Caspar Wolski

Age: 20
Occupation: Plasterer

Caspar attended Launceston College and enrolled in the VET in Schools 'Building and Construction' course offered in Grades 11 and 12. The VET course comprised a college-based component and vocational placements in building and construction workplaces.

"I enjoyed the VET program. The school work we did at college was designed around the practical skills and knowledge people in the building and construction industry need and the work experience sessions were great.

"During my two years in the VET course I spent placements of a couple of weeks at a time with a builder, a plasterer and a painter.

"These placements gave me an overall view of the industry but perhaps more importantly they gave me a taste of the various building trades and helped me make up my mind about what I might like to do in the future."

The VET course was also responsible for getting Caspar his apprenticeship with Allens Plaster Products Pty Ltd in Launceston.

"Allens wanted to take on an apprentice plasterer. They contacted people in the Tasmanian Building Group Apprenticeship Scheme who in turn talked to the VET teacher at Launceston College. I was then contacted and offered the job. I began my apprenticeship in 2001."

Caspar, what it like being an apprentice plasterer?

"Its good. It's a mobile job. We travel around quite a bit doing different sorts of jobs in different places. We get to meet all sorts of people and get to do some interesting projects.

"We do a lot of commercial work. We go into newly constructed or renovated buildings and do the plaster walls and ceiling. While some of this work involves putting up plaster sheeting on timber framed walls, much of our work now involves working with metal studs, constructing suspended ceilings and putting in grid tiles."

Caspar plans to travel after completing his apprenticeship.

"Once I finish my apprenticeship I plan to travel around Australia. The really good thing about having done an apprenticeship is that wherever I go I will be recognized as a qualified tradesman."