After completing his secondary schooling at St Peter’s College Anton successfully applied to undertake the engineering pre apprenticeship course at the Southern Institute of Technology. At the completion of the course in late 2005 he was offered an apprenticeship with Southern Group Training and has been placed with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd.

To complete the Level 4 National Certificate in Maintenance & Diagnostics Engineering Anton must complete a range of unit standards comprising both theory and practical elements. Anton’s off job theory training will be provided by S.I.T through his attendance at weekly evening classes and a three week block course each year.

An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a tertiary qualification at Level 4 without needing to take on a student debt. Apprentices are paid as they learn. Southern Group Training, as employer, pays for Anton’s Training Manual, his annual industry training fees, his evening class and block course fees, and pays him while he is attending his annual three week block course. Travel and accommodation costs for block courses held outside of Invercargill are also covered.