A Gold Coast carpenter is among the Australian tradespeople passing on their skills to workers across the Pacific as part of an AusAID-funded program.
With 24 years of on-site construction experience under his tool belt , Mark Ryder switched to training the next generation of Queensland carpenters. Seconded from the Ashmore campus of Gold Coast TAFE, Mark has now taken his hammer and nails across the Coral Sea.
Mark has been teaching carpentry for the past two years at the Papua New Guinea campus of the Australia-Pacific Technical College in Port Moresby. The Australian Government funded college trains trade workers from surrounding countries and also carries out training in Fiji through to Samoa in skills like carpentry, electrical, diesel fitting, automotive and mechanical engineering.
It was Mark's sense of adventure that drew him to the idea of teaching in a developing country.
"A challenge is what I wanted, I guess, and a new experience," Mark said.
His background involves many years spent in housing and light commercial building sites in New South Wales and on the Gold Coast.
"The cottage industry experience has really put me in good stead for the work I am doing here."
Mark said he has had to adapt different teaching strategies to suit the needs of the Pacific.
"Employers want people who can be productive workers," he explained. "At the end of the day it's vital people know what they can do with their hands. Don't get me wrong, theory is also important, but the reality is on the job, where the practical skills and knowledge are in real demand here."
One of his students is Labidi Labidio, a builder employed with Giligili Correctional Services in Alotau in the Milne Bay Province.
"I learnt a lot off Mark and the Australia-Pacific Technical College," Labidi said. "Things like building a roof. It may seem obvious but we really don't have the latest techniques."
The College also encourages women into non-traditional roles. Martha Fengenu is one such student who, under Mark's tuition, graduated with a CertificateIII in carpentry in 2009.
"My father was a builder and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. When he passed away, I knew I must honour him and the APTC and trainers like Mark helped me do this." Martha is currently employed at one of the region's largest building firms.
For students such as Labidi and Martha, Mark has this advice.
"Whether it is to get a promotion, a pay rise or to train others in their workplace, these students can go forward confidently with their new skills and future endeavours."
Mark shares his time between Port Moresby and the Gold Coast and when in PNG, he calls the APTC campus grounds home. This means he is always accessible to students.
"It's been 7:30 at night, a knock on the door and there are students looking for a classroom to be opened so as they can continue to study. Sometimes it's not uncommon to return to the room at 11:00 and here they are still going over what we have done for the day or going to carry on with the following day. It's this willingness to learn that I will always hold dear about my time here."
"I am not saying my Queensland students were not interested, they were, but here learning and having access to an education is not taken for granted. Students are so grateful for the training, to learn new skills and to be able to contribute to their country, their economy and their families.
"I and the other trainers here often feel very humbled and it's been one of the best and most rewarding jobs I've ever had."