These two young tradies are living the Top End dream

Jackson and Ryley have a lot in common. They spend their spare time camping, fishing, and working on their cars. Thanks to CDU TAFE, they’re both turning this love of machines into lucrative careers through mechanical trades training.  

Jackson was introduced to CDU TAFE in high school when he completed a Certificate II VET course, which led to an apprenticeship with Wilkinson Engineering.

“I enjoyed school, but I was always more of a hands-on guy,” he says. “This was a great opportunity given to me.”

Ryley, on the other hand, always knew he would enter the mechanical trades—his father is also a machinist. 

“Ever since I was young, I’ve always just wanted to follow in his footsteps. That’s definitely been the guide towards my trade.”

As it turns out, Jackson had the same familial connection.  

“Our fathers actually used to work together,” he says. “It was pretty crazy at the start when we realised!”

Work hard, study hard

As part of their apprenticeships, Jackson and Ryley attend training blocks at CDU TAFE on Casuarina campus.

“It gives me that extra line of study where I get to do all the stuff I may not do at work, but it’s still an important part of the trade,” says Ryley. 

Training blocks also offer the opportunity to connect with peers and future industry contacts.

“We’re all doing the same trade,” says Ryley of his classmates, “but we’re all different. I’m the only machinist in my class and all the others are fitters.” 

“There’s a few from Alice Springs, and Groote Island, so I only really get to see them and hang out with them at trade school. We’re all mates.”

“CDU offers all the stuff we need to get finished,” adds Jackson. “Why go anywhere else, you know?”

Top End tradies

Outside of work and study, Jackson and Ryley love the Darwin lifestyle they’ve grown up in. 

Camping, fishing, 4WDing—it’s a way of life. 

“Darwin’s definitely the best fishing in Australia!” says Ryley.

Importantly, it also offers an abundance of employment opportunities for young tradies with in-demand skills. 

“Not many people do fitting and machining anymore,” Jackson explains. 

“I’m in a good position with work, with family, financially, and it all started with the CDU course I did in high school. That’s led me to where I am today.”

“It’s put me in a pretty good spot.”

Ryley agrees. He’s happy with his trade and couldn’t imagine a better place to forge a career. 

“I would really like to have my own business in machining further down the line, but I really like it in Darwin so I’ll probably stay here.”

Interested in learning a trade like Jackson and Ryley? CDU TAFE has hands-on courses across all industries.