Brisbane apprentice falls into great opportunity

Izzac Hemmings is a first year Brisbane apprentice bricklayer who certainly appreciates the opportunity he has been given through the Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan and Defence Housing Australia’s (DHA) Apprenticeship Support Scheme.

For 16 year old Izzac, knowing that he wanted to get into the construction industry from a young age was the first step.

“My uncle was a bricklayer and I really wanted to be one since I was around 14 years old,” Izzac said. “… and I was lucky enough to just fall into this opportunity.”

According to his supervisor, Paul Ursem, Izzac also had the right attitude.

“He did start off a little slow but certainly showed a willingness to work and I thought we’d give him a chance,” Mr Ursem said. “I also remember what it was like to be young and need a chance too.”

Over the years Mr Ursem has had a number of apprentices and he knows that they all work in diverse ways.

“They are certainly all different,” Mr Ursem said.

“I’ve got a couple of good tradesman that I work with, so I try to get the apprentices out from just under my wing and share them amongst the guys I have working for me. Then they get a go at everything and they are able learn different things from everyone.”

For HIA Apprentices, the company responsible for finding placements for the DHA sponsored apprentices around Brisbane; the opportunity to employ seven new starters would not have been possible without the increased construction generated by the Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan.

Dean Wolfenden, Queensland Manager of HIA Apprentices, says the experience of working with apprentices is very rewarding.

“There are certain challenges along the way and it is tough work sometimes showing these young apprentices that you are securing work for them. However at the end of the day when they graduate and then they are out on their own it’s nice to know you’ve helped them to achieve that,” Mr Wolfenden said.

DHA have 20 apprentices working across Australia in locations where there is an increased level of Defence housing being constructed over the next few years.

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