When Michael Selgelid decided to retire from his job as a university professor, he wasn’t planning or expecting to become an apprentice cabinet maker.

Earlier in life, Michael completed a degree in Biomedical Engineering and a PhD in Philosophy in America, where he is originally from. He then had a successful twenty-year career in teaching and research at universities in South Africa and Australia. He even served as an advisor to the World Health Organization and numerous other governmental and non-governmental organisations. 

"My teaching and research mainly focused on Bioethics," says Michael. "While at Monash, where I was based from 2011 until 2021, I was promoted to full Professor and also spent eight years as Director of the Monash Bioethics Centre."

Michael retired from Monash in 2021, planning to dedicate his time to surfing. Soon afterwards, however, he unexpectedly became involved in a serious relationship – and then his partner became pregnant.

“With my first baby on the way, I thought I’d better start working again,” says Michael, "and I decided to do something entirely different and start a whole new career."

The idea of cabinet making was especially appealing to him.

"I wasn't sure if there would be a pathway for someone at my stage of life to become a qualified cabinet maker, so I was delighted when I learned about the mature-age apprenticeship program," he says.

At age fifty-eight, Michael is now employed as an apprentice at Aloha Joinery in Rosebud, Mornington Peninsula. Now in his second year of a Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology (MSF30322 Apprenticeship) at Chisholm, Michael is going from strength to strength.

"Cabinet making involves a surprisingly wide range of tools and skills. I am impressed by how much there is to learn," Micheal says.

He attributes much of his success to mentors he has come to admire during his apprenticeship.

"My main mentors include my boss, Paul Seeley, and my instructor at Chisholm, Phillip Porter. It would be hard to overestimate how much one benefits from having experts like these sharing what they have learned from so many years of experience."

Michael loves the new career he's carving out for himself. The job has him constantly doing new things. He says the sky is the limit for future learning and skill development, and being continuously challenged keeps things interesting and stimulating.

Michael jokes that he's given up on trying to predict his future, but he will consider eventually starting his own business or simply continuing to work as an employee in this trade he enjoys so much.

One piece of advice Michael gives to anyone looking to start a cabinet making apprenticeship is to pro-actively seek out employment.

"My job wasn't advertised, and there weren't many advertised openings for apprentice cabinet makers near me. I found my job by poking my head in the door at a company where I was keen to work and asking if they were interested in taking on a new apprentice."

Learn more about our Cabinet making and Timber technology courses at https://www.chisholm.edu.au/building