Finding direction through hands-on learning

When Keegin O’Halloran first enrolled in a school-based training pathway with Skill Hire, he wasn’t entirely sure where it might lead. A couple of years later, he’s finished at the top of his class, earned the trust of an employer, completed Year 12 and gained valuable industry experience that is helping shape his next career move.

The 18-year-old from Australind Senior High School near Bunbury began his journey in Year 10, initially exploring different options before discovering a passion for hands-on work through a Certificate II in Building and Construction.

“I didn’t really know anything about any real career path,” Keegin said. “I ended up doing the building and construction course and that’s where I kind of discovered carpentry and found out it was really fun.”

While completing his final two years of school, Keegin spent one day a week at Skill Hire, developing practical trade skills alongside his regular schoolwork. He said the balance between school and training was something he had no trouble managing.

“I looked forward to Fridays,” he said. “I liked that it gave me the chance to be a bit creative. I could make my own things and learn by doing. The people there were really good too, I made a few friends along the way.”

As part of his training, Keegin did work experience with Lingwood Construction, where he experienced a range of carpentry work and real-world construction projects. The experience led to extra casual work during school holidays.

By the end of his training, Keegin finished at the top of his class. He consistently performed at a high level in both theory and practical training and received exceptional feedback from his employer.

“I got to do all sorts of carpentry work instead of just one thing,” he said. “You definitely learn a bit quicker when you’re working in a real-world environment.”

His efforts and willingness to explore different opportunities were recognised earlier this year when he was named School-based Construction Pre-Apprentice of the Year at the Skill Hire Construction Industry Training Awards.

“I think I just tried to focus in class and understand how it all works. That’s probably what got me nominated,” Keegin said of his award. “That was super exciting. I definitely did not see that coming.”

As he now weighs up his future, exploring opportunities in mechanical fitting and related trades, he says the school-based pre-apprenticeship gave him a strong foundation and confidence to pursue a career in industry.

“It was great learning all the tools and seeing what construction is all about,” he said. “I gave it a good go and learned a lot. It was super fun and I can always go back. It was definitely really good exposure for me.”