Woonona’s Adam Orford went for a major career change in his 30s – and hasn’t looked back. Photo: TAFE NSW.
After going from cop to carpenter, Woonona’s Adam Orford reckons it’s never too late to change your path in life.
Adam spent 14 years in the police force, but had always enjoyed working with his hands.
He decided to enroll at TAFE NSW Wollongong to study a Certificate III in Carpentry and secured a job in the Illawarra with Bluestone Building Group.
Now the 37-year-old’s newfound skills are playing a key role in significant construction projects in the Illawarra region, including, BlueScope Steel’s $1.15 billion blast furnace reline project.
“After 14 rewarding years in the police force, I wanted to pursue a new career that had longevity and would allow me to continue to support my family,” Adam said.
“Starting from scratch might sound daunting to some, however, it’s all been worth it.
“As a youngster, I loved woodwork and messing around with tools, so when I looked at career options, construction tapped into both my passion and existing skills in enacting legislation.
“Now I’ve seen how much work there is available and I’m excited to have a promising future in a high-demand industry ahead of me.”
A recent national study by Indeed shows 61 per cent of people are considering a career change in the 2025-26 financial year, while the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows 38 per cent of people who switched jobs in the past year moved to a different occupation.
According to new data from Deloitte Access Economics’ Employment Forecasts report, the five fastest growing industries over the next year will be healthcare and social assistance, professional, scientific and technical services, financial and insurance services, construction, and education and training.
Deliotte said the construction industry in NSW was anticipated to be the fourth fastest growing sector in 2026, with 4785 new jobs forecast over the next year.
As demand for these skills rises, the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, has encouraged Illawarra residents to explore vocational education and training opportunities to future-proof their career.
“The NSW Government is focused on building the workforce of the future by supporting people to gain practical, job-ready skills in industries our economy needs,” he said.
“TAFE NSW is leading the way in delivering quality, industry-aligned training in the sectors linked to the top 10 occupations predicted to be in highest demand this year.
“Gaining skills in occupations employers need will enable people to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing job market, whether it’s healthcare, construction or early childhood education.”
