I love that at the end of the day I can see the result of the hard work I’ve put in. Seeing what I’ve built throughout the day gives me a great sense of job satisfaction.
SAY G’DAY TO CALLUM FURNER
The Snow Foundation – CEF scholarship recipient
CEF LOCAL FOUNDATION:
Country Education Foundation of Goulburn and District
STUDYING:
Certificate III in Bricklaying at TAFE NSW, Bathurst
WORKING:
Tibbles Bricklaying, Goulburn
THE TRADIE TRUTH ABOUT AN APPRENTICESHIP IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA
Finances are always a struggle for young rural regional students taking on study and heading into the workforce, and even more so on an apprentice’s wage.
Callum regularly needs to travel almost two and a half hours to Bathurst NSW, the closest TAFE offering bricklaying for block study, and he needs to purchase his own set of bricklaying tools, which don’t come cheap.
But, he loves his apprenticeship and wouldn’t be doing anything else.
“A team is only as strong as its weakest link and we are very fortunate to have a team of hard working and highly skilled young men under the guidance of my husband, Lester. An apprenticeship is a long commitment and if we want to continue to produce the best bricklayers through our apprenticeships we need to support them throughout the process. We really appreciate the Country Education Foundation and The Snow Foundation supporting our talented apprentices like Callum to complete their training and stay in the industry.”
Renea Tibbles, Owner
MORE THAN JUST AN EMPLOYER
Callum loves the team dynamic of bricklaying and that he has a skilled mentor teaching him the craft at Tibbles Bricklaying in Goulburn.
Considered a ‘master of his apprentices’ Lester Tibble is one of the best. A member of the Australian “Skillaroos” who won the bronze medal at the 2011 International Worldskills Competition in London, he also won a gold medal at the 2010 competition in Brisbane and the 2009 Gold trowel award.
Lester and his wife Renea are passionate about training high quality apprentices. They not only provide employment but also important mentorship and support.
It was Lester and Renea that encouraged Callum to apply for a CEF grant to assist with his costs.
Callum works as hard as he possibly can every day. I respect his determination and dedication. He applies himself both onsite and at TAFE, has a great attitude and I have no doubt that he will be a highly skilled bricklayer by the end of his apprenticeship.
Lester Tibbles, Owner
I’d highly recommend that any apprentices from rural and regional areas apply for a scholarship with CEF.
HOW CEF CAN HELP
Like many rural apprentices, Callum believed that he was not eligible for support from the CEF, thinking the support was just for university students.
Now he knows that CEF and its 44 local foundations, like the Country Education Foundation of Goulburn and District, supports any type of study after school, and he encourages others to apply for financial assistance.
CEF knows there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to study and wants students with all types of dreams and ambitions to apply for support.
The grant and scholarship from CEF and The Snow Foundation assist significantly in taking off a lot of financial pressure off Callum, allowing him to focus on his training and work and motivating him to always improve.
ALL SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Callum’s proudest moment of his apprenticeship so far was receiving his first bonus from his bosses for performing well onsite and at TAFE.
He says the support and recognition he receives from his employers ‘cements’ for him that he is on the right track and made the right decision to take up the position with Tibbles Bricklaying.
Callum wants regional students who know that if university is not the right thing for them, they should seriously consider an apprenticeship.
He knows most regional students are ‘in the same boat as him’ when it comes to issues with distance and finances.
The support from CEF, Country Education Foundation of Goulburn and District, The Snow Foundation and great employers like Tibbles Bricklaying can make a big difference – and Callum knows this first hand.
Starting my apprenticeship is the best thing I have ever done, I wish I had started earlier.
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