3 minute read
SHARK PLUMBING
blueprint australian industry trade college
CJ SIGNS UP
WITH DYNAMIC TEAM AT SHARK PLUMBING
CJ, Year 12, was signed-up with the energetic and dedicated team at Shark Plumbing on the Gold Coast this year. When he began his work experience placement CJ knew this was the team he wanted to complete his apprenticeship with.
He put in the hours and proved his commitment working with Shark throughout his holidays — reaping the reward when the apprenticeship contract was signed to be a school-based plumber’s apprentice.
Brad Pippin aka ‘the People’s Plumber’ from Shark Plumbing says, “we look for someone with exceptional skills and I see that all in CJ. We are looking forward to having him as part of our team.”
CJ says working with the vibrant Shark team makes the job fun. “Plumbing is a fun job, digging every day, working hard, it’s about getting in there and working on all the nitty gritty stuff.”
Brad says this is the second apprentice from the AITC to work at Shark. “To be honest young people at the AITC are ready to go. They’ve built up the skills through work experience and they’re ready for work. They’re learning it in the classroom before they come out for work experience so when they come out on the field they know what they’re doing.”
CJ believes the AITC is a great school to help get a career headstart. “I like the way the AITC is different from other schools. We can get a Cert III in business as well as a traineeship which other schools may not offer. It’s good getting a balance between work and school with our industry and education blocks. Mainstream schools have a 12-week school block which gets a bit boring. At least we change it up and it makes it a bit more fun.”
“When I was growing up, I realised a trade is important. It can take you all over the world, it’s a great skill to have,” says CJ.
“I’ll be the first in my family to be a plumber and my younger brother wants to be a plumber as well. Plumbing was my first and only trade I tried for work experience — I enjoyed plumbing straight away.”
When beginning on his career path CJ was nervous when starting to look for work experience “You’ve got to keep on calling and eventually you find the employer who says, ‘yes’ to work experience.”
Another measure of success is taking “the AITC values into the workplace — hard work, having initiative, employers really love initiative — that stands out. Respect as well. Keeping eye contact is something we’ve been taught and that is great to have in the workplace.” As well as being industry ready CJ says “it’s important to graduate Year 12 and have your QCE. There are a lot of employers out there and they look out for those QCE points and Year 12 completion. That stands out to potential employers.”
The AITC delivers “a deliberately different education,” enthuses CJ. “There are six campuses across Queensland so there’s a lot of opportunities to start your career.”
CJ will automatically go full-time with Shark Plumbing after graduating from the AITC in Year 12. “It’s a big step from working in seven-week blocks to going into full-time work and heading into the real world. However, it feels great to earn my own money. I feel like a grown up. Earning my own money and doing work I can be proud of — it feels good.”
