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This week in home building news! Catch up with Az and a colourful array of guests, to hear about who's killing it, who's innovating, and who's getting into strife in the world of new home construction.
Aaron Ng (00:56)
good morning and welcome to the good builder podcast. Today's episode is about really what happens when someone takes it seriously from the beginning. And I have been super impressed by this gentleman that I'm about to interview right here. I was actually so impressed. And this is kind of going off script right now that I gave him a call this week or last week, just to, I saw him, you know,
Wanted to jump on the pod. wants to talk about things in the realms of the apprenticeship. And I gave him a call and I was blown away by this fella. He's just not showing up for his apprenticeship. He's genuinely pushing to see how far he can take it. And I reckon he's going to take it as far as he actually wants. My guest today is Lewis. He's a carpenter from WA and he's got a story that's worth paying attention to right from the guys at it.
doing their apprenticeships right now, right through to the builders. Because if you want a weapon on your team, Lewis is probably the bloke that you want. What some of the coolest things that he's done is he's competed in the world skills games, winning gold at both regional and national levels. He's gone on to represent Australia in international competitions. He's won a medallion for excellence.
The journey then took him to China, Japan and France and gave him a perspective on the craft and experience of those countries. He was named the Master Builders Apprentice of the Year in 2025 and won the WA Training Awards. This is why I'm saying tune into this fella and you'll be seeing a lot more of him and we are welcoming to the couch, Lewis. How are you, mate?
Lewis Italiano (02:36)
Good, thanks. Pleasure to be here.
Aaron Ng (02:38)
May it's phenomenal, like, despite all the accolades and everything that we're gonna, you know, I just went through and chatted about and all the things that you've done. I probably haven't seen a better resume. Despite your age, even for people that are older than you, I don't think I've seen a better resume and make you sitting right here, you know, finishing off some of your classes and things to get your apprenticeship. But
Lewis Italiano (02:51)
He
Aaron Ng (03:04)
You know, where, where did it all sort of start for you, Louis? Like where does this, I know we had a quick chat on the phone, but you're a fascinating guy. And the fact that there's a, we're old dogs, like myself and a lot of the people that I talked to on the podcast, you're our first apprentice that we had, that we have on. and a lot of the time, you know, we, chat in the industry and I think there's this perception that the younger generations.
Lewis Italiano (03:18)
you
Aaron Ng (03:32)
aren't as hard working as the older generations. And I think that's a complete lie. I think you've got to inspire people and I think you've got to make them want to be part of this industry. And I don't think we've probably done a very good job of it in all honesty, but then there are outliers like you that just do have that self motivation and that extra grit to go and get stuff done. Mate, where does it all come from? Tell us a little bit about you, Lewis, if you don't mind and you're growing up.
Lewis Italiano (03:59)
Yeah, yeah, well, I guess for me, we actually grew up on a dairy farm, family run dairy farm and dad's still a dairy farmer. So I guess I've been pretty hands on since I was young and understood the principles of hard work growing up. But the woodworking side really started in high school for me, year 11 and 12.
took on some building construction classes as well as woodwork and metalwork and I loved it. I fell in love with working with my hands and making a product that can be out there for people to see. But yeah, especially working with timber. after that, I had a very supportive woodwork teacher who helped me along the way and took on some work experience and that sort of thing, which led me to start a furniture making or cabinet making apprenticeship coming out of year 12.
Aaron Ng (04:25)
Yeah.
Yeah, wow. And then, so you, you've grown up on the dairy farm and I think that's a pretty important point. my wife comes from a long line of farmers actually. And one thing that I have picked up is there's a certain work ethic that you just pick up as being part of that environment. Was that something that I think you already mentioned it, but was that something that really you think defines a bit of who you are and why you've been able to push a bit harder than, than others?
Lewis Italiano (05:06)
Yeah, I'd like to think so. think, you know, starting with that at a young age at the dairy farm and helping dad out whenever I can and sort of understanding not just the hard work, but the sense of urgency as well. think that's a big thing in the trades and, you know, timelines and getting things done is actually really important in part. having that from a young age, I think, has helped me a lot.
Aaron Ng (05:25)
Yeah, yeah. Now, now, what I find fascinating, and as we said, despite all the accolades, and you've got a numerous mate, like, you've already beaten me, I've come nowhere close to you, and I'm probably double your age. So congratulations on all of that. beside all of those accolades that you've got, which are fantastic, man, tell us a little bit about the pathway to apprenticeship, you know.
