Some dreams manifest for people at a young age, knowing exactly what they want to do with their life before they even have the footing to do so.
For others, it can take years of trial and error, testing out different paths and experiences before ultimately landing on your feet.
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Rachelle Donnison took the latter path with her career.
Working in the disability sector for close to a decade, Donnison says she always knew there was something else out there for her.
“I worked in disability for around eight years, and while I enjoyed my time in that industry, I knew it wasn’t what I was destined to be doing,” Donnison told ABC.
“From a young age, I had always wanted to get a heavy vehicle license.
“It isn’t a typical story either, I didn’t grow up around people who were truck or bus drivers, I just saw it from afar and knew I wanted to get behind the wheel.”
With the passion fully instilled and roaring to get out, it wasn’t until she came across the CDC Victoria Driven Women program that she started to consider it as a viable option.
“I had always had the confidence to do it, but I just didn’t know where to start,” she says.
“So when I came across the program, I just thought ‘challenge accepted’ and applied right away.”
The CDC Victoria initiative aims to increase, support and retain the female workforce by offering learning, training, development and employment across all roles, including drivers, mechanics, operations, administration or management roles.
“The heavy vehicle industries are often dominated by men, and I think that’s why it took me so long to jump into it,” she says.
“I was always thinking, well what chance have I got?
“But because this program was with other women, I was more comfortable to put my hand up and know I would be surrounded by women wanting to do the same as me.”
The program saw Donnison undertake a 10-day training program with CDC’s partnered driving school, working with trainers and two older diesel buses to learn the ins and out of bus driving.
“The buses were bigger than what I deal with now, and the steering was definitely a bit scarier,” she laughs.
“We had a ball, cheering each other on and giving each other confidence.”
Grouped with two other women, Donnison says she found more than just professional training.
“We’ve become such good friends, and we are still in contact now. The program created such an amazing experience that allowed us to learn and still be ourselves,” she says.
Donnison is now fully employed with CDC Victoria, completing roughly 13 runs around Sunshine.
“Everybody on the CDC team has just been incredibly supportive. During training and even now, I know I can go to anyone with any question or concern I may have, and they will help me with no hesitation,” she says.
“My advice to women trying to enter the industry is to just go for it. There will be ups and downs but never say never.”
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