Meet our student
Ms Donna Carter
Course of study:
Bachelor of Civil Engineering 2006
I am working in the Design Department at the Shire of Campaspe. The Design Department has been established for 5 years and does most of the design work for the Shire. Once I started work my first month was filled up with training. I had some technical training with VicRoads in Melbourne and 12d - a civil design software package. I also had to learn the business rules and how things work in the Shire.
My first project is almost up to the construction phase. Although it seems trivial - it is a footpath design - it has been my project from the start and I'm quite excited to see it coming together. It is in an established residential area so it needs to match existing features and there are drainage issues that need to be solved. I also had to learn how to complete a design using 12d and AutoCAD. Although a footpath doesn't seem too difficult, I have learnt so much that will be able to apply to larger projects in the future. I am looking forward to construction commencement as I will be who the construction guys call when something doesn't make sense or something goes wrong, so I am expecting a steep learning curve.
Other than my design project, I have done traffic and signage investigations, which can be interesting and gets me out of the office from time to time, which I love. I have also done some surveying and survey set outs. Overall, I have learnt so much in the time I have been working at the council. I am really enjoying it now that I have settled in and everyone is great and keen to help me learn as much as I can.
And it still amazes me that I can write Donna Carter, Design Engineer at the end of my correspondence!
