Ali chooses hands-on career

Chisholm offers an extensive range of trade courses, from certificate II (pre-apprenticeships) and certificate III apprenticeships, to certificate IVs, diplomas and advanced diplomas. Ali Sina Rezai plans to do a few.

Ali Sina Rezai knows the importance of not putting all your eggs into one basket.

He hopes to one day become a project manager in the construction industry, but he understands it’s a journey to get there.

Ali Sina plans to do a dual trade qualification in building and construction, as well as plumbing, so that he can keep his options open.

“I want to do multiple trades and get a number of certificates so that it’s easier for me to get a job,” he says.

“I’d eventually like to become a project manager in the construction industry.”

Originally from Afghanistan, Ali Sina has always been practically minded.

His dad is a tiler and that practical prowess appears to run in the family.

“I like doing stuff with my hands and getting stuff done quickly, instead of just sitting down,” says Ali Sina. “I don’t like being bored.”

When Ali Sina attended a careers day at Hampton Park Secondary College and heard about Chisholm’s Certificate II in Building and Construction (Carpentry) pre-apprenticeship, he was immediately interested.

This course explains the basics of building and construction, with a focus on carpentry.

Students learn practical skills in areas such as building structures, calculations, setting out, safe use of carpentry skills, levelling, concreting formwork, external cladding, interior fixings, demolition and much more.

Upon completion, there’s the option to follow on with a Certificate III in Carpentry apprenticeship, or potentially on to the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building).

At the time of writing this article, Ali Sina was in his second year of completing the Certificate II in Building and Construction as part of his VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) studies.

He spends one day a week at TAFE from 8am to 4.30pm, and four days at school.

Ali Sina was enjoying the course and says he feels like it has set him up for his future career goals.

“I really like the practical part where we make stuff,” he says.

“Every week there’s something different and we get to use different materials and tools.”

Ali Sina says his teachers have been supportive and he enjoys learning about their industry knowledge and experience.

Ali Sina’s advice to others considering doing a pre-apprenticeship was to follow your heart.

“Do what you love instead of having someone tell you what to do or following someone else’s idea,” he says.

When Ali Sina is not studying, he works a part-time job at Woolworths to help his family out financially.

He is also a keen soccer player and plays competitively with Casey Panthers Seniors.

Ali Sina loves going to the gym and has helped out coaching soccer voluntarily at school from time to time.

In 2023, he was nominated as Secondary Student of the Year at the Chisholm Education Awards – an outstanding achievement.