Mr Bennett grew up in the eastern states and, on leaving high school, found an economic climate quite different to today with high unemployment in his home town of Maffra.

He signed up for an apprenticeship on offer at the nearby State Electricity Commission.

Now a qualified boilermaker, life in the west is proving good for Mr Bennett.

One thing that hasn’t been difficult is finding employment.

Australia faces regional and national skill shortages and students should take these things into consideration when planning future entry into the workforce.

The prediction given by the Australian Gov-ernment job outlook is that 77,500 boilermakers currently working across all industries will rise moderately over the next 10 years after a strong increase in the past five years.

Boilermakers are afforded great opportunities for travel and, once qualified, are in high demand and afforded the luxury of choosing where to work.

The manufacturing industry is the largest employer of boilermakers and welders nationally, accounting for 65 per cent.

Women are still grossly under represented in this trade with 96.9 per cent of full-time boilermakers and welders being male.

Mr Bennett said the opportunities to travel with his career was rewarding. He sited job security and good pay as other assets.

A typical work day for Mr Bennett can be bending, welding, shaping metal to fabricate or repair earthmoving or mining equipment. This work can take place either on site or in the workshop.

Regional industry career adviser, Susan Madgwick, said boilermaking provided a solid career choice.

“Anybody considering a transition into a trade career should give boilermaking serious consideration, it offers diversity, good opportunities for career advancement and the chance to work anywhere in Australia or the world,” she said

“Boilermakers and welders have a very high proportion of full-time jobs, some 97 per cent. With this in mind anybody looking to pursue a metals career could feel confident that ongoing full-time work will be available well into the future.”