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Advancing the future of engineering with industry experts
Following an extensive career as a boilermaker and engineering supervisor, TAFE Queensland Engineering Foundation Educator, Scott Thompson, is looking forward to training the next generation of tradespeople — advancing their skills for in-demand roles in local industry.
“I’m keen to pass on my knowledge and help guide young people who are kick-starting their careers in the industry, as well as experienced engineering tradies who are upskilling for senior roles," he said.
After commencing a Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade – Boilermaking/Welding (MEM30319) apprenticeship more than 17 years ago, Scott has been determined to build upon his skills. He has since added advanced welding tickets and a Certificate IV in Engineering (MEM40119) to his tool kit of qualifications.
“Undertaking a trade gave me the opportunity to grow in myself and my career. I gained confidence and I enjoyed the work,” explained Scott.
"My TAFE Queensland teachers helped me out heaps and that’s what got me to where I am today."
“It was this training with TAFE Queensland that enabled me to progress in my career.”
While working as a boilermaker and engineering supervisor for high profile manufacturers in the Darling Downs region, including Toowoomba-based global supplier of grinding mill relining equipment and services, Russell Mineral Equipment, Scott has witnessed the introduction of new technology and processes.
“Many welding operations, particularly in steel manufacturing, are transitioning to new welding machines and moving away from just using standard MIG welders,” he said.
“They're starting to use pulse welding, a process that involves using a pulsing current to control the heat to join two pieces of metal together to create a high-quality weld, as it's less clean up, no splatter and it's faster.”
TAFE Queensland Manufacturing Faculty Director for the Darling Downs and South West Region, Col Batzloff, believes that TAFE Queensland’s growing team of engineering educators is well placed to meet the needs of the region, with local employers building a pipeline of skilled workers to meet future industry growth.
“Since 2020, we’ve seen a 28 per cent increase in student enrolments in engineering trade courses across the Darling Downs and South West region,” he said.
“It certainly highlights the demand for engineering trade skills in the region, with more projects coming online and local manufacturers upscaling their operations and new organisations moving to the region."
“Scott brings a wealth of experience to the role after many years in the trade, both on the tools and supervising teams, and is now continuing his lifelong passion for learning within our Foundation Educator Program.”
TAFE Queensland’s Foundation Educator Program sees industry experts employed and paid as Foundation Educators while completing their Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116) through TAFE Queensland, with the latter being fully funded, if completed within 12 months.
It was designed and developed by TAFE Queensland to attract passionate industry experts and convert them into the highest quality teachers and tutors, promptly – in direct response to Vocational Education and Training recruitment challenges identified within a new research paper from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
Based at the TAFE Queensland Toowoomba campus, Scott is currently learning to teach a variety of engineering courses including Certificate II in Engineering Pathways (MEM20413) and Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade – Boilermaking/Welding (MEM30319), with a particular focus on the Certificate IV in Engineering (MEM40119).
The Certificate IV in Engineering (MEM40119) post-trade qualification has been designed for tradespeople who are looking to progress their career, with opportunities to gain specialist engineering skills in the design, assembly, manufacture, installation, modification, testing, fault finding, commissioning, maintenance, and service of equipment and machinery.
The course is ideal for tradespeople looking to step into a supervisory or team leader role or pursue further study in engineering – skills that will be in high demand by employers, now and into the future.
According to the Australian Government’s Global Australia website, Australian manufacturing produced more than $115 billion in annual output in 2020/21 and in 2021, manufacturing attracted $117 billion from international investors.
Find out how TAFE Queensland apprentice, Ben, is engineering his career in the boilermaking trade.