Student Spotlight – Jed Coolahan
Jed Coolahan always knew he wanted to be a tradesman, but finding the right trade took some time.
"I knew I wanted to work in a trade, but I wasn’t too sure which one would be the best fit for me. I tried out a few different trades through work experience, and after spending some time in refrigeration, I knew it was the right one for me."
Variety in trade pathways
Jed is a second-year Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE3220) student at GOTAFE. Now working for John Morrow Refrigeration in Shepparton as an apprentice, Jed appreciates the variety the trade offers.
“It’s really fun knowing that each day will be different and that I’ll learn something new that will help me in the future,” he said. “Another thing I really like is that there are so many different pathways within the trade, and I’m discovering more every week.”
Student and WorldSkills competitor
Jed also acknowledged the significant role GOTAFE has played in his development. “Coming to GOTAFE is great. The practical assessments really make you think, and it all comes in handy when you go back to work.”
Recently, Jed took part in the regional round of WorldSkills, where he competed against fellow students. The day’s challenges included diagnosing a refrigeration fault, identifying an electrical fault, and building a can cooler from scratch. “It was such a cool day. Even though we weren’t in the classroom, we all learned so much, and it was really fun being able to create something from scratch.”
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