Khaled Kaskine learns what it takes to build a home. 67115 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
IT may not be the most conventional way to buy a house but people as far as Bendigo are flocking to VU to buy transportable wooden homes.
Victoria University trade students at the Newport, Melton and Werribee campuses may not have landed apprenticeships yet but they’re already building homes.
Aspiring carpenters like Francis, 18, are getting first hand experience on what it is like to be a chippy.
“I’m enjoying it,” Francis said.
“It’s a good experience to build a house rather than just models.”
The budding tradies are strictly supervised over the 11 weeks it takes to complete the industry-approved homes, which can contain up to three bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and lounge room with a cathedral ceiling.
Construction Industries live works manager David Delahunty said VU is among the state’s only training organisations to offer carpentry students opportunities to work on real homes rather than models.
“Once they finish up here, they’re ready to hit the job site – we’re teaching them those vital skills needed for a job site,” he said.
David said the project was not only great for the students but a cost affective way for people to purchase a home or granny flat.
Bendigo resident Susan purchased a 35 square home from VU three years ago.
“We had complete control and monitoring of the house,” she said.
“There were some hiccups, granted, but when they were picked up they were very accommodating in terms of getting them rectified.
“It’s an absolutely affordable way of doing it… all we paid is the cost of materials.”
Susan said she was proud of the fact her house had been a teaching tool for some tradies.
“It’s an opportunity to give them a vehicle to learn and train but it’s also an opportunity for people like me buy an affordable home.”
