Thomas powers up his electrotechnology career with a dual trade

Thomas said it opened his eyes to the possibilities the trade offered.

“I was inspired to pursue an electrical trade because of my dad – while he's really skilful at most trades and was able to pass on his knowledge to me in those areas – electrical knowledge isn’t easily picked up from working around home, so I was keen to build on my skills and gain a formal qualification,” said Thomas.

“Plus, the other reason I choose the career is because electrotechnology skills are in-demand – both now and into the future.”

Thomas recently finished his apprenticeship with a dual trade, undertaking a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician incorporating Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control (UEE30811/UEE31211) at TAFE Queensland’s Kingaroy campus.

While Thomas completed his full-time electrotechnology apprenticeship at Stanwell, he enjoyed the best of both worlds, with expert on-the-job mentorship from the company’s senior electricians and support and guidance from TAFE Queensland experienced, industry-qualified trainers.

“TAFE Queensland’s electrical trainers have worked all over the world in different industries, so they had a lot of knowledge to share with us.” said Thomas.

A dual trade course in electrotechnology provides the skills to work in multiple disciplines. Graduates of Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician incorporating Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control (UEE30811/UEE31211) can apply for an electrical contractor licence and become a trade-qualified electrician, or trade-qualified electrical instrumentation technician.

During his dual trade Thomas gained essential electrotechnology skills, from learning how to interpret electrical drawings, developing circuits, installing and maintaining electrical components, to understanding wiring, equipment, and systems for residential and commercial applications. The instrumentation aspect of the course covered installation, modification, maintenance, and the repair of instrumentation used in measurement and control systems.

The National Skills Commission has predicted that energy sector employment opportunities for trades such as electricians and electrical engineers will increase by 10.2% over five years with an estimated 14,600 new job openings between 2021 and 2026. 

TAFE Queensland is the state’s leading training provider for the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30811), training around 70 per cent of the total electrical apprentices employed in Queensland.

Thomas’s advice for those considering a future in energy: “Just have a go.”

“It's not a lifelong decision. You can have a go and if it's not for you, you can change. Just give it a crack.” he said.