Lewis Italiano (05:34)
I'm
Aaron Ng (05:47)
Has it been hard? Do you feel like there's a lot of support in doing your apprenticeship? Or do you think there's ways they can do things better? is it just, you just sort of deal with it as it comes?
Lewis Italiano (06:01)
Yeah, I think think an apprenticeship is always going to have its challenges. You know, you're coming out into the workforce, workforce, usually at a young age and you're pretty green. But that's just how it is, I think. And I think going in there with that mindset that you're there to learn, you're to take a step by step, see progress along the way. I think you've got to have that right mindset. You're not going to go and know it all, you know, and there's support networks out there like your apprenticeship providers or your TAFE, your friends and family that can help you along the way. But
I think it's initially your mindset and how you go about it. You know, got to just take it one step at a time and look back on the progress you're making. And yeah, I think that's it's about the way you look at it.
Aaron Ng (06:37)
Love it. Love it. And I think that I just had a guest on who's, he's from a franchise network, Lewis, and he's a really good builder. And the one thing I got out of this little lesson and chat that I had with him was, you know, the number one thing of why successful is his mindset. It really is. And he probably didn't pick it up, but I'm talking to him and he just this resilience about him. He had this grit about him. He always looked at the positive side of things. Things can be hard, but he'll always find a solution.
Lewis Italiano (06:51)
Mm-hmm.
Aaron Ng (07:04)
And I think the mindset is a really underrated tool and something we talk about here in building as well, because it's a tough industry, man. And like you said, the other thing that we spoke about actually, when I was on the phone with you, when I was going down a rabbit hole last week, and I was talking about, you know, the wages of apprentices, you don't have to comment on this, Lewis, because you're in it right now. And you're the one that's, you know, being paid in this way, but
Lewis Italiano (07:11)
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah.
Aaron Ng (07:30)
For me, and you sound like, you know, look at what you've done. You've never let that hold you back. But for me, and I'm not an apprentice and I'm looking at it from the other side, I am like, God damn, these guys need to be paid more. You know, no wonder there's a lot of people not finishing apprenticeships and stuff like that. But I love how you've just gone on and done with it. But I did want to ask you, do you think like, is it, is the reward
Lewis Italiano (07:35)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
Aaron Ng (07:54)
that we're providing right now as an industry to apprentices enough or do you think it's not enough? I certainly think it's not enough. I don't wanna put words in your mouth, but I think, know, we're everything.
Lewis Italiano (08:02)
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, I was definitely in that boat. know, when I started my cabinet making apprenticeship and I'm not afraid to talk about it, I was making, you know, $350 a week, spending probably more than half of that on fuel to get to and from work. I definitely felt the impact of that. but yeah, I think again, it's like your mindset, you know, you got to realize that you're there to learn and you're there, getting paid is almost a bonus compared to someone who's going to university and...
Aaron Ng (08:17)
What?
Yeah.
Lewis Italiano (08:31)
spending thousands of dollars that they have to pay back later if they can even find a job. The trades are gonna be booming for a long time and I think you look at it as a short term cost, I guess, for a long term gain. So again, it's just a mindset, I think.
Aaron Ng (08:44)
well, thought this is exactly why we wanted you on. And I'll tell you what the other thing is, AI is never going to take trades jobs. That's one of the coolest things too, you know.
Lewis Italiano (08:51)
That's right. it's, ⁓ I had a
Yeah, I had a chat with some school students last week, actually. I did a little presentation and I said to them, I'd be impressed if I saw an AI robot jump up on a roof with a nail gun. And they had a laugh, but it's true because all these other industries are getting overridden with AI and it's become more more common. But I think the trades are definitely a part that it won't impact as much as others anyway.
Aaron Ng (08:55)
Gepfer-less.
Thanks.
Yeah, wow. Well, let's talk a little bit. Actually, that was the other thing I found fascinating about you. And I thought was awesome, mate. When I was caught when I called you last week, you were like, Hey, yeah, I just got to do a bit of a chat to some high school students. You know, like, you've gone to the world skills game. You know, it's something that people haven't a lot of people have never experienced firsthand in this industry.
Lewis Italiano (09:39)
Mm-hmm.
Aaron Ng (09:39)
and then you go and talk to students at high schools. Why do you do this, Lewis? This is probably the question that this is off the template, off everything. It's more for me. Why do you do it, Lewis?
