I Want a career in:

Case Study

Name: Joanne Podobnik
Position: Timber Production Operator – Mill Hand
Company: Carter Holt Harvey
Qualifications: Year 12 Graduate
Age: 40

What is a typical day for you?
The processes that I’m involved with include stacking and grading, and working a finger jointer and other machines. The policy at Carter Holt Harvey is to work on a rotational basis; we change jobs every hour or half hour in the mill.
We do this for safety reasons, to ensure we stay diligent and avoid repetitive injuries, and to keep our jobs interesting and fresh! 

What do you find most satisfying about your job?
Helping to foster a safe work environment for myself and my team is very satisfying. Spending a lot of time with co-workers forms strong bonds and friendships too. Also, there are opportunities to take the next step as far as learning and training is concerned.
I enjoy coming to work. If I didn’t enjoy doing what I’m doing now, then I wouldn’t be here doing it!

Do you like living locally?
I like that I can work close to home, and work good hours.
My commute to work takes 25 minutes, over which time I travel 35 kilometres on the highway! There’s one town between home and work, and no traffic lights, so it’s a bit different to, and much nicer than the big city!

Would you encourage working in the industry?
Everyone in the timber industry is very approachable, and there’s always the chance to climb the ladder in a wide range of positions. I’d say go for it.
 
Please note: We spoke to Joanne about her career and what she does day to day. We hope you find this useful and interesting – but please remember, that all jobs are not exactly the same and other roles with the same title may be different in many respects. You should confirm all the details of a particular job with the organisation offering it.