By Jo Kubeil and Ava Schwebach
Max Chetcuti is a local student undertaking work experience at the Puckapunyal Military Area base, near Seymour.
The Year 11 student plays basketball in his spare time and said it’s important to him to plan for the future, and building houses for an income is his career path.
Max is in his second year of studying for the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) with a Vocational Major (VM) in Building and Construction at Seymour Secondary College.
Careers, Pathways, and Vocational Educational Training (VET) Coordinator Felicity Wilmot helped Max find his first work experience placement at the army base with contractor Venita.
Venita is responsible for the repairs and infrastructure of the army base, and they employ around 270 staff to provide essential services to the community.
Venita Coordinator Peter Murphy said they collaborate with four schools in the Mitchell Shire to provide young people with an opportunity to explore their employment pathways, and Seymour Secondary College is one of them.
“We’ve been doing this partnership for roughly around nine years now, and we try incorporating all the schools in the local area to come in and work with us to further their careers,” he said.
“My actual position is to look after the infrastructure and all the facilities, the infrastructure underground, the panel, and gas supply.”
Max is four weeks into his work experience, and said it involves a lot of maintenance work.
“We mainly do maintenance and fixing up stuff, anything broken,” he said.
“Like fixing potholes, locks on doors, putting up shelving, and painting benches. I can ask to help with plumbing or electrical stuff. I can go off with one of their contractors to learn about other things too.”
Max is also attending GOTAFE in Seymour where he is acquiring skills specific to the building and construction industry, and is on track to finish this year.
Max hopes to get into the workforce with a local builder and get on the tools, and eventually own his own business.
The Review would like to wish Max all the best with his future endeavours.
