Tradie on track: Award-winning apprentice builds confidence in his craft

Tradie on track: Award-winning apprentice builds confidence in his craft

Jett Guningham was keen to get straight into work after completing Year 12.

So keen, in fact, that he celebrated his graduation on a Saturday night and started work full-time the following Monday.

It was a seamless transition for the Mount Isa local, who had already begun a school-based heavy diesel fitting apprenticeship with MRAEL and Sandvik Mining during his final year of school.

Now 21 and in the fourth year of his apprenticeship, Jett spends his days working on the rebuild and maintenance of underground mining equipment. It’s a career that grew from an early interest in cars and all things mechanical, followed by work experience while he was still at school.

“I’d heard about school-based apprenticeships and how beneficial they could be for your future, and it was something I was quite interested in,” Jett said. “I just didn’t really know specifically what I wanted to do. Once I had the opportunity to do some work experience, I really enjoyed it and knew it was something I wanted to pursue.”

Jett admits he was hard on himself early in his apprenticeship and sometimes questioned whether he was progressing quickly enough.

“At the start, I had a lot of self-confidence issues. I was always thinking I wasn’t doing well enough or that I was never going to make it,” Jett said. “I’ve since learnt to take it one day at a time. You’re going to make mistakes and have a hard time sometimes, but you always seem to get through. I think I’ve learnt that it’s okay not to know everything. As long as I just keep working, learning, listening and doing my best.”

That approach has paid off. Jett was recently named TAFE Queensland Mount Isa’s Diesel Fitter Apprentice of the Year for Trade Excellence, an achievement he described as both humbling and a reminder of how far he had come.

“It was a bit surreal, to be honest,” he said. “I was super grateful and very humbled to receive the award. It really solidified for me what it means to work hard and do well at work. It was really awesome for my career too, having all the hard work I’ve put in recognised like that.”

Throughout Jett’s journey from school student to fourth-year apprentice, MRAEL has remained by his side. Regular check-ins have provided continuity throughout his apprenticeship.

“They’re really supportive. Anytime I’ve had a question or an inquiry about something, I’ve leaned on them and they’ve helped me out straight away,” Jett said. “It’s been really good feeling supported by the company that’s managing you.”

Jett also credits the people around him at Sandvik Mining with helping him develop his skills and encouraging him to keep learning.

“Everyone’s supportive and helpful and keen to show you things if you’re keen to learn,” he said. “A lot of the tradies I’ve worked with along the way have taught me things that I still use now. I’m really grateful for those opportunities.”

For Jett, that willingness to learn has become one of the most important lessons of his apprenticeship.

“For me, one of the most important things has been learning to be humble, to listen to people who have something to share and take it on board,” he said. “Don’t get to the point where you think you know enough. Just continuously be teachable and keen to learn.”

Jett plans to remain in Mount Isa after completing his apprenticeship – in the community where he grew up and is now building a future with his wife.

“I love Mount Isa. I grew up here and I’m here with my wife, and we’re building a future here,” he said. “It’s a really tight-knit little community and I really like it here.”

As he approaches the final stretch of his apprenticeship, Jett’s looking forward to becoming qualified and seeing where his trade can take him.

“It’s going to be awesome. I’m very keen to start the next step in my career, keep building and learning and just enjoying it,” he said. “It’s quite a big industry and there are lots of different pathways you can take. It’ll be really cool to become qualified and then keep learning more. I can’t wait.”