If you had asked Anika Weibgen a few years ago where her career would take her, construction would have been the last industry she expected to join.

For most of her life, Anika's world revolved around music. As a classically trained oboist, she spent countless hours in practice rooms, on stages and travelling between performances. The oboe, a lesser-known woodwind instrument, opened doors to extraordinary opportunities, allowing her to perform nationally and internationally, teach aspiring musicians and establish herself as a soloist at just 16 years old.

Her musical journey saw her perform on some of Australia's most iconic stages, including the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Hamer Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre and Melbourne Town Hall. Internationally, she performed at the renowned Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and at the YST Concert Hall in Singapore.

After completing her Honours year at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Anika travelled to Europe with plans to continue her studies in Switzerland by undertaking a master's degree.

"It was a dream coming true," Anika recalls.

But upon returning home, she realised that her future lay somewhere different.

"While being a full-time musician sounds dreamy, the reality is intense pressure, long hours of practice and rehearsals, and music can encompass your whole life with little time for anything else."

During her university years, Anika supplemented her studies by teaching oboe lessons and performing freelance gigs. However, once she decided to step away from pursuing music professionally, she began searching for a new challenge.

"I didn't have anything specific in mind; I just wanted to try something new."

After many applications and interviews, Anika came across an opportunity at Native Space. She applied without any expectations, but the role would soon become the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

"I was immediately struck by the welcome and the warmth of the culture, nurtured by every single person."

Today, Anika works as a Project Administrator within Native Space's Maintenance Team. Although the construction and landscaping industry was entirely new to her, she quickly discovered that many of the skills she developed through music were highly transferable.

"The determination to complete something to the best of my ability, performing at a high standard every day, teamwork and organisation are all skills that musicians need to achieve their goals. I use those skills every single day in my role."

Like any new career, there has been plenty to learn.

"I'm still learning every day, whether it's about the specifications of our water carts, or AFL," she laughs.

While her career path may have changed, Anika's creative spirit remains a driving force. Since the beginning of this year, she has been training within the business to develop skills in Photoshop, media production and photography.

"As a creative at heart, this has been so exciting for me. I'm able to bring my own creativity and ideas to life and produce something meaningful as part of my work."

The opportunity has also allowed her to explore Native Space projects from a completely different perspective, visiting parks, reserves, playgrounds and community spaces to capture and showcase their impact through photography and media.

"It means I get to go on site and interact with the incredible spaces Native Space creates and then tell those stories in a creative way."

For Anika, the move from music to construction may have been unexpected, but it has proven to be the perfect blend of creativity and organisation.

"Before I started at Native Space, I never would have thought a job that combined the best of both creative and organisational worlds could exist. And yet, here we are."

From concert halls to construction sites, Anika's journey is a reminder that careers don't always follow the path we expect, and sometimes the most rewarding opportunities are the ones we never saw coming.