Local apprentice decides to upskill with the help of TAFE

With the help of TAFE NSW, apprentice
mechanic Amber Byrne recently stepped
out of her comfort zone and learnt how to
operate the equipment she’ll be working
on.
Amber, 19, is studying a Certificate
III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
and plans to add heavy diesel qualifications
later in her apprenticeship.
She jumped at the opportunity to complete a
Statement of Attainment in Loader and Excavator
Operations when it was recently offered
at the Cobar campus.
Employed at her father’s Superior Diesel
Solutions business, Amber has grown up
around vehicles and mechanical repairs.
She became interested in doing an apprenticeship
when she purchased her own vehicle
and wanted to learn how she could make it
stand out.
As well as working on light vehicles,
repairing and maintaining civil construction
and agricultural equipment will be an
important part of her future work.
“When I saw TAFE was offering a course in
operating excavators and loaders, I knew that
if I learnt to operate the equipment in a practical
setting, it would help me be a better mechanic
when working on those machines,”
Amber said.
Cobar TAFE NSW Services Coordinator
Claudine Griffiths said it was encouraging to
see a woman doing the Statement of Attainment
as it’s men who are more likely to operate
heavy plant and mining equipment.
“Amber was nervous at the beginning of the
course, but she gained confidence and is
now keen to pick up more skills,” Claudine
said.
Amber said she isn’t concerned about being
a woman in a male-dominated industry and
knows she will find plenty of work on both
vehicles and agricultural equipment as there
is a high demand for mechanics.
“I would especially encourage other women
to consider this as a possible career,” Amber
said.
To learn more about civil construction, mechanical
and other courses offered by TAFE
NSW, visit www.tafensw.edu.au