Another 100 apprentices were inducted into QBuild's state-wide ranks during February.
QBuild is one of Queensland’s biggest employers of apprentices, and at the induction ceremony held in Brisbane, four of the new intake reflected on the challenges ahead.
Briohney Fellon’s new career as an apprentice fitter and turner at QBuild’s Brisbane City Region is an opportunity she is grabbing with both hands.
“When I graduated school at the end of 2006 I missed out on getting an apprenticeship,” she said.
But Briohney’s persistence has proven second time lucky, and with tradespeople in the family, her apprenticeship is a natural progression.
“Apprenticeships have always appealed to me,” Briohney said.
“My Dad’s a truck driver and mechanic by trade and I’ve always had a passion for working with motors and machinery. I’m really looking forward to working for QBuild and gaining the experience and qualifications they offer apprentices.”
Electrical mechanic apprentice Jade Bartkaitis also established an interest in working with her hands from an early age.
“I’ve always been interested in doing a trade. My family are all tradespeople so growing up I often helped out,” she said.
Based at QBuild’s Brisbane City Region, Jade says she hopes her apprenticeship will help kick start her career as a tradesperson.
“I’m looking forward to progressing through my trade with QBuild and learning quality from the best.”
When mature age applicant Greg Harrington was accepted as a refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice, it was the realisation of a 20 year old dream.
Swapping business meetings for the tools, Greg says the opportunity to go back and learn a trade is an exciting step.
“I wanted to do a trade when I left school 20 years ago but everyone told me not to, so I went into business instead. I’ve been working in the building industry and have been managing a building company for the past five years. I thought now was the time to move from the office and out onto the job site,” he said.
“My plan is to become a fully qualified tradesman and I chose QBuild because I want to learn quality skills, properly.”
Palm Islander Ron Geia has graduated from QBuild’s School Based Apprenticeship Program, and earned a place as an apprentice carpenter, working out of QBuild’s Brisbane Metropolitan Office at Cannon Hill.
Ron’s school based apprenticeship was completed at Abergowrie College in Ingham, and he had initially planned to return home to Palm Island to continue on with a full apprenticeship.
“The school based program meant I’d stay back at school in the holidays to complete different tasks and gain on the job experience,” explained Ron.
“I planned to do my apprenticeship at home, but then I was offered a scholarship with the Canberra Raiders to come down here and play for their feeder club, South Logan, so now I am commencing work out of QBuild’s Brisbane Metropolitan Region.”
QBuild’s annual apprentice intake takes place in February each year. Applications for 2010 apprenticeships will be called in October 2009 and will be open for submission via QBuild’s online application system.
Visit www.qbuild.qld.gov.au for more information about apprenticeships and other employment opportunities at QBuild.
