Born and raised in the Latrobe Valley, Matt Tisdale seemed destined for a career in the energy sector.
While finishing his year 12 studies, Matt started his sparky apprenticeship. He got hands-on experience on power stations, construction projects and a range of industrial jobs. From early on, it was his curiosity that set him apart.
‘I would watch everything and ask questions. That is how I learned. That was a big factor in how I got to where I am now. If I don’t know something, I will find out.’
After more than a decade of working as an electrician, Matt’s career took a new direction. Encouraged by a friend, he applied for a teaching role at TAFE Gippsland.
‘The ad kept coming up and my friend kept saying, “Apply, apply, you’ll be really good at it.” I was like, “Oh, I don’t know.” But I started, and I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would.’
That decision marked the beginning of a new chapter. After a little more than a year of teaching, Matt took on the role of Program Manager for the Electrotechnology, Instrumentation & Bio Manufacturing.
The transition was a significant adjustment, but he credits the mentoring and support that he received from his colleague Alex Terranova as the reason why managed to find his feet.
Now more than two years into the role, Matt’s focused on building not just skills, but sustainable career pathways.
‘We take an apprentice through their exams, they get their registered electrical contractor's license, they have a successful business, they employ an apprentice and they start the cycle again.
‘We want to give them a good experience from start to finish and offer them what they need to be successful. Then they keep the cycle going and they employ more and then it keeps the industry alive in the area.’
That vision is already taking shape, with more than 50 electrical apprentices starting at TAFE Gippsland this year alone.
‘We’re already on to our fifth apprentice group this year, and we’re only in term one. Last year, we had five groups total, so we’re already tracking strongly.’
On any given day, Matt is balancing curriculum development, creating learning resources and running workshops for sparkies looking to upskill. His team are also leading the development of new courses aligned with emerging industry needs.
‘We’ve just introduced the Certificate II in Split Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems. We’ve already started delivering that in our new Clean Energy Centre, and we’ve got more classes scheduled.’
Throughout his leadership role, Matt hasn’t lost the mindset that shaped his early career. The same curiosity that defined him as an apprentice still drives him today.
Matt was recently awarded a fellowship with the International Specialised Skills Institute. This will give him the opportunity to expand his expertise overseas and bring that knowledge back to TAFE Gippsland and the new Renewable Energy TAFE Centre of Excellence.
‘My plan is to go to Europe and study subsea cabling and turbine technician work. They’re leaders in the turbine sector, so I’m hoping to bring back [expertise for developing] traineeships or apprenticeships for turbine technicians and blade repair specialists.’
His goal is to prepare a skilled workforce ready to support Victoria’s emerging offshore wind industry, which is set to be the first of its kind in Australia.
For Matt, the advice he gives new apprentices is the same principle that guided his own career: ask questions.
‘You’ll never know everything, and if somebody says they do, they’re lying. Our industry is so vast and evolving, it’s basically impossible to know everything. So be curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions.’
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