“Around Year 11 is when I started thinking of a trade. I was contemplating whether I should stay in school, so I decided to trial a few weeks working for Roof Pro,” Mr Whitehead said.
“After those first few weeks, I decided that I liked the work and that it suited me, so that was when I made the decision to officially leave school.”
Mr Whitehead said during those first few weeks, the team seemed really enjoyable to work with.
“It also just felt like it was an interesting trade to work in, so I decided to stick with it,” he said.
Mr Whitehead said it was difficult to work throughout the pandemic.
“During COVID, it was a little bit questionable at times. A lot of things were up in the air about what we could and couldn’t do, where we could go and couldn't go,” he said.
“Especially being on a border town, we couldn’t start or finish any jobs over in Moama, in Deniliquin or any of the towns in NSW, where we often have jobs.
“It was a bit hard trying to get work done with all the changes in rules, but being able to work throughout the whole pandemic was a bonus.
“That really kept the business going, us going and also gave us something to do at the same time.”
Mr Whitehead who started his apprenticeship before the pandemic, did not get any COVID-19 incentives, such as discounts on any on TAFE courses or grants for tools.
In terms of how Mr Whitehead had found the apprenticeship so far, he said he had really enjoyed the social element of working in a trade.
“I get along with all the people that I work with. I’ve made some good mates through work and through the other trades that you work with on site as well,” he said.
“Being able to get out and just see people in the town that you know from jobs is great.
“You meet people on site that you end up interacting with and making connections, which you then end up meeting up with and spending time with outside of work as well.”
Mr Whitehead, who is now 20 years old and on the last year of the apprenticeship, is looking forward to being fully qualified.
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