Lewis Italiano (09:52)
Yeah,
I think I listened to one of your podcasts last week about I think it was with Toby and he's talking about future proofing the industry. And to me, that all starts with apprentices, you know, there's only so long that that people, bosses and supervisors can be in the game before it gets handed down to that next generation. So to me, it all starts in high school, kids that don't exactly know what they want to do, or they have a passion for something and more than often, you can turn that into an apprenticeship or a trade. So
having a bit of a unique story with world skills and we'll touch a bit more about what world skills actually is soon. having that experience and having this training journey that not many people know about, I think it's a great way to inspire people and to get kids to realize that it's not only just a job, but you can excel and you can go and travel and you can make money and new connections and in all these different ways other than just rocking up to work every day. And I often say to them, if I do a school talk, you know, I'm not.
Aaron Ng (10:26)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Lewis Italiano (10:43)
I'm not a public speaker. I'm not, it's not my job to do this, but I'm taking time out of my day and being a tradie on site to come and talk to you guys. Cause it's important.
Aaron Ng (10:52)
Yeah, I love it, mate. I think you have.
I think you embody the good builder. You embody the good builder. Hey, Lewis, like you really do, mate. Like at such a young age, everything that we do at this level of putting podcasts and out there, you're actually on the ground doing it with high school students and making a difference, mate. And we take your hat off. We take our hat off to you. Like that was one of the other things when, when you tell me being everything you're doing phenomenal, man. Now world skills, let's, let's talk about that. As I said, not many people have experienced it firsthand.
Lewis Italiano (11:13)
Thanks.
Aaron Ng (11:22)
You went over and did it. What does the competition actually involve? Where, how do you actually get into it? And what was it like representing Australia? Louis, that would have been pretty cool, mate.
Lewis Italiano (11:31)
Yeah,
yeah, yeah, I guess we'll start at start like world skills for people that don't know is a series of competitions that are ran from a regional to national to international level and a range of different skills. I think there's 60 different skill creators, you know, from like I did cabinet making or there's automotive, there's hairdressing, cooking, there's, you know, a lot of different skills and you're competing against others in your trade to eventually.
determine who's the best, I guess. I sort of started regionally at my TAFE. My lecturer approached me to do a regional competition here and I'll be honest, I didn't really know what was involved at the time, but I had a passion for woodwork and I was doing my apprenticeship at TAFE, so I thought, you know, why not do it?
Aaron Ng (12:10)
Yeah. Wow. And so you went from there, you did your regional thing, and then do you go to a state based one nationals, and then you're on the stage on the world stage.
Lewis Italiano (12:20)
Yeah. So basically from the regionals, I won the gold medal and I ended up having the highest score out of the state, which I got put forward to represent WA at the nationals. My nationals was held in Melbourne in 2023, the convention center, along with all the other trades in the same center, which is pretty cool. A lot of training went into it as well. Once I sort of got selected for team WA, I looked into it further and realized, you know, I could take this to an international level. could
Aaron Ng (12:32)
But yeah.
Lewis Italiano (12:47)
represent my country, be named the best in the country. I just, I locked in from there. Really. I got really excited about it. And I was spending my weekends training and doing practice projects after work and before work even. Yeah. I just got really excited about it. And I think, I think that's just, that's sort of what led me to get where I was. just, I just really enjoyed it.
Aaron Ng (13:07)
Mm. Mm. Again, I think the mindset thing, Lewis, and actually being passionate and excited about what you're doing, as you said, you know, there's so many, this is why I wanted to get you on the pod. I think it's really inspirational to hear how passionate you are about the industry and your craft and what you actually are doing. Like when I, when I did the
the good builder, probably took me a good 20 years of working in the industry and then go, you know, like, I love it so much. I want to do something about it.
Lewis Italiano (13:37)
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (13:38)
You know, you're working through your apprenticeship, you're working through your education and you're already doing it. You know, we need more people like you in the industry, mate. This is how the industry is going to be great. I don't want to sound like Donald Trump, but you get, this is what makes the industry great again. When you have guys like you come in and, you know, at that young age and inspire, and you know what, you fire me up and you, and I've told a few people in our community that we're having you on and stuff like that. And people are fired up to hear about you.
Lewis Italiano (13:50)
You
Aaron Ng (14:05)
Lewis. So it's, it's so cool what you're doing. Well, mate, now you've done the regional, you've done the national level, then you earned a medallion for excellence at the international competition. Now, what is that process and what does that actually, actually mean there Lewis, when you're, when you won that mate?
