A shift in career path is always an option
“if I wanted to further pursue a career in ICT and I believe it was the best choice I’ve made so far in my career pathway.”
NextGen Jobs wanted to highlight the story of Liam Dunstan, a 23-year-old Gunditjmara man, who, after deciding to shift his career path, is now completing a traineeship and is working in the job of his dreams.
NextGen Jobs wanted to highlight the story of Liam Dunstan, a 23-year-old Gunditjmara man, who, after deciding to shift his career path, is now completing a traineeship and is working in the job of his dreams.
Initially, Liam worked as a Budj Bim Ranger, a role that involved physical tasks such as field maintenance, though he has always had an interest in ICT and a desire to “learn more about what makes computers do what they do”. With this interest, Liam decided to pursue his passions and commence an IT traineeship through NextGen Jobs with the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions – Agriculture Victoria Research, based in Hamilton.
Liam made note that a traineeship with NextGen Jobs was best for his career trajectory “if I wanted to further pursue a career in ICT and I believe it was the best choice I’ve made so far in my career pathway”. With strong support from his mentor Emma, who has always made sure that Liam is “progressing through the traineeship” at a steady pace, offering help whenever it is needed, and overall playing a “vital role in making sure [his] time…as a trainee is as smooth as it can be”, Liam has not only been able to delve into the work he loves but has also made strong “connections with other people and companies” alike.
Liam urges those who are considering a traineeship to “just do it!”. He has “already learned a lot more in a short span of time than [he] ever thought [he] would…and [he’s] loving every bit of it”. With paid learning, no debt following completion, full-time work, and an opportunity to follow the career you have a genuine passion for, “doing a traineeship…[is] hard to pass up”
Liam Dunstan, Gunditjmara man, pictured here working with professional DJI drones intended for aerial photography and 3D geometric mapping of plots of land!