Six months of intensive training at the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) has taken Fijian Osea Qaluma a step closer to an electrical trade career and a Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA) wireman’s license.

Not knowing how to use a computer and having little knowledge in electrical trade theory were big challenges for the 43 year old when he started at APTC.

“When we started the Certificate III in electrical this year in Fiji, we introduced some of the theory lessons to be delivered on the computer,” explained Joel Rooskov, APTC’s Electrical Trade Trainer.

“Osea could not even use a computer mouse but by his second block he had bought himself a computer and set up his email address. In the first training block Osea was learning at an average pace and he registered average scores. However in this second block of training, Osea is now scoring 100% in all assessments and he is often the first person to complete assessment tasks.”

Osea attributes his positive change to study to Joel, his tutor Aman Chand, fellow students and his family.

“I was very excited when I first touched a computer,” said Osea.

“My trainers are very good, they teach me very well. I am able to ask them questions and they are always helpful. Other students, my daughters and my other relatives have also been a big help. They taught me how to use a computer. Joel and Aman gave me text books to study and they guided me a lot. This is how I have been able to learn.”

Osea enrolled with APTC when he saw his friends progressing in their fields after studying at the College.

 “I had studied automotive and electrical trade at other institutions but I wanted to learn more about electrical trade,” he said.

“I met some of my friends who had worked in Samoa after completing courses at APTC and after hearing their success stories, I knew I had to study at APTC. After learning so much in just six months, I want to tell other people that they should also enrol at APTC as it is a good place to learn.”

Osea is currently a private contractor with an electrical company. He also worked on the Kinoya power station project during his first industry attachment at Water Authority of Fiji.

Upon completing his studies, he plans to open an electrical business.

According to Joel, less than 20% of electrical tradespersons have the wireman’s license issued by the Fiji Electricity Authority.

“When Osea completes his training with APTC, he will be able to get his FEA wireman licence and start his own electrical licensing company,” he added.

Osea returns to APTC in January 2014 to complete the final training block in Certificate III in Electrical Trade.