Carpenter Sam Everdeen tops the list in Cairns Trade Excellence Awards
A Far North carpenter who received the top gong at an awards night recently, has shared his tips on how be successful as an apprentice.
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A Far North carpenter who topped TAFE Queensland’s 2023 Cairns Trade and Excellence Awards on Thursday, has shared his tips on how be successful as an apprentice.
Sam Everdeen, whose passion for manual arts in high school led him to pursuing a Cert I and III at TAFE Queensland Cairns campus, has been awarded Outstanding Apprentice of the Year and Construction Apprentice of the Year.
“I started with an introductory course to TAFE at Cert I to get a general understanding of the construction industry and found that to be the biggest help. If you can push yourself in that, you’ll get good opportunities,” Mr Everdeen said.
He said the most important thing for new apprentices was to pursue a trade or industry they were passionate about.
“Even if you’re knocked back from opportunities, you’ve got that drive to keep going. If you get knocked down a peg, get back up,” he said.
Mr Everdeen, who began his certificate after working for a few years after high school, said he had enrolled in a Cert IV course to attain his builders license.
“I’m not sure exactly what I want to do yet, but I’ve got the passion and drive for it. I’m switched on and it would be a disservice to myself not to try,” he said.
Despite his achievement, the win came a shock to Mr Everdeen who was selected out of more than 1300 apprentices who train at the TAFE Queensland Cairns campus.
“The industry leading teachers at TAFE instilled in me a passion for the work, and my successful completion became a very effective foot-in-the-door-type scenario, securing me an apprenticeship with one of the Housing Industry Association’s most awarded local builders,” Mr Everdeen said.
“It feels excellent to be named the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year, it’s such an honour.”
Mr Everdeen, who works at Brendan Grant Homes has enrolled in a Cert IV in Building and Construction, said his best advice for young people looking to get into trades was to set themselves up to receive apprenticeships from high-ranking companies.
“Apprenticeship providers look for people who show initiative and dedication, and a Certificate I or other introductory qualification is a strong way to display those attributes,” he said.
Mr Everdeen was one of 11 apprentices to be awarded honours at the TAFE Queensland 2023 Cairns Trade and Excellence Awards on Thursday night.
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Originally published as Carpenter Sam Everdeen tops the list in Cairns Trade Excellence Awards