Riley is building confidence one carpentry project at a time

Currently completing the Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220), Riley is a fourth-year apprentice with Ben Doolan Building and is set to complete his apprenticeship in April 2027.

As Riley is undertaking a priority apprenticeship qualification, his training fees are fully covered through the Queensland Government's Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s initiative. 

Originally from St George and now living in Charleville in remote Queensland, Riley's pathway into the construction industry began unexpectedly.

"To be honest, I never really thought about carpentry," Riley said.

After a conversation between his father and a local employer, Riley was offered a position as a cabinet maker. It wasn't long before he discovered a passion for the trade and decided to pursue an apprenticeship.

"I was enjoying it a lot, so I asked for an apprenticeship," he said.

As the first person in his family to study at TAFE Queensland, Riley has embraced the opportunity to gain both practical experience and formal qualifications while building a career in the industry.

Throughout his carpentry apprenticeship, Riley has combined workplace learning with training through TAFE Queensland, developing the skills and knowledge needed to become a qualified carpenter.

He said the support provided by teacher Jonathan Millroy has played an important role in helping him progress through his studies.

"It's very helpful. It's hard at some times, but with Jono's help, you get through it," Riley said.

Through block training and practical learning activities, Riley has gained experience in areas such as roof construction, trusses, and other key carpentry skills.

"If we have spare time, we'll do some practical work as well," he said.

TAFE Queensland offers flexible training options to support apprentices and employers across regional and remote Queensland, including block training, day release, online learning, and onsite delivery.

This approach helps students gain practical, industry-relevant skills while continuing to work and learn in their local communities.

While technical skills are an important part of the trade, Riley said one of the biggest challenges has been learning to trust his own abilities.

"The most challenging thing is actually doing something by myself, not asking for Ben's [his employer] help and just doing it myself," he said.

As his apprenticeship has progressed, Riley has gained more responsibility and opportunities to work independently on projects.

One recent milestone was completing his first laundry installation with minimal assistance from his employer.

"Ben let me do my first laundry a couple of weeks ago. I asked a couple of questions here and there, but I got it done in a day and I was really proud of myself for that," he said.

That achievement reinforced how far he has come since starting his apprenticeship and demonstrated the confidence he has built through hands-on experience.

One of the unique aspects of Riley's apprenticeship has been the opportunity to work closely with his employer on residential building projects from the ground up.

Together, the pair are involved in every stage of a build, from the initial footings through to lock-up and handover.

"It's a huge achievement," Riley said.

"You get to see it go from start to finish."

With the end of his apprenticeship now in sight, Riley encourages anyone considering a career in carpentry to embrace new opportunities and focus on learning.

"Go in with an open mind. Don't be afraid to do new things," he said.

"If you mess up, you mess up. It's all about learning from your mistakes."