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Some people are born with an artistic or musical mind, while others are born with an uncanny ability to understand mechanics. These people are often drawn towards the trade pathway, where they can use their passion for moving parts to restore something old or create something new. 

This is the case for Zaren Duca, a recent Blue Dog graduate and now qualified tradesman. Zaren completed his Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical) after several years of working within the industry. He said the trade matched his interests perfectly.

“It’s the trade that I’m more suited to. I like tinkering and mucking around at home and pulling things apart,” he said.

“I’ve just had my shed built six months ago. I’ve put a big mezzanine floor in and made all my work benches. That’s what I like doing. And people will walk in there and say, ‘This is pretty cool’.”

While Zaren was happy with his work before starting his apprenticeship, he always kept the door open to becoming a qualified tradie.

“I really wanted to get this apprenticeship done. It was one of my goals that I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ve never had an opportunity to do it. I was always working, so it didn’t bother me too much. But to have that under my belt was a big thing for me.”

Moving forward, Zaren says he’s happy to continue in his current position, as the trade allows him to gain skills in a number of areas.

“Our work varies from week to week. You get exposed to a lot of different stuff; it’s not always the same thing. You want to be able to be versatile, I enjoy it.”

Outside of work, Zaren and his partner drive down the road to Hay Point in North Queensland whenever they can to do a bit of crabbing or fishing. 

“We both enjoy it, so that’s a bonus. That’s a big part of our life.”