CREATE TO HOW INPLUMBING INTOMORROW’S ‘EDIT’ EDUCATIONAL LIFTOUT

Plumbing career no pipedream for deaf Shannon

SHANNON Whit can’t hear but she certainly knows her calling.

The 24-year-old plumbing graduate is making her mark in the male-dominated industry by using her Auslan skills to communicate with hearing-impaired customers.

“Clients have been very appreciative, they thought it was very easy and comfortable and it’s good they could understand what was happening on the job and could communicate with all of us,” she said.

Ms Whit said she tried many different trades including childcare and business but didn’t like it until she found plumbing.

Ms Whit was named Queensland’s construction apprentice of the year in 2013 and in February joined Paul Gray Plumbing Services.

“The most challenging part of the job is probably the physical part, so I go to the gym and do cross fit to try to keep up with that physical demand that I have to meet at work,” she said.

“Another challenge probably would have been the communication with other people at work, if it’s a big group of people I find that challenging especially if there’s a lot of background noise – one-on-one is a lot easier.

“I do

get

asked

about being a female in the industry and I just say it’s interesting getting to learn more about the male species and what they’re about.”

Paul Gray, Ms Whit’s boss, and his wife Jackie took an Auslan course too so they could communicate with each other.

“I’m still learning sign language but Shannon can lip read so well, and can understand me when I talk, so I actually don’t get to practice signing very often,” he said.