Thread: Mature Apprentices.

Hi Liam. I am a mature age apprentice cabinet maker. Or atleast considered mature age I'm 24 and am 1 month off from finishing thank god. It is a bit of a struggle considering the wage or the lack of and being out in the big world. But it is well worth the tough times. I have learnt so much and continue to do so every day, which for me is a big part of loving the job so much. I think a cabby apprenticeship is well worth doing if you enjoy working with your hands. We got a few machinists here and I seriously think their job would be so boring. Basically button pressers. Chippys certainly make more dosh and is defiantly worth it also.

As with all apprenticeships you have to go through the crap to enjoy the good times more. I think it's a great idea.

hi liam just got a mature age apprentiship as a furniture maker at age 50 started 17th jan this year best thing i have done. was at coles and woolies for 35 years, yes i lost about $300.00 a week but i own everything and the wife works so it is not so bad . my current wage is $17.20 an hour then i get paid if i do any overtime . you also get $5000.00 from the government over the 4 years of your apprentiship for tools so do it if you can good luck

Liam

why do you wnat to do a carpentry, wood machineing or cabinet making apprenticeship ?

do you want to spend the next phase of your life cutting out and screwing together kitchens and build-in wardrobes?
or do you want to make things in solid wood?
if the latter, you might like to consider the Sturt School at Mittagong Sturt School for Wood

also there's the Night Trades program at Lidcombe TAFE.

Im a mature age apprentice, 4 months to go, I'll be 31 when I finish. I was lucky and managed to get my apprenticeship at a quality solid-timber antique reproduction (well, technically, "in the style of" not reproduction) workshop. There are jobs like that out there, they are just rare. I wouldn't have given up the office job to make big white boxes and screw them together.

Liam ,
given that you already have a trade , related qualifications and experience that are not to dissimilar to the ones that you are looking to now , is it possible to get a bit of cross-crediting to where you wish to go ?
Wood and metal are not too far apart when all said and done .

I take my hat off to you for taking the bull by the horns and wanting to do something you really want to do. Go for it.

Thanks For the info and encouragement.

As it stands i am moving to another job next week. Sim to what i am doing now
but with a more reputable company.
At the end of the year i will be looking for a apprenticeship or Tafe course
so i will use the remander of this year doing reseach.

Cheers Liam