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Building skills for the future
When Luci Marsh gets on the tools to demonstrate for her students she knows the skills they're learning will one day be used to keep a roof over their heads — literally.
Luci is a lead teacher of construction at TAFE Queensland’s Ipswich campus, and it's there she strives to ensure her students are equipped to be the construction leaders of tomorrow.
“I enjoy passing on my knowledge to the youth that are one day going to be the leaders of this field and I want them to be the best they can be and keep this industry alive,” Luci says.
“You want the best working on your most expensive asset, your home.”
With that in mind, Luci ensures her classes are hands on, giving students practical demonstrations wherever possible.
“I'm always on the tools with my students doing demonstrations and working alongside them on small to life-size projects in our community. For example, we work closely with WesTEC Trade Training Centre to build things like picnic benches for community areas and cubby houses for local child care centres,” she says.
“We all work in the elements as some of our practicals are outside and the only time we don't deliver outside is if it's raining or just too hot.”
Luci encourages school students to try a trade to see where their passion is, and encourages female students to try trades industries too.
“They do say that if you choose a job you love, you will never work a day in your life,” Luci says.
“The best thing about my job is that I get to try make a difference in someone’s learning environment that will benefit them in the short and hopefully long term to achieve their individual goal — change their lives.”
As a TAFE teacher of 14 years with a career in construction and secondary education prior to that, Luci understands how the needs of employers and industry changes.
“As those needs change, so does the training we provide. Each year we work closely with local industry to ensure our training meets the current demands. We need to make sure our apprentices are graduating with the skills they need to be the tradies of the future who will keep our community growing,” she says.
TAFE Queensland is proud to be the largest and most experienced Vocational Education and Training (VET) provider in the state. Apprentices are taught by fully qualified teachers who have years of hands-on experience and practical knowledge.