Electro Technology, a taster for a career in the electrical industry, and a foot in the door for attaining an apprenticeship.  

However, taking on a ten-week course located in Cairns, over four hours away from her family, proved a tough task, especially as a new mum.  

Through her family’s recommendation, she was led to Bamara and the Parent Pathways service in Townsville, where she connected with our team.  

Together with her Support Mentor, they generated a tailored Goal Plan that would help Serena complete the Career Starter Learning Program and work toward an apprenticeship. 

Through Parent Pathways, Bamara was able to support Serena by covering her course fees, providing Personal Protective Equipment, suitable work clothes, and stationary, and helping her renew her driver’s licence and vehicle registration to ensure she could travel to and get around Cairns with ease.  

Engagement support vouchers also further supported her with necessities, such as fuel and groceries.  

With Serena’s family helping take care of her child, Serena had everything she needed to take on the course in Cairns. In April 2025, after ten weeks of hard work, she returned home having completed the course successfully. 

“I was a first time Mother and unsure if I wanted to go to Cairns to do this course. It meant ten weeks away from my baby to study.

“There were times where I wanted to go home because I was homesick and I missed my daughter. But I was determined to get a head start in achieving my career goal. I decided to keep putting in the hard work,” Serena said. 

Now, with an Electro Technology qualification under her belt, she has set her sights on gaining an apprenticeship with a local employer, working with the team to find relevant opportunities and finetune her resume.  

The team at Parent Pathways are in awe of the show of dedication and hard work Serena has put in to working towards this important goal.  

“It’s inspiring for us to see someone who knows exactly what she wants to do and is so driven to achieve her goals. It’s a pleasure to walk alongside her as she goes on this journey,” Regional Team Leader, Tina said.  

Connect with our Parent Pathways team

Our Parent Pathways service helps you identify your goals – whether they’re family-focused or career-driven – and provides you with or helps you access the resources you need to work towards and ultimately achieve those goals.    

We listen to what matters most to you and your family. Our dedicated team of experienced Support mentors will provide individualised support to help you achieve your goals.