·        Monthly helicopter delivery of funds to remote areas for payment to people employed in the UNOPS’ Labor Intensive Works Program

·        Logistics management including

o       Management and control of the UNOPS’ project vehicle fleet

o       Transportation of office equipment and materials to remote villages from the main town

o       Domestic commercial and UN flight bookings for all project staff

o       Security clearances and flight approvals from other UN Agencies

·        Supporting the IT section to address and resolve electrical issues

·        Financial management and record keeping

·        Project support services – assisting on-site operations through the supervision and delivery of construction materials

·        Reported to Project Manager daily

·        Day-to-day supervision of construction workers

·        Training of Sudanese construction workers in technical operations such as plumbing, welding, carpentry, electrical and excavating

·        Control and process of financial documents for project construction materials

·        Managing project procurement – securing quotes for construction materials and negotiating their purchase

·        Clearance and acquittal of all purchases with the finance department

Electro Group Training is an industry-based apprenticeship employer and training provider. I was employed with Electro Group for four years. During this period, I was placed with a number of different electrical firms and gained experience working in domestic and commercial areas. In the domestic area I wired up many small houses and farm sheds. In the commercial area I did complete electrical fit outs as well as installing major appliances in supermarkets, banks, multi-storey apartments and office blocks. I was fortunate to have several job placements during my period with the Electro Group beginning with Frank O’Sullivan with whom I did my initial work experience. The placements were:

• 2 years             O’Sullivan’s Electrical

Wired up many houses and farm sheds in the rural areas around Canberra; electrical maintenance work for various office blocks and banks in Canberra

• 4 months          Allied Technologies

Data cabling and optical-fibre installation at the Duntroon military academy, Canberra

• 5 months          C.S.I.R.O.

Maintenance of all electrical equipment including fans and motor belts in the CSIRO hydroponic wheat lab

• 6 months          Territory Energy

Commercial and domestic installations including hotel fire systems

• 6 months          Ecowise Environmental

Building, installing and maintaining weather stations for monitoring and managing Canberra’s water reservoirs and feeder creeks

• 6 months          Star Electrical

Commercial installations and maintenance in the Coles Supermarket, Goulburn

• 1 year               O’Donnell Griffin

Electrical wiring and switchboard installation in the Canberra Centre building extension, a significant construction project in the heart of Canberra

After joining him for work experience at the end of year 10, Frank O’Sullivan offered me a full-time position supporting him in his electrical and horse-training businesses. The experience included working in a range of domestic and commercial electrical installations. It also involved providing support as a stable hand - cleaning the horse stables, feeding and jogging the horses, and helping with general farm maintenance.