Alumni Story: Jake – From the SFX Trade Centre to Top of the Class

Class of 2025 graduate Jake McKinnon planned his path to a trade before he even started Year 7. Less than a year after finishing Year 12, he has been named Most Outstanding Cert III Student – Stage 2.

A plan that started in Year 6

Some students take years to work out what they want to do after school. Jake knew before he had even walked through the gates as a Year 7 student.

Today he is a third-year plumbing apprentice working on large civil construction projects across the region. He holds licences to operate most of the heavy machinery on site. And this year, in a convention room filled with hundreds of people, he was named Most Outstanding Cert III Student.

Choosing SFX for the Trade Centre

Jake's story begins at an SFX Open Day when he was in Year 6. He was already interested in building and excavation, and the College's Trade Centre caught his eye straight away.

While he was there, he learned that SFX students can begin an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASBA) in Year 11. Jake did the maths. If he started in Year 11, he would finish Year 12 with two years of his apprenticeship already done.

He went home and told his parents he wanted to go to SFX. Five years later, he followed the plan exactly. Jake graduated in 2025 and walked straight into the third year of his apprenticeship.

Three days at school, one at CIT, one on the job

In Years 11 and 12, Jake's week looked different from most of his classmates'. He spent three days at school, one day at CIT studying his Certificate III, and one day with his employer. He also worked weekends.

For Jake, the mix suited him well. "I really liked having only three days of school," he says. "I felt well supported by the school, CIT and my employer."

Was there ever a moment of doubt? Not really. "From the start of my apprenticeship, I was determined to make it work."

Jake credits his pastoral teacher, Mr Christopher Webster, for always being in his corner. He says the SFX Careers team also made a real difference, helping him line up work experience and set up his ASBA.

Truth and Courage on the worksite

The SFX motto, Truth and Courage, is more than words for Jake. He has lived it on the job.

Early in his working life, Jake made a mistake on a task. Rather than hope nobody noticed, he went straight to his boss and owned up. "It took courage to confront the boss with the issue," he says.

That honesty paid off. His employer was grateful he had spoken up, and showed him how to fix the problem before it grew into something bigger. On a construction site, that kind of truth-telling protects the job, the team and the client.

From student to tradie

The biggest shock after Year 12? The alarm clock. "Starting work at 7am every morning was hard at first," Jake admits. "But once I got into a routine, it was pretty easy."

Jake began his apprenticeship in irrigation plumbing. He soon discovered how many directions a plumbing career can take. He has since moved to a new employer and now works on much larger civil projects, combining plumbing and drainage with heavy machinery work.

He loves it. "I like working with like-minded people, and I love operating large machinery while working on civil projects," he says. "It's pretty cool to be in amongst it all."

One of his proudest milestones has been earning his machinery licences. He can now operate most of the machinery on site, on top of his plumbing and drainage work.

Top of the class

Jake is honest that school wasn't always easy for him. "Schooling was pretty challenging for me," he says. "But going to CIT and learning about my trade is something I really enjoy."

That enjoyment turned into results. Jake rose to the top of his class, was named a finalist for Most Outstanding Cert III Student – Stage 2, and then took out the award.

His first worry wasn't whether he'd win. It was what he'd say if he did. "The convention room had hundreds of people in it, and everyone was focused on me," he remembers. When the moment had passed, the first person he shared it with was his dad, sending him a photo straight away.

What set him apart? Jake points to his attention to detail in practical tasks, which he says made the theory easy to understand. Behind that sat three things: hard work, determination, and knowing how to think outside the square. He also thanks his CIT teachers for their support.

Jake's advice: try it before you sign up

For any SFX student wondering whether a school-based apprenticeship or a trade is the "right" path, Jake's advice is practical. "Start with work experience and ask lots of questions during your time with the employer."

That's exactly what he did. Before signing his apprenticeship papers, Jake worked for his employer as a casual labourer during school holidays and on some weekends. It gave him a real taste of the industry and the confidence that it was the right fit.

What's next

Jake's next goal is to complete his apprenticeship and earn his plumber's licence. Beyond that, he is aiming high.

His current boss is a civil engineer who is teaching him aspects of engineering, and Jake wants to branch into civil engineering himself. In the longer term, he hopes to run his own business and contract on major civil projects.

From a Year 6 student at an Open Day to an award-winning apprentice, Jake shows what's possible when a clear goal meets the right support. We can't wait to see where he goes next.