“The best part about the job is seeing the progress and transformation of the cars that come in, such as old cars getting a respray and smashes that look as good as new once I’m finished.”
What better way to combine a passion for cars and the arts than with a career in vehicle painting? Vehicle spray painter apprentice Amber Gabelich will tell you that doing what you love will not only make life worthwhile, it can also lead to once-in-a-lifetime experiences like competing at WorldSkills!
“I didn’t do too well in a classroom environment; I just couldn’t sit down for that long,” she shared.
“I’ve always loved cars and art, so I decided to do an automotive pre-apprenticeship at Kangan Institute after secondary school and I never looked back.”
Currently working at G.P. Motors in Bairnsdale, Amber says her on-job learning is well complemented by in-depth training at Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence.
“Despite the distance, I chose to study at Kangan Institute because the facilities at the Automotive Centre of Excellence are quite amazing. It has a really good set up with all the vacuums and preparation areas. Teachers are also so helpful,” she shared.
Amber’s creativity and talent shone through at the 2017 WorldSkills regional competitions, which led to the 21-year-old securing a spot as Victorian representative for vehicle painting at the 2018 WorldSkills National Championships in Sydney.
