Weekdays start early for Lucas. He’s out the door by eight, ready for the hour-long drive from Launceston to a heritage cottage near Scottsdale. By mid-afternoon, he’s packing up the tools and heading home, tired but content. While his friends are still in the classroom, Lucas has found his own path, one that suits him perfectly.
Lucas’s story is a reminder that not every learner fits in a classroom. Through our Approved Learning Program, students can stay enrolled in school while gaining nationally recognised qualifications on the job. It’s an approach that opens doors for those who might otherwise slip through the cracks, and one that’s paying dividends for Lucas and his future.
Why is Lucas’s story important?
“I’m working with an independent contractor named Keven, who’s been in the building industry for almost 50 years,” Lucas says. “I’m learning how to frame walls, lay concrete with a shovel and wheelbarrow, lay floorboards, and even set up a cathedral ceiling.”
Lucas is one of many Tasmanian students finding new ways to learn outside the classroom. He’s a first-year carpentry apprentice with the Housing Industry Association’s (HIA) Apprentices program. Through this, he’s gaining real-world skills on a project that’s rewriting the story of an 1871-built cottage, Vinegrove. But more importantly, he’s rewriting his own story, too.
“I’m still learning, but I’m already seeing how this can set me up,” Lucas says. “It’s long days, but it’s where I want to be.”
“I’ve always wanted to do something hands-on,” Lucas explains. “I like working independently and seeing the progress we’re making every day. This is a good starting point, and hopefully, I’ll get to network with other tradies and maybe one day start my own business.”
For HIA’s Apprentice Manager Corey, Lucas’s story is exactly what the program was designed to support. “A lot of young people don’t fit with traditional schoolwork,” Corey says. “They’re practical, hands-on learners. Apprenticeships give them another way forward, a pathway that leads to a qualification and real skills.”
Corey says that HIA’s YouthBuild program, which brings construction modules and small building projects to schools, helps identify students with a passion for trades early on. From there, apprentices like Lucas are matched with host trainers through HIA’s Group Training Organisation (GTO).
What supports are available for the employer?
“We take care of everything in the background,” Corey says. “The host trainers just need to focus on teaching the trade. We handle pay, entitlements, TAFE, worker’s compensation, super – everything. It’s designed to make taking on an apprentice as simple and supported as possible.” The apprentice also receives dedicated coaching and mentoring from an HIA Field Officer to help them thrive in their apprenticeship.
It’s an arrangement that’s working well for Lucas’s host employer, Keven. “Lucas brings enthusiasm and a willingness to learn,” Corey says. “He’s still pretty green, but each time I check in, he’s picked up new skills and confidence. It’s great to see.”
For students like Lucas, it’s more than a job, it’s a chance to build a future without the burden of debt. “After four years of an apprenticeship, you’re earning a wage while you’re learning,” Corey says. “That’s a powerful incentive.”
For Tasmania’s construction industry, it’s a win-win. Lucas is already making a difference to the business, offering an extra set of hands and a fresh enthusiasm for the craft. “It’s been a positive experience all around,” Corey adds. “Employers like Keven receive reliable support on-site without the added complexities of direct employment. As a managed service, it means the host trainers can focus on teaching and productivity, while the apprentice is supported and guided every step of the way.”
Where can I learn more?
To learn more about apprenticeship pathways and supported programs, visit our Vocational Learning webpage or contact your local Group Training Organisation, like HIA Apprentices. For students like Lucas, the best way to prepare for the future is to start building it today.