Thread: Boilermaker, I want to expand my career, what are my options?

Not sure whats available in TafeVic but you could always think about doing a Diploma in Mech Eng. Fair bit of maths in it but if you can manage that, having the Dip would open up a wide range of jobs.
Its always hard reskilling from one trade/profession to another. Once you have family/mortgage etc you tend to get locked in financially as you generally can't afford to take the time off required to reskill.
In Tafe NSW some campuses offer night classes in Fitting and Machining, CNC etc.
you really need to check with Tafe Vic to see what they can offer.

regards
bollie7

Originally Posted by Com_VC

I'm looking at expanding my career,
Can anyone suggest anything,

How good looking are you ( Couldn't resist )

Yeah that Diploma in Mechanical Engineering would be good, not sure how I would go with the Maths though, back when I was at school I could never get myself interested in it, at the time I thought it had no relative meaning.

Though if I am using it for something that interests me then I may be able to get my head around it.

We did a bit of it at tafe when I was doing my apprentiship, mainly basic maths for marking out cones and lobster backs etc, I didn't mind doing that. Somehow I think the Dilpoma will be a little more complicated though.

Will have to sus out tafe and see what it's all about, hopefully I can do it at night.

Have you ever thought of working in the aviation industry? Try some of the places in Port Melbourne, HdH or ASTA.

Get your welding certified for off shore or overseas, as well get pressure welding and x-ray graded, make sure that your tickets cover all materials Steel to alum / tig, mig, ark, and plastic welding.
You could all so do a demolition/salvage course if you want to travel; I don’t know how it is done now days. It does involve Engineering Deg.

Do the Tafe course for CAD, it’s a starter then go on from there

EX bolermaker retired, broke my back

Originally Posted by Com_VC

Yeah that Diploma in Mechanical Engineering would be good, not sure how I would go with the Maths though, back when I was at school I could never get myself interested in it, at the time I thought it had no relative meaning.

Though if I am using it for something that interests me then I may be able to get my head around it.

We did a bit of it at tafe when I was doing my apprentiship, mainly basic maths for marking out cones and lobster backs etc, I didn't mind doing that. Somehow I think the Dilpoma will be a little more complicated though.

Will have to sus out tafe and see what it's all about, hopefully I can do it at night.

If you find that, for what ever reason, you can't do the Dip with Tafe Vic, and you still want to do it, the Dept I work in here at NewcastleTafe offer it remotely. If you want more info let me know.

bollie7

Thanks for the advice,

I'll try contacting some of the tafes to see what is available.

bollie7: By remotely, what do you mean by that? More info would be good.

Thanks

I think the term you would understand is correspondance

What sort of experience do you have already Com VC?
You might be able to get a start operating a profile-cutter, laser, or waterjet.
It's mainly 2D, but probably a good place to start before you tackle a cnc mill.

Be wary of Tafe courses that lead to nowhere or have no recognition in industry.
If you know what work you'd like to do, then go to business's that offer those services and ask what training they'd expect you to have before they'd give you a start.

Most training still occurs on the job.
Remember it's usually the worst tradesmen that become trainers and the worst trainers that train the trainers! ...especially in the mining industry!!

Best of luck mate!

...can't blame you for wanting to get that bucket off your head

Well I finished my apprentiship about 12 months ago now, so about 5 years experience as a boilermaker.

Before that I did a 2 year Diploma in IT, so pretty good getting my way around a computer, just no real interest in them anymore. Though I do want to learn CAD and intested in the CNC hardware and software side of it.

The more I think about it, I actually think Mech Engineering would be perfect for me as it covers pretty much everything i'm interested in.

Originally Posted by Com_VC

Thanks for the advice,

I'll try contacting some of the tafes to see what is available.

bollie7: By remotely, what do you mean by that? More info would be good.

Thanks

As Pipeclay has said its basically by correspondance. We have students all over the country. A lot are doing NDT but we also have others doing the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Mech Eng.

You can contact our remote student co-ordinator if you want more details

[email protected]

regards
bollie7

Thanks, now just need to get around to making some calls.