Koichi Sasaki doesn’t remember a time where he hasn’t been around a workshop.
The 21-year-old mechanic apprentice can thank his uncles for that, who routinely showed him the ins and outs of the mechanics industry as a kid. That passion grew even more when Koichi’s uncles opened their own workshop in 2015 – Andre Automotive based in Mt Druitt, Sydney.
“They were always taking me around businesses to play with cars, that was their hobby when they were young too,” he said. “Basically, I just started helping them here and there at their workshop during holidays and after school.
“They taught me a lot, and naturally I just wanted to become one.”
The right tools
Time flies when you’re having fun, and for Koichi that applies wholeheartedly.
“I can’t believe I’m already in my third year already,” he said.
“I thought it was gonna take a long as time, but honestly it’s gone by like a fl ash.”
Koichi has been able to glide through his apprenticeship thanks to help from MTA NSW. He’s been receiving training support from one of MTA’s program co-ordinators – Thai Bui.
“Thai has been really supportive, especially whenever I’ve come across hard questions or units generally, he would always be there to help,” Koichi said.
“He’d often send me helpful videos to learn from, he’s probably one of the best mentors.”
MTA NSW is all about a tailored approach to its training offerings, with a plethora of specialist trainers at its disposal who are on-site and ready to support individual mechanics and businesses.
Not slowing down
When he’s not studying in the classroom, you can fi nd Koichi working away in his uncles’ workshop. He has one year left on his four-year apprenticeship, but Koichi’s journey doesn’t end there. He plans to specialise in electrical mechanics, get his pink slip, and eventually open up his own shop.
“At the end of the day, I wanna have my own business too like my uncles,” he said. “I’d really like to focus on doing modifications and working on performance cars.”