Working with a supportive and encouraging team has inspired Caleb Verdon to take up a carpentry apprenticeship with Bundaberg Regional Council.
Starting as a Civil Construction trainee in 2019, Caleb now works with the carpentry team, with some involvement in larger projects around Bundaberg.
At the end of his traineeship Caleb secured a carpenter’s labourer position in a casual capacity and during that time was considering his career options.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do and was working towards getting my operator tickets,” Caleb said.
“While working with Drew Cucca and Nathan Moore I was given a good idea of what carpentry involved.
“They were really encouraging and suggested I consider this as a full-time career.”
Caleb said the more he spoke to Drew and Nathan, and the way they took the time to show him different ways of doing things, the more he enjoyed the work.
“At Council there is something different to do every day and I get a wide variety of jobs,” he said.
“It’s not just new builds but I also get to do renovations, fix damaged property and recently have done some concreting.”
Caleb’s good work ethic and his enthusiasm to learn new skills made him the right candidate for an apprenticeship when the opportunity arose.
He said he almost took a very different career path in horticulture before a car accident put those plans on hold.
“Looking back now, it’s good how that’s worked out because I may not have met Nathan and Drew and most likely wouldn’t have this apprenticeship.”
Caleb is now looking forward to continuing his Council apprenticeship and working with the same team.
“Some of the best things about my job is the great working environment and that at the end of my four-year apprenticeship, I’ll have a trade qualification that will set me up for the future,” he said.
Other Council stories: Council staff save 1203 lives through blood donations