Lewis Italiano (14:06)
That's good.
Yeah, so it's a huge step up from the national to international level, not just in the actual projects, but also just the professionalism of it all. Like you're now representing your country in your skill. A lot of people like to say it, called world skills the Olympics for the tradies, which is to me, it's a perfect example. So I was selected in a training squad, which I had to train in six months to prove that I'd be ready for this international level.
Aaron Ng (14:35)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Lewis Italiano (14:47)
so yeah, then I was selected from that training squad to represent team Australia, in which I did some more training again for another five months or so, and traveled around Australia doing, you know, practice competitions and training with different experts around Australia. I, again, like he said before, I got to go to China as well, and got invited from world skills China to go over there for a practice competition and meet their competitors. So it was all really crazy for me.
To be honest, I had never even been on a plane in my life before WorldSkills started, before that Melbourne competition. So yeah, pretty crazy.
Aaron Ng (15:20)
Wow. Mate, that is so cool. How does Aussie's fair out there? How do we fair compared to the international? Obviously you fair very well, Lewis. But how do we fair when you look around and having a look at how they're doing it? This is interesting.
Lewis Italiano (15:34)
Yeah, I mean,
going back to the international competition, was huge. Like I'm talking 1600 competitors over 60 different countries, again, 60 different skills as well. And think the venue off the top of my head was 144,000 square meters under one roof. So huge scale, 250,000 visitors. It was insane. So to see all the other countries there and see how they do things, blew my mind really.
Aaron Ng (15:42)
Oof.
⁓
Lewis Italiano (15:59)
In a world skill sense, Australia might be a little bit on the back foot. A lot of the other countries take it very serious, but Australia is going to get there and world skills is going to be a big thing one day. So I'm privileged to be a part of it now and help uplift that recognition.
Aaron Ng (16:06)
Yeah.
Yeah, mate, that's really cool. And it is I was, there was a group that we had on or a crew that we had on a bunch of bricklayers that that had been over there as well. And I'd said to them on the podcast, actually, that you guys are the Olympians for our industry. Just as you said, Lewis, I think it is the it is the highest level of achievement.
in this industry, I believe is to go and do that because you were doing it as a craftsman, showing your craftsmanship, you know, on that international stage. don't think there's a, there's not any other really competition that compares and no other, I guess, prestigious kind of award that you can get in the industry, besides taking it from regional straight through to international. If you're lucky enough to go, go that way. It is fricking cool.
Lewis Italiano (16:51)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, yeah, for sure. And it's a big process, know, it ⁓
takes a lot of hard work as well. So yeah, it's nice to get to that stage and have a look back on it all.
Aaron Ng (17:05)
Yeah, yeah. Well, we are going to go on a little bit more about some awards you won. And the other one that you won was the 2025 Apprentice of the Year, you know, for Master Builders. Now, not I think most of our audience know what that award's for. But what, why do you think you got it? What did they say you actually got it for and why you were nominated and all that sort of thing was? So I think there's gonna be a few valuable lessons in this.
Lewis Italiano (17:33)
Yeah, yeah, I think my accolades with the world skills, obviously, I think it sort of attracted attention to my name, but I think me getting out there and talking with younger students and that sort of thing and talking about the trades and promoting it, I think that was the main thing. And for me to now have this platform as the apprentice of the year, you know, it gives me a bit of recognition and also like a platform that I can talk on and gives me
Aaron Ng (17:48)
Yeah.
Lewis Italiano (17:55)
you know, the chances to go to schools and or to go to presentations. I had a chance last year to go over to Parliament House actually in Canberra and talk about my world skills journey and apprenticeships and sort of how important that is to some politicians over there. And, you know, that was something I never thought I'd be doing, but because of these awards and these recognitions, it's given me the ability to bring these trades and bring the apprenticeship to life a little bit more.
Aaron Ng (18:19)
Look, bloody hell, I did not even know that, Lewis, actually. Maybe I should have read your bio a little bit better. But mate, that is phenomenal. You know what I mean?
You seem so humble and so yeah, this is what I did, did a bit of that, did a bit of this. But I don't know if you actually understand the impact that you're making on this industry. And when I called you up and as I'm beginning to learn more about you, mate, it is absolutely fascinating. is, it is, don't know how to say it in words, but it is everything this industry needs.
