From trench digger to trainer

Irrigation Australia Senior Trainer and Assessor Stuart Alexander loves training and mentoring the next generation to lay the foundations of their careers in the irrigation industry.

Stuart brings 27 years’ experience to his role having started out in the trenches as a landscaper and irrigation contractor working across private and commercial projects.

Stuart, who is based in Brisbane and delivers training from regional Queensland to regional Western Australia, has been a trainer at Irrigation Australia for about five years now where he mainly delivers AHC32424 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology.

“Training allows me to give back to an industry that has welcomed me and provided opportunities I didn’t see when I first started out digging trenches and laying pipe,” Stuart said.

“The manual side of irrigation can be physically demanding and over time I’ve come to appreciate the importance of creating sustainable, long-term career pathways within the irrigation industry.

“No two weeks are the same and I learn from my students as much as I teach them and that ongoing exchange helps me stay connected to current industry practices.”

Stuart said the irrigation industry offers a diverse range of career opportunities from residential systems through to golf courses, regional towns, open channel systems and large-scale irrigation projects.

“With the current skills shortage, training matters now more than ever before and I’d encourage others to become a vocational education and training teacher as well.

“As teachers, we have a really important role to play and I believe strongly that alternative training approaches, including micro-credentials and Recognition of Prior Learning, can create more flexible and meaningful pathways.

“Training students to a nationally recognised qualification provides them with skills that are transferable across the country and recognised alongside other trades.

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to support better access to training particularly in regional areas where pathways to qualifications can be limited.”

The $2 million TAFE teacher recruitment drive is an election commitment of the Queensland Government. This commitment and programs supporting teacher training and employment form part of Measures to Strengthen the VET Workforce, a joint initiative between the Australian and Queensland Governments.