After 26 years in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), veteran Thomas traded his army uniform for a pair of tradie boots, seamlessly transitioning into a construction role at Defence Housing Australia (DHA) after completing the ADF trade program.

Initially missing the marks required to pursue a career in engineering, the adventure-seeking high school graduate was inspired to join the ADF after a recruiter visited his school, marking the beginning of his Defence journey.

Thomas went on to serve for nearly three decades, enlisting in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps (RA Inf) and rising to the rank of Sergeant. While serving, he began studies in architectural drafting, sparking his interest in the construction industry and leading him to join the ADF trade program as a carpenter.

The ADF trade program allows ADF members to gain a construction qualification within 18 months while serving. Unlike external programs, it provides graduates with broad construction industry experience rather than focusing on one specific trade.

During his time as a carpenter, Thomas worked on many international projects in countries such as Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, and Tonga. He explained how working in unfamiliar territories advanced him as a tradie.

“Managing ADF construction projects develops your project planning skills. You must be able to manage the complexities of international procurement, language barriers, working with local nationals and the remoteness of international projects.”

Outside of work, Thomas has further supported Defence members and their families by adding to DHA’s property portfolio as an investor, leasing out a property he purchased during his time as an ADF member through DHA’s leasing program.

Today, Thomas works at DHA as a technical construction officer, overseeing technical construction issues in upgrade projects.

With the trade program offering such valuable work experience, Thomas expressed how this education enabled him to effortlessly move into his current role. He also reflected on how easy the transition to civilian life was for him due to the resources available through the ADF.

Although he admitted he was nervous on his first day at DHA, Thomas said the support he received as both an employee and a veteran quickly put him at ease.

“The staff were so welcoming and the onboarding program that DHA provided was excellent. I was teamed up with a mentor, who was a veteran, and he guided me through the processes internal to DHA.”

When Thomas is not on the tools, he leads a productive life competing in triathlons, balancing further university studies, and riding his bike.

Thomas remains dedicated to the ADF, now flourishing in a career that not only reflects his construction skills learnt in the trade program but continues to support the Defence community.