Expect to adjust to the pace of site work, organise yourself, and learn from experienced tradespeople. Tiling apprentice Chad Vanburgel says commitment, respect, curiosity and a good mentor helped him get started. His story appeared in a profile sponsored by Western Australia’s Construction Training Fund (CTF); his experience is personal advice, not a guarantee of how every apprenticeship will go.
How Chad got started in tiling
Before his apprenticeship, Chad tried tiling through a school workplace training program, spending about a month with a tiler. After leaving school, he went directly into an apprenticeship. In the PerthNow profile, he is described as a third-year wall and floor tiling apprentice at North Metropolitan TAFE and a WorldSkills WA silver medallist. The profile reports that he placed second in the WA WorldSkills competition, but does not state the event year.
What to expect in the first weeks
Chad’s early adjustment was practical: getting used to the pace of site work, managing expectations, staying organised and keeping up with experienced workers. Stepping onto site for the first time can mean learning how a working day flows as well as learning the trade itself. His account suggests treating those first weeks as a period of observation and adjustment rather than expecting to know everything immediately.
Habits Chad recommends
Commit and show respect
Chad’s central advice is to take the job seriously, respect the people around you and show that you want to learn. “Commit to your job 100 per cent, be respectful, show interest in your work and be keen to learn from the people committing to teaching you,” he said in the sponsored profile.
Ask questions and learn from your mentor
Chad credits his boss as a skilled, patient teacher and says, “He’s always keen to teach me something new.” He recommends building a good relationship with the people training you and asking questions when you want to understand a task or improve your work. As he put it, “It shows your boss you care about what they’re doing and shows your interest in learning and improving your work.”
Get organised and keep learning
Organisation matters when you are trying to keep pace with experienced workers and meet expectations on site. Pay attention to how tasks are done, clarify what is expected, and use feedback to improve. Chad’s summary is: “Commit fully, respect the people around you and show a real interest in learning.”
Tools, budgeting and the CTF allowance
Chad says good tools matter. “The tool allowance was super helpful,” he said, adding, “It encouraged me to buy some tools and then use them for small jobs, which gave me both experience and a bit of cash.” His comments describe his own experience; they do not establish that every apprentice will receive the same support or outcome.
For current program rules, check the Construction Training Fund’s Apprentice Tool Allowance page. The CTF page, last modified 24 September 2026, says eligible apprentices or trainees may claim reimbursement of up to $1,000 for eligible work-related tools or safety equipment at commencement, and a separate up to $1,000 at completion. This is a pair of reimbursement caps, not a guaranteed $2,000 payment.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- The apprenticeship commencement and completion dates relevant to the claims must fall between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2029.
- Keep tax invoices or receipts. A commencement claim may be made up to 11 months after the apprenticeship starts for eligible purchases made from one month before commencement.
- A completion claim may be made up to six months after completion for eligible purchases made from the completion date.
- Multiple claims may be submitted until the applicable $1,000 cap is reached. Claims are made through the CTF Portal, subject to the program’s eligibility and claim rules.
Before spending, ask your employer or trainer which tools you need for your work. For a beginning tiler, a tile trowel set is one tool category to research, not a purchase Chad specifically named or endorsed. Check that any item meets your work requirements and the CTF’s current eligibility rules before relying on reimbursement. Safety equipment may also be eligible under the program, but the right equipment depends on the job and employer requirements.
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Source and context
Chad’s account and quotations are from PerthNow’s sponsored profile, “Set up for success: Chad’s advice for starting your apprenticeship,” sponsored by the Construction Training Fund. The profile page’s publication year is not established, so its WorldSkills result is not dated more precisely here. Allowance amounts and claim conditions above reflect the official CTF page last modified 24 September 2026.
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