WorldSkills Australia Nationals – Brisbane 2010 -Construction Carpentry

Ben is from Wynyard on the north-west coast of Tasmania.
He started in the construction trade at the end of 2005 because he enjoyed wood work at school and was keen to work outside for a living.

Ben did some work experience with construction companies at first to get a taste of the trade and knew immediately that it was definitely for him. He feels a sense of achievement in saying, ‘yeah I built that’.

Ben’s boss entered him in the competition. He participated at the regional competition a couple of years ago but didn’t make it through. This time, he knows the training required to make it. Ben believes, ‘the more you put in, the more you get out of it’.

He says that most of the competition projects aren’t like the construction he does at work – i.e. a pitched roof gazebo. He works in commercial projects, which usually involves pre-fabricated materials and flat roofs so it has really increased his knowledge (starting from the basics)

Ben enjoys the variety of commercial projects and is looking forward to competing this year.

VJ Carlos Portella