Roll the dice on a trade

By Kath Gannaway
Mr Wilson, a chef at Chateau Yering, won Apprentice of the Year at the Australian Training Awards in Brisbane.
The Australian Training Awards cover all apprentice-based industries and are the peak awards recognising excellence across the various categories and industries.
Mr Wilson, at 38, is a late starter as an apprentice after making the career change three years ago.
He said he had always done things he was passionate about and had no trouble finding someone who was happy to take him on as an apprentice.
He knocked on doors and did the unpaid trials to show what he could do and hasn’t looked back.
“With the right work ethic, and the right attitude, I believe that will get you the job every time,” he said.
“A lot of people say you can teach skills, but you can’t teach attitude … show a bit of attitude and there are plenty of apprenticeships available.”
Mr Wilson’s attitude has taken him a long way; and he’s only this year finished his apprenticeship.
He has worked with culinary masters Gordon Ramsay and Neil Perry and won a prize which saw him working with Michelin Star chef Thierry Marx in France.
Along the way he has won a swag of awards within the food industry.
It hasn’t all been milk and honey however. Mr Wilson said taking on an apprenticeship meant financial sacrifices, but added “it was definitely worth it”.
“I love what I do and am back on top financially,” he said, adding this advice for anyone thinking of a change of career.
“Plan ahead and make sure you’re not going to fall in a hole in the early part of the apprenticeship and speak to someone to find out what sort of incentives are available.”