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Carpentry students’ deck out local hero’s home
Thirty-four TAFE Queensland international carpentry students swapped their Ashmore campus classroom for a real-world construction site, teaming up with Carpentry Australia to help a local hero in need.
The project? A home renovation for Matt Scott, a man known for his selflessness and years of giving back - including volunteering as Santa at the Gold Coast Hospital, spreading joy to sick children.
TAFE Queensland carpentry teacher, Sam Ford, said real-world projects like this not only make a positive impact on the community but are crucial for developing the students’ skills.
“The trade changes constantly, and hands-on projects like this expose students to the latest techniques while teaching them to make decisions and solve problems on the spot,” said Sam.
“When we heard about this man and all he’d done for the community, we saw it as a great chance to give back while teaching the students what it’s like to work on a real construction site,” he said.
For Nikolas Kuhnis, a 36-year-old Swiss student, the project was a holistic learning experience
“It was amazing to work alongside experienced carpenters and members of Carpentry Australia. It wasn’t just about helping someone—it was about learning new skills and solving real-life challenges that you can’t replicate in a classroom,” he said.
The students were tasked with building a deck around a pool, a significant feature of the renovation. Under their teachers’ guidance, they quickly adapted to the job and delivered a result they could be proud of.
“We arrived on-site without knowing the specifics of the job but quickly adapted and everyone was super motivated,” said Nikolas.
“It felt great to put all our effort into something meaningful.”
Fellow Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220) classmate, Ravi Nadan from Fiji agreed, noting how the hands-on experience helped prepare them for the unpredictable nature of real-world projects.
“These experiences give us exposure to things like weather, working outside, and meeting different people in the industry, said Ravi.
“It was great because we all got to pitch in our ideas on the best way to fix a problem and worked together as a team to solve it.”
Beyond gaining construction site skills, the project also opened doors for networking.
“We exchanged information with experienced carpenters, and some of us may even land jobs through connections we made during this project,” Ravi added.
The project gained national attention as it was featured on Channel 7’s Sunrise as part of Carpentry Australia’s Helping Hand Day. This initiative celebrates unsung heroes across the country, showcasing the spirit of community and craftsmanship.