Born and raised in Chinchilla, Tom Watson always preferred working outside and with his hands.
“I was more of a physical learner,” said Tom, who now works as the Trade Maintainer – Mechanical at Kogan Creek Power Station.
“That led me to completing a Certificate II in Engineering when I was in high school, and I loved it.
“Towards the end of this certificate, I was close to graduating high school and had to think about what kind of career path I wanted to go down.
“A Fitter and Turner apprenticeship at CS Energy popped up and when I looked into it, I saw I’d get to continue from my Certificate II and complete a Certificate III in Engineering while working at a coal-fired power station, which I thought would be a great experience – so I applied.”
You never stop learning
Tom started his apprenticeship in 2021 and has learned a lot since then.
“There are a lot of experienced tradesmen at Kogan Creek Power Station,” he said.
“Being an apprentice, I got to work alongside them while also learning the tricks of the trade, and gaining an understanding of how a power station works – from working on the coal supply and the process it goes through to get to the station, to how steam is created and used in the turbine, and then to how the ash is collected and taken away from the station.
“Doing an apprenticeship was a really good idea because it offered a practical, hands-on experience to gaining skills, while allowing me to earn while I learned and built valuable industry experience and connections.”
Tom finished his apprenticeship in February 2025 and accepted a full-time Mechanical Fitter position at Kogan Creek Power Station.
“The big difference between being an apprentice and an employee is that graduation from learning the trade through tradesmen and going to TAFE to complete the formal side of the training, and now applying that learning on the job,” he said.
“I’ve spent four years learning; now I have to use that knowledge and expand on it through future work, and I also think about how I can pass this information on to new employees and apprentices within the business.
“It’s been a good transition, though I did have to remind myself at first that I’m not an apprentice anymore.”
Stepping up into a mentorship role
This will be easier to remember now, as Tom has stepped up to be a mentor to the next intake of apprentices at the power station.
Tom (left) took part in the 2024 Worldskills event with fellow CS Energy apprentices.
“I’ve always looked out for others within the teams, so it’s a role that comes naturally to me,” Tom said.
“Also, I’m still fresh out of my own apprenticeship, so I know what it’s like to be an apprentice and can relate to certain tasks and help them through it – like explaining any TAFE issues the come across, or any on-the-job questions.”
Some important advice Tom has for apprentices is to take your time to learn, and don’t stop asking questions.
“The more questions you ask the tradesmen, the more you learn about the people that work within the business and the plant itself,” he said.
“Everyone at Kogan Creek Power Station is very helpful and motivating.
“I highly recommend starting an apprenticeship because it puts your foot in the door for your future career, and you get to earn and learn at the same time.”