Opportunities After Fitting and Turning Apprenticeships

Past MIGAS Australian Apprentice Nathan Dalzell completed his Fitting and Turning Apprenticeship in 2010 with Caltex Refinery in Brisbane, and used his qualification to work in a number of rewarding opportunities.

Nathan Dalzell started his Fitting and Turning Australian Apprenticeship with MIGAS in 2006 working at Caltex Refinery. Once he’d completed his apprenticeship, he stayed on at Caltex working as a qualified Fitter and Turner tradesman for about a year.

Nathan travelled overseas after finishing his time with Caltex, spending six months in Canada before returning home to Australia. Nathan took up work in Western Australia with the motivation to earn money and gain construction experience. He joined John Holland in WA, working on a construction project involving an alumina refinery expansion.

After returning from yet another six month trip overseas, Nathan went to work for Monadelphous in Port Hedland on the BHP port expansion. This job involved the installation of conveyors and transfer stations; yet again offering more variety of experience and skill in his trade.

Nathan decided to return home to Queensland after having such a long time away. He went to work at Condabrie Central on the Australia Pacific LNG project with Laing O’Rourke, installing compressors. He then gained the opportunity to work with Thiess to build a Field Compressor Station called Harry Broadwater, and also worked on the Ruby Jo Central Processing Plant. 

Recently, Nathan moved into a commissioning role with Kentz on the QGC project. In this job, Nathan moves around the sites working on the Bellevue and Jordan Central Processing Plants and also Kenya East Field Compressor Station.

"The best thing about a trade is having a qualification I can always fall back on. No matter what I decide to do later in life I will always have it," Nathan says.

"There is a good amount of work and a variety of work available.”

Nathan notes that his favourite place to work would be Caltex again.

“There was a great variety of work, with very knowledgeable and experienced tradesmen to learn from,” he says.

“I am now doing commissioning which I am also enjoying because I am learning and gaining experience in a yet another new area of the construction process.”

Are you interested in a rewarding career with variety like Nathan?

Check out current Apprenticeships available now >

Read up on Fitting and Turning Apprenticeships information >