National Timber and Hardware Association (NTHA) apprentice Declan Williamson has shown a commitment and dedication beyond his years while completing his qualification at Masswood, a well-known timber manufacturer in New South Wales.
Declan’s positive attitude and admirable work ethic recently paid off after being awarded the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at the 2024 NTHA Victorian and Tasmanian Timber and Hardware Industry Awards late last year.
Being awarded ‘Apprentice of the Year’ was surreal for Declan, particularly after he told his colleagues how amazing it would be to win and be recognised by the industry.
“I am so proud that my efforts were recognised in such a meaningful way…I just made sure that I consistently pushed myself to go above and beyond during my apprenticeship, whether this meant learning new skills, solving problems, or demonstrating a strong work ethic. I wanted to improve all the time. It is so good to know that my bosses and colleagues recognised my genuine enthusiasm for the industry and my determination to succeed,” he said.
Declan’s passion for the timber industry began with a love for woodwork at school. After working at Woolworths for some time, Declan wanted to find career opportunities in the timber industry and discovered his apprenticeship on Seek.
“I loved doing woodwork as a subject in high school, especially the practical side of bringing an idea or drawing to life. Just before I applied for the apprenticeship, I was missing woodwork, so I tried to find out where I could do it as a hobby. I was not enjoying working where I was and saw an advertisement on Seek for a NTHA apprenticeship which I applied for straight away.”
“NTHA made the process easy because they helped me find an employer. Interviews started with the NTHA to see if I was compatible with any of their hosts who were seeking an apprentice. I then had an interview with Masswood, I instantly knew straight this the right place for me because I was so intrigued by the work they did. The process was a breeze because the NTHA organised everything,” he said.
Like any new job, starting an apprenticeship had its challenges, but Declan said he got to know everyone and began understanding the processes after a few short weeks.
“It was not long before I loved what I was doing. Working in a family business was so good because I felt like I was a part of the family. Throughout the apprenticeship, I learned how important it is to work as a team and problem-solve together, especially within this timber industry.”
“The NTHA helped me whenever I needed assistance and guided me all the way until I finished my apprenticeship. At the start my field officer Michael made sure everything was going well and that I was happy with where I was working. They were always available throughout my apprenticeship. The theory work was easy to follow, and I could ask for help from my teacher whenever I needed it.”
“What I liked most was that no two days were the same, and I learned something new about the timber and construction industry every day. It is so good to look back and see all the skills that I have built up over time and see how much I have grown since the start of the apprenticeship. I have learned so much, but still have so much to learn as well.”
Looking to the future, Declan hopes to give back to those that have helped him kickstart his career by eventually taking on a management role at Masswood and assisting new apprentices with the NTHA program:
“In the future I would love to help younger people who are in a similar position to what I was and be a mentor to them by guiding them through their apprenticeships and help them also build a career in the timber and construction industry,” Declan said.
- The National Timber & Hardware Association represents more than 700 members across Australia from the timber, hardware, and building materials industries. To learn more about their trainee and apprenticeship program, visit the NTHA website.
