Out on Site!
Putting Theory into Practice
Out on Site!
Putting Theory into Practice
Tom Wilkinson
Year 11
I am doing the VCE Vocational Major - my VET subject is Carpentry and I study at NCAT. I did my Structured Work placement with a local builder during the July holidays, and it gave me the chance to see what working on a jobsite would really be like.
I did get a lot of experience about how a job site is run - OHS routines, working with others and answering to my boss, as well as learning more about specific skills and processes. I really enjoyed the demolition process - ripping up things is fun!
I also helped to build sub-floors, handle timber loads, fetch and carry for the boss - and even picked up extra experience that I did not expect. On this job we were re-using aand recycling as much of the material on site as we could. The boss showed me what to look for when checking recycled wood - how to spot imperfections, rot or any other problems - and he explained why we would (or would not) not want to use it. I asked a lot of questions on site, and my boss was really good at explaining things. I think that is why I learned so much.
There was also other jobs that I got to do, like bricklaying. I got to see that there are often small jobs like this that have to be done, outside of what you think your job is actually going to be! I used so much of the skills I have learned at TAFE - like safety, getting accurate measurements and much, much more.
I am so glad that I have had the experience of being on site and using the new skills that I have gained.