Grace Davis
Contracts Administrator, Georgiou Group, Perth, Western Australia
Bachelor of Construction in Quantity Surveying
It was a recommendation from a family member that inspired her to consider quantity surveying as a career, says Grace Davis who studied a Bachelor of Construction in Quantity Surveying.
“I was initially looking into studying accounting or economics as these were some of my best subjects in high school. But then a family member brought up the idea of quantity surveying. I had never even heard of it at the time but, as I learned more about it from people within the industry and spent a few days shadowing quantity surveyors on a construction project, I realised that I could envision myself doing this in the future. I liked the practical side of quantity surveying and how involved you become in the whole construction process. I find it exceptionally motivating being able to see what you’re working on physically taking shape right in front of you.”
After graduating from AUT at the end of 2024, she moved to Perth and loves applying her understanding of quantity surveying in her role as a contracts administrator for the Georgiou Group, a leading building and civil construction company.
“I decided to move to Australia as I felt it broadened the possibilities and provided me with more opportunities. I feel that AUT really helped to prepare me for this move as I gained more confidence in myself and in my knowledge and abilities throughout my studies. This ultimately led me to feel confident enough to make the move to Australia.
“My role as a contracts administrator is very similar to what I was doing as a quantity surveying intern in New Zealand. I spend half the week based on site and the other half in the head office. Being based on site enables me to become fully immersed in the construction project and it’s a part of my career I not only find extremely rewarding as I see what I’m working on come to life and progress every day, but it also helps me to become better at what I do by connecting with people on site. I’ve always enjoyed the contracts side of the job and dealing with subcontractors, so I’m thoroughly enjoying my role, and the opportunity to specialise in contracts and build my communication skills with subcontractors every day.”
An enjoyable experience
Studying at AUT was an immensely enjoyable experience, says Grace.
“The lecturers are extremely supportive and involved, often taking time after class or during their free time to help students, which shows their dedication and passion for helping students succeed. Knowing that I had so much support surrounding me made for an enjoyable university experience.
“I also really loved how AUT strives to build connections between students through all the different social events throughout the semester, from markets to career expos and cultural events. These events encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people, and helped me alleviate stress throughout the semester and create a healthy study-life balance.”
She says she would absolutely recommend studying at AUT.
“AUT offers a hands-on learning experience that encourages students to become more involved in their learning and apply theory to real-life scenarios, which will prepare them for dealing with similar situations in their future careers. That was one of the reasons I chose AUT – I had heard from previous students that AUT strives to involve students through practical work and supports them in finding career opportunities. The overwhelming support from lecturers and the student services also creates a welcoming learning environment.”
Advice for other students
Grace has some great advice for other students.
“One piece of advice I’d give other students would be to attend as many lectures and tutorials as possible, and to come into university to study. I found it difficult to study at home with so many distractions, so I decided that when I had class, I’d come into university for the whole day and spend the time that I didn’t have class in the library working on my assignments.
“AUT provides silent study spaces that enable you to stay focused and maintain that study mindset, rather than trying to study at home and wasting valuable time procrastinating. I found this to be greatly beneficial as it enabled me to work on my assignments over multiple weeks, rather than trying to complete them all within a few days.”
Her other piece of advice is to ask for help if you need it.
“One challenge that I faced while studying was trying not to become overwhelmed by the amount of work I needed to complete in a short span of time while also juggling external commitments. Thanks to the supportive lecturers at AUT and services provided by the university, I was able to combat this by reaching out when I needed support, and by making the most of the services and resources to help me manage my time and commitments.”
