A teacher who moved to Australia from Fiji to take advantage of employment fuelled by the construction boom has made a successful new career start after graduating from TAFE NSW.

With more than 122,000 jobs forecast to be added to the construction industry over the decade to 2033, and almost 173,000 homes forecast to be built in Greater Sydney over the six years to 2028-29, there’s strong demand for skilled workers in the construction sector.

TAFE NSW is delivering a pipeline of workers to the industry through its courses, including drafts people who study the Diploma in Civil Construction Design.

One of those workers is Sunil Narayan, who migrated to Sydney from his native Fiji to study at TAFE NSW and start a new career.

“My career began in Suva, where I was a schoolteacher and then the head of campus at a technical college,” Mr Narayan said.

“But in 2022, I decided it was time for a change. Knowing that construction was an industry in Australia with a ready supply of jobs and interesting projects, I moved here to study at TAFE NSW. With my background in electronic engineering and science, I thought I’d be best suited to the Diploma of Civil Construction Design, so I could build upon my existing skillset and start my new career.”

Mr Narayan graduated from TAFE NSW last year and is now helping address Sydney’s housing shortage by working as a manager on residential projects across the city.

“My studies gave me a wide range of practical skills that I’m using to help succeed in my new role. At TAFE NSW I also gained extensive theoretical knowledge about Australian building standards and codes, which has been essential in helping me transition into this new workforce in a new country,” he said.

“Studying at TAFE NSW also bolstered my project management skills, particularly managing construction timelines and budgets. This has helped projects I work on stay on track. I’m now working on residential developments and involved in the whole process from slab pouring to lockup. I’m working all over Sydney, which exposes me to different projects and ensures I’m using my new skillset in a broad range of settings.”

Civil Engineering Head Teacher Amro Ezzeldin said studying at TAFE NSW gives students a wide range of industry-current skills to ensure they hit the ground running in their new jobs.

“Through courses like our Diploma of Civil Construction Design, we provide students with the practical skills and knowledge necessary to align with current industry standards and secure their desired jobs,” he said.

“Sunil's move to Australia and subsequent career success after studying at TAFE NSW demonstrates that a career in construction is a viable option for anyone."

Mr Narayan said he’s glad he took the leap to start a new chapter in Australia.

“I feel proud to be using my new skills to play a role in helping secure Sydney’s housing supply for future generations. I’m glad I took the opportunity to move from Fiji to start this new life for myself in Australia, and TAFE NSW has played a significant role in making me thrive with this move,” he said.

Media contact: Rob Virtue, Communications Specialist, rob.virtue@tafensw.edu.au