Learning New Skills at QAL

Recently Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) welcomed 18 new Apprentices, who are ready to hit the ground running and ready to learn their chosen trade.

Deciding on a career path and choosing to complete an apprenticeship are hard choices, but for a few of the newcomers the decision was easy.

QAL Mechanical Apprentice, Elisha Fallon knew that as soon as she finished her work experience that she wanted to be a Boilermaker, it was just a matter of getting into the right training program.

“I applied for the QAL Apprentice Program to become a Boilermaker because a family member recommended to me that QAL was his Employer of Choice and that the training I would receive would set me up for a strong career path,” Ms Fallon said.

“I was completely ecstatic when I found out that I had gotten in, especially since only a few Boilermakers are accepted,” she said.

This year the group consists of eight Electrical Apprentices and 10 Mechanical Apprentices, including Mitch Graham who will be training as a Fitter and Turner.

For Mitch, being a Fitter and Turner runs in the family and once he had completed work experience in the field, he knew this particular career would also be his perfect match.

“From the get-go I knew I wanted to work in Industry, and after completing work experience as a Fitter and Turner I strived to be accepted as an Apprentice at QAL,” Mr Graham said.

“Over the next four years I’m really looking forward to learning from experienced supervisors and creating a stable career for myself,” he said.

“Being accepted into QAL’s Apprenticeship Program is probably the best head start I could have gotten straight out of school, and I’m excited to meet new people and get started.”

The new Apprentices will be working at the refinery for the next four years. However this may be longer, as with most of QAL’s skilled workforce, they begin as QAL Apprentices and are still on site today – some 20 years plus later.

Photo caption:
Back row L-R: Nathan Findling, Mechanical; Chris Hooper, Electrical; Jake Riley, Electrical; Ryan Keating, Electrical Apprentice; Trent Ibbotson, Electrical Apprentice; Sean Single, Mechanical Apprentice; Nick Heilmann, Electrical Apprentice; Patrick Falls, Mechanical Apprentice.

Middle row L-R: Haydn Thompson, Mechanical Apprentice; Jodie Davison, Mechanical Apprentice; Kaitlin Smith, Electrical Apprentice; Mitch Graham, Mechanical Apprentice; Joss Cute, Electrical Apprentice; Rhys Picking, Mechanical Apprentice; Chelsea Smith, Electrical Apprentice.

Front row L-R: Elisha Fallon, Mechanical Apprentice; Scott Fehlhaber, Mechanical Apprentice; Nick Drew, Mechanical Apprentice.


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