Apprentice gains carpentry skills video

Rob:

Hi, I'm Rob Bradley. I'm a third year carpenter's apprentice and we're doing a big renovation on a house in Collaroy. I decided to do an apprenticeship because I've always been a hands-on sort of person. And I like the idea of starting early and finishing early. So you still have the rest of the day. I applied for my apprenticeship through TAFE and then found my boss Matt, from a family friend who knew someone and then we sort of met up and then both of us went to the Master Builders Association and they set us up to start our apprenticeship going together.

Matt:

Hey, I'm Matt, I'm a builder, just mainly extensions and renovations on residential building. I take on apprentices obviously to do the smaller jobs at the start, but hopefully I can train them up to follow in my footsteps and do the jobs that I would do. The skills I would look for, I guess, dedicated, listening. I don't think you can be born a good carpenter. You can be born a hard worker or willing to learn and push through, but a good carpenter is something everybody or good electricians or plumber, you'll learn that. It's just your willingness to learn and keep going and try again and not get frustrated.

Rob:

My typical work day, I get up at like 5:30, 5:45 to get to work on the beaches at 7:00. And then my boss Matt gives us a rundown at the start of the day at what we're going to do that day. And then he sort of just leaves us to do what we need to do and helps us when we need it. I have really enjoyed working in a different work environment from school. I'm working with more mature people, people that like my music taste, which is good. And yeah, it is really nice just to be around different people that have different stories.

Matt:

Construction's definitely more than just hands on. That'd only be about half of it. You need to be able to get on with all the other trades and organise working with them when they're in your way, be happy to move on and do something else while they get their job done. Everybody's got to work together.

Rob:

My best thing about my apprenticeship is that I'm learning to do things at work that I can do at home, like hanging doors or building decks or pergolas. And I can do that on weekends or for friends or for family, the fact that I work with a team of people and we're all working together as a team. Another great thing is that I'm getting paid while I'm learning instead of paying to get taught. My dreams and goals for after I finish my apprenticeship is to eventually end up in a position like my boss, when I'm in charge. Before that happens, hopefully go to uni and do a building degree or do extra study like that. So eventually I am in his position.

Matt:

Look, the advice I'd give to students thinking to take on an apprenticeship, if you want something more hands on, bit different at school, less pen and paper sitting in a class, more working in a team, on groups of people and coordinating stuff. Sure. Come and try an apprenticeship. It's less physical on the brain, more physical on the body, but yeah, to be a completely different experience to school.

Rob:

My advice for a student would be, if you want to be a tradesman or go into that industry, then you'd have to go in with your heart and try really hard. And the more you put in the more you'll get out, but there are so many options out there that you really don't have to choose one thing, like you could try four different things before you find something you really enjoy.

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