Interview with Joshua Winter – winner of the 2023 Apprentice of the Year at the 2023 Apprentice Employment Network Awards

Joshua Winter, hosted by Thales Australia – Lithgow Arms, completed his Certificate IV Engineering – Mechanical Trade Apprenticeship through Skillset in January 2023 and was recently the winner of the 2023 Apprentice of the Year at the Apprentice Employment Network Awards for NSW & ACT. Joshua commenced his apprenticeship in 2019 and since this time has also achieved:

• The Most Outstanding Achievement Award in Fitting and Machining at the TAFE Skills Centre Awards in 2019
• The Bert Evans Scholarship in 2019 which assisted Joshua with financial support throughout his apprenticeship
• The Thales Apprentice of the Year in the second year of his apprenticeship in 2020 – an award usually reserved for fourth stage apprentices
• The Gordon Hawkes Apprentice of the Year Award from Skillset in 2022
• Being named as a finalist in the Apprentice of the Year for the NSW Training Awards – Western Region in 2023.

Joshua has successfully completed his apprenticeship and is now working full time with Thales Australia. Skillset spoke to Joshua about his career journey so far, what inspired him to follow his career path and his future plans.

Q: You were 17 years old and living in Melbourne when you decided to take up the Mechanical Trade Apprenticeship with Skillset hosted by Thales Australia – Lithgow Arms. You left your family and friends to take up the opportunity. What was the most challenging aspect of this and how did you overcome it?

Joshua: Initially it was quite lonely. I brought my dog, Sasha with me for company. It was just the two of us at the beginning. To meet more people and make new friends, I joined a local church in Lithgow. The people I met welcomed me and one family practically adopted me. These people really helped me with my journey. I would not have lasted without them!

Q: You chose to take up your apprenticeship with Thales Australia – Lithgow Arms, which has a long history as a manufacturer and supplier of small arms for Australian soldiers in battlefields around the world. Did you always have an interest in this field?

Joshua: I have always had an interest in the design and manufacturing of defence tools and equipment. This stems from my interest in military history which was sparked by my grandfather – he was a Warrant Officer Class One in the Australian Army and served for more than 30 years.

When I was offered the apprenticeship with Thales, it was a dream come true. Lithgow Arms is one of the few places in Australia that manufactures firearms. I couldn’t say no to the opportunity.

Q: Did you ever consider any other careers?

Joshua: Yes, I also considered being an infantryman or armaments fitter in the Australian Army, as well as a fighter pilot in the air force.

Q: What do you like most amount engineering/small arms design and manufacturing?

Joshua: I have grown to enjoy the problem-solving aspects of the trade. I like the challenge of being supplied a drawing and having to figure out the best way to make it, including working out what tools I need, if I need to make any tools and how the part is going to be held in the machine tool. I also enjoy the computer numerical control (CNC) programming aspects of the trade.

Q: You have been very successful with your studies and have received a number of awards. What has been the biggest highlight of your apprenticeship and career journey so far?

Joshua: It has been a great honour to be nominated for, and to receive these awards. Some of the biggest highlights so far have been some of the more complex/accurate parts I have made whilst undertaking my job, and some of the trips I been on around the country.

Q: Now that you have finished your apprenticeship and are working full time, what are your plans for the future?

Joshua: I see myself always working in the manufacturing industry. I am currently adding to my skills by undertaking a Certificate III in Toolmaking.

Q: What words of advice would you give to other young people who may be considering a specific trade or career journey but are worried about taking it up as it could mean having to relocate and leave family and friends?

Joshua: If you are really passionate about a trade, just go for it! You will make new friends and meet new people along the way!