4 February 2019

Research undertaken by Australia’s largest education provider, TAFE NSW, has found that booming digital technology and automation has transformed the way construction projects are planned, managed and delivered. Long-term Coles Supermarkets retail operations employee, Tara Hogarth, has pursued a new career with the nationwide chain by studying building and construction online at TAFE NSW.

Ms Tara Hogarth said, “During my previous roles at Coles over twenty-five years in Retail Operations, I was fascinated with the work the construction team did and it became a passion of mine to grow my career in that direction.”

Now a Coles Project Manager, Construction/Property, Ms Hogarth said she initially found the new role daunting relating to sustainability principles which impact all construction practices and keeping abreast of new government regulations being particularly challenging.

“I needed to study further in support of my new role,” said Ms Hogarth. “After looking at numerous options, I decided to study the Diploma of Building and Construction with TAFE Digital as all the units directly relate to my every day work. I was also adamant that it be 100% online, as I needed the flexibility to work around a hectic schedule.”

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a major area of Ms Hogarth’s job and she was quickly able to use multiple OHS units in her project planning, while adhering to cost-efficient quality standards and contract negotiations.

“The course has certainly kept up to date with trends, with specific emphasis on the latest OHS codes and I am able to think outside the box when factoring in reducing greenhouse emissions when planning and costing air conditioning and heating projects,” said Ms Hogarth. “It’s great to now constructively be able to contribute at planning meetings and site visits with builders, contract administrators, architects and consultants, with a clear understanding of sustainable desired outcomes, while adhering to building codes and terminology understood by all.”

Ms Hogarth was impressed with how easily she was able to understand the overall course content and navigate specific units, with teachers being readily available if she needed the support of a ‘real person’.

Media contact: Bonny Gunn, TAFE Digital Media Business Partner. Mobile 0417 134 048.