Chance conversation leads to career at great heights

Rigging, Dogging and High Risk all involve moving loads on Construction sites, often using specialist machines and equipment such as cranes. Due to the complexities of this work extensive training and certification is needed.

Jack Dunlop came to a Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Open Day four years ago with his parents when he was just 18. He had been fascinated by construction sites from a young age and had an interest in engineering-type careers. He flicked through a CIT Course Guide and learned about jobs in the Construction Industry including crane driving.

At the Open Day, a chance conversation with CIT's Coordinator of High-Risk Work Licence (HRWL) training, Peter Warne, led to his enrolment in a specialised course in Dogging - which is the industry term for moving loads on a construction site. Jack also secured a job as a trainee with a local crane company.

Jack completed his course at CIT and then continued his training in Basic Rigging, followed by Intermediate Rigging a few months later. A year later, he achieved his HRWL in Advanced Rigging. This training together with his work has seen Jack’s career advance to working in one of the company’s specialist tower crane erection areas, and with rigging crews working on cranes nationwide.

Jack commends the CIT trainers' instruction, enthusiasm, and helpfulness, as well as their assistance with getting into the construction industry. "I really value the skills I gained through the CIT training and the hands-on practical experience in dogging and rigging learned on the job," Jack said.

Jack's advice to others thinking of a career in the Construction Industry is to enrol in the quality training courses run by CIT and "work hard, maintain a good attitude and be willing to put in the effort when starting out in the industry".

See High risk work licences for more details about high risk courses at CIT.