When Ky Nichols first interviewed for a Mobile Plant Mechanic apprenticeship, he had no idea he was opening the door to a career that would take him to the edge of the world. He’s now in his third year working in Hobart for the Australian Antarctic Division.
“The day I arrived, I didn’t know what to expect. Someone came down and showed me around. It was quite astounding. There are not many other places in the world running machines designed for some of the most extreme conditions on the planet,” Ky said.
After finishing Year 11, Ky knew he was ready to leave school to take up something that would challenge his mechanical mind. He decided that working on heavy machinery and industrial equipment was a suitable fit and went to the team at Work & Training (part of the IntoWork Group) to see what opportunities were available. Within a few weeks he began his career in a field he didn’t know existed.
Working on equipment destined for Antarctica has exposed Ky to skills and machinery most mechanics never get close to. He’s currently working on the refurbishment of a LARC, an amphibious land-and-recovery vehicle essential for resupply operations at Macquarie Island, a remote, World Heritage-listed Australian sub-Antarctic island located halfway between Australia and Antarctica. Before that, Ky helped overhaul a Hägglund, an over‑snow passenger carrier which takes around 2,500 hours for the team to complete.
“I love the diversity of the stuff I get to work on,” Ky said. “I’m jumping between trades and I’ve picked up a lot of skills that not many other mechanics get to learn. I get to weld, spray-paint, fibreglass and use milling machines and lathes. No two days are ever the same.”
Ky was named Second Year Apprentice of the Year at the 2025 Work & Training Awards. He suspects it was the distinctive nature of his work that won the judges’ favour.
“I think I put a few surprised looks on the faces of the people interviewing me. It’s not your everyday type of job. I think the uniqueness of what I do definitely helped,” Ky said.
Ky’s first two planned work trips to Antarctica were postponed due to bad weather, but he’s confident it won’t be long before he finally steps onto the ice. Eventually, he hopes to take on a role at one of the Antarctic refuelling stations.
“Just getting down there and being able to say I’ve been to Antarctica, and having the photos to prove it – that’s going to be a pretty cool thing to be able to say. That’s a once in a lifetime thing. Not many people can say they’ve been to Antarctica, let alone worked there.”