Rockhampton university student Chanelle Harvey is heading hard and fast into a male dominated career as an engineer.

Following in her father and brother’s footsteps, Ms Harvey has a career in electrical engineering in sight having begun her second year of a Bachelor of Engineering Co-op degree at CQU Rockhampton with two scholarships already under her belt.

She was awarded for her aptitude of engineering with a $1000 CQU Engineering Scholarship early last year and also received a $20 000 scholarship from Anglo Coal in the middle of last year. The Anglo Coal Scholarship recognised students that possess motivation, ability and leadership skills.

More than 12% of students currently studying the Bachelor of Engineering Co-op Program at CQU are female – changing the face of engineers as we have previously known them.

Although still in the minority, Ms Harvey has fitted in well and enjoys the classroom dynamics.

“Being female in a male dominated field was initially a little daunting, but I get along really well with everyone and I am treated as an equal which is great,” Ms Harvey said.

With a tertiary entrance score of OP2, Ms Harvey’s career options were wide, but she was convinced on following a family tradition and entering the world of engineering.

“When I decided to study engineering, CQU was my immediate choice. When CQU has the best engineering program in the country, why go anywhere else?”.

Her father graduated from engineering at CQU and her brother, Blake, is also about to graduate as an electrical engineer from the same institution.

“Blake has just finished his co-op placement in Switzerland and said it was the experience of a lifetime.

“Interestingly, my younger brother Stuart is also considering studying engineering at CQU next year.”.

“I’m not sure where I want to work – but that’s the beauty of engineering, you are in such high demand you can just about work anywhere.

“I see engineering as an exciting and challenging degree with endless opportunities.”.

CQU’s Bachelor of Engineering Co-op Degree is a unique four-year program which combines the rigour of an accredited academic program with periods of paid, supervised and relevant experience in the workplace.

Students undertake two six-month periods of approved industrial experience during their third and fourth years of the program.