14 August 2025
Cadon Gates, a graduate engineering student from North Metropolitan TAFE (NMTAFE), exemplifies how talent, determination, and opportunity can converge to shape a purposeful career. After enrolling in the Diploma of Engineering (Drafting), Cadon’s abilities quickly stood out to his employer, Wood PLC, who promoted him to the role of Junior Piping Design Engineer shortly after graduating. Today, he’s making a meaningful impact in the engineering field, bringing creativity, precision, and vision to every project.
“I love design and how things can have an impact on our lives, however now in engineering, I am using the creative approach to create an impact in a very different setting, one with arguably more regulations and precision requirements,” Cadon said.
He added that the units he studied at NMTAFE prepared him to be resilient and flexible in finding solutions to the challenges in the ‘real world’.
Cadon was completing his certificate while working at Wood PLC as part of the trainee program.
“This allowed me to study and utilise the knowledge and experience of those in the office."
“Times do get tough though and focusing on the long-term gain and accomplishments helped motivate me through completing the course, as well as making a concerted effort to stay ahead of due dates really helped me keep a balance.”
Cadon said the most valuable thing he learned while studying at NMTAFE was that the units are not easy.
“But if you apply yourself, it’s certainly achievable. It’s not a class you can sit back and glide through, but with motivation you can excel and reap the rewards with a promising career,” he said.
His advice to others considering or aspiring to become an engineer is to “put yourself out there and be proactive.”
While Cadon is only at the beginning of his engineering career, he hopes to encourage other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islande peoples that they too can have a successful career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
“I hope to promote other Indigenous engineers in the industry and have a real impact, it is important that we are represented in the industry and working alongside in the decision making”, he added.