NAIDOC Week - Staff Showcase: Patricia Chester

Written By Agile Group

As part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations we’re sharing a showcase of achievements and experiences from our Indigenous staff. You might have seen our other showcases - Brett Sinclair and Kyian Wilson.

The next in our showcase is Patricia Chester, in our AgileTraffic & Safety team. She tells us of her struggle to re-join the workforce following a serious car accident, why traffic control is a great job and why she wants to see more women in the role

Patricia Chester

Division: Agile Traffic & Safety
Role: Traffic Controller & Highway Worker
Length of time at Agile: 9 months
Indigenous heritage: Grandfather is from Point Pearce, Narungga Nation

Following a varied career covering land conservation and management, cleaning, reception administration, case management, being an Aboriginal Health worker, an SEWB worker, retail, hospitality, and being a Criminal Field Officer; Patricia (Tish) changed career and moved into traffic management 6 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. She loves the flexibility of traffic management and wants to see more female faces in hi-vis out on Australia’s roads.

Tish joined Agile Traffic & Safety as a Traffic Controller in late 2021, and we’re pleased to have her onboard. She’s smart, has a great work ethic, and is an enjoyable person to have on the team.

Prior to joining us Tish was in a serious car accident and had spent a considerable amount of time in recovery in order to get back to normal life. Missing the feeling of purpose and responsibility work gave her, Tish was keen to re-join the workforce again. She found that traffic management was a great industry for her as it offered flexibility during her recovery. With a supportive team environment she was able to re-join the workforce whilst on her rehabilitation journey. Now she’s a proud advocate for traffic management, road safety, and is about to begin training as Agiles Return to Work Coordinator, South Australia.

“I love the traffic management industry because of its flexibility when I had my accident. I had more bad days than good, I found it incredibly difficult to hold employment. In this position I wasn't ridiculed, my goal was to keep working and I was supported to reach that goal.

My State Operations Manager, Jason Popov was very supportive in helping me return back to work, he and the team were very understanding which made me even more determined.”

In the short time she’s been with Agile Group she has been able to build on her level of experience and knowledge in traffic management from experienced line management offering mentorship, and the repertoire of tier 1 jobs she’s worked on. Her favourite project was the traffic management of SA Health’s COVID-19 testing stations, as the job was an interesting change of scope for usual traffic control jobs due to the enhanced restrictions during the pandemic.

“My first day I was very excited and proud to be working with Agile Group, I was very grateful for the opportunity. Being employed, and working in traffic control in particular - gives me a sense of responsibility, purpose, and motivation.

Agile Group has definitely given me opportunities to enhance my level of experience and knowledge in traffic management. Personally, I find Agile Group has been very encouraging with great team support. The experience has been very valuable.”

It can be quite intimidating for women to join the construction industry, as it is typically male dominated, and some women have preconceived perceptions about the working environment. But Tish loves working in a mixed and dynamic team, and wants to encourage more women, particularly those who are from an Indigenous background to consider Traffic Control as a viable and enjoyable career option.

“I would love to see more Sistas taking up Traffic Control - it means I get to see my Sistas more often! Whether you’re Indigenous and non-Indigenous it’s such a great opportunity - especially for our young people - to gain work experience, gain financial independence, and build confidence. And, there’s opportunities to develop a successful long term career in traffic management or even the wider construction industry.

I hope we’re able to encourage more women and more of my mob to see traffic control as a career option”.

Tish’s health is continually improving, and her career goals are to continue growing in traffic management. We’re committed to helping her continue enhancing her skills in the role and supporting her on her recovery journey.

“What I really like about working at Agile is the valuable support to maintain and sustain ongoing employment, and the cultural connections working with the mob and the local community.

It’s rare to find an employer that cares enough to push you to succeed, who is understanding and works with you to help sustain quality of life.

At Agile I feel I’m working in a highly supportive environment, with good communication, kind consideration, with cultural understanding and a high level of professionalism. Overall, I have enjoyed working with Agile Group.”

Outside of work Tish has taken up community sport as part of her rehabilitation journey - she joined the first female football team at the Kilburn Football and Cricket Club, and regularly participates in charity events with her little dog Moo, and advocates for community causes on her social media channels. Recently she and Moo ran in colour fun runs raising awareness and funds for youths to be smoke free and healthy, and raised $829 for ‘Dance for Sick Kids’. 

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Agile Group is truly proud of Tish’s work ethic, community engagement and proactive advocacy of road safety and traffic management. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for her, and hope that we too, see more female and more Indigenous faces in traffic management roles.