Like you are doing, you are uplifting the profile of the Australian construction industry on your own shoulders and just doing it because you love it. And I think it's fascinating, mate. I think it's so cool. I think it's so cool. And, and this is the other reason, the reason for it is because we've got so much trade shortage out there, don't we? Look, your mates Lewis, you might have a different set of mates, but
Lewis Italiano (19:10)
Yeah. Yeah.
Aaron Ng (19:14)
people within your generation and stuff like that. And there's a lot of that conversation around not enough apprentices, trade shortages and all that sort of thing. From where you sit and what you've seen, and I know you're a bit of a different beast because you're a bit of a disciplined weapon is what I think I'm gonna call you and you'll just get the job done. But what do you think is missing in the industry to attract more young people?
Is it more people like you telling their story and saying, Hey, this industry's not that bad. Like it's actually pretty cool. And I just want a gold medal over in Lyon, France. Or is it like, what is it Lewis? you know, the conversations that we're having at the good builder and you're having bigger conversations than me, to be honest, you've been to parliament house. I'll never invite me there, but like for every, like all the, all the conversations I'm throughout the industry are like,
Lewis Italiano (19:46)
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (20:04)
How do we get more apprentices in here? How do we attract them? And then when you popped up on Mike, this is probably the exact type of apprentice that everybody wants. How do we get more of him into this industry? What do you think, man? What's going on out there?
Lewis Italiano (20:18)
Yeah, I mean, think, think WorldSkills again, it's had such a big impact on my apprenticeship and my inspiration to be where I am today. I think that's a huge talking point. And like I said, Australia is probably a little bit behind and not many people actually know about it. So I think getting that out there first of all, is like a big, you know, it's something to look forward to. It's something exciting about being an apprentice and getting that out there that it's not just a job, you know, you don't just rock up every day. There's these opportunities to excel and further yourself if you want to.
I think one thing I've found talking to students or younger kids is it actually starts with the parents. The parents have come from an upbringing where if you don't go to university, you're not going to be successful. So I think changing that stigma is pretty important. I set out to do school talks, but sometimes it involves the parents there as well and sort of talking to them about the trades and about apprenticeships, making them realize that.
Aaron Ng (20:56)
Where?
Yeah.
Lewis Italiano (21:11)
how much there is to look forward to in the future for the trades and that it's not just an option if you don't go to university, know, it's successful and future-proof pathway to type.
Aaron Ng (21:20)
Yeah. I love it. And you know what? It's probably looking back and a lot of my friends that went into the trade and people that I went to school in, you know, not that it just comes down to this Lewis and I'm not all about this. Otherwise I wouldn't be doing a lot of stuff for free on the good builder, but they are financially doing better than me. You know what I mean? Like they've got good businesses. got their financially doing better. They, they financially got a head quicker.
Lewis Italiano (21:38)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (21:48)
because I went to university and did all that sort of thing. And, I feel there is a lot of opportunity and I love what you said about the parents, right? There's a huge stigma. Like even, I'm a parent now, obviously, and, and got a teenage daughter and all this sort of thing. And you do listen to all the other parents at the Sunday barbecue and at sport and stuff like that. And all they talk about is what university are going to go to what degree they're going to be, what are they going to be when they grow up? But it's all around.
Lewis Italiano (21:57)
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (22:15)
university led sort of occupations. Little, you know, the construction industry is probably the biggest industry in Australia. I don't know why we keep talking around it. think, I think to your point, Lewis, you could completely right, talk more to it and say, Hey, there's legitimate opportunities here to start a really good business and help them on those pathways. I think that's a really cool point, man. That's really cool. There's probably, you know,
Lewis Italiano (22:18)
Yeah.
Mm.
Yeah, yeah for sure.
Aaron Ng (22:40)
Coming from a farming background, know, that blue collar kind of work probably wouldn't have been as foreign to you guys as some other people. But that's what I've seen actually. One of the good traits of some good builders out there, just talking about good builders is a lot of them have good business sense. So you not just have to be a craftsman, there's elements to building and things that you can get involved in the industry and not
necessarily, I know a lot of people love being on the tools, but you don't always have to be on the tools. There's different aspects to it all. Isn't there? So that's the, that's the exciting bit, man.
Lewis Italiano (23:10)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that's, that's,
yeah. That's something I try and get across to the younger kids as well. You know, it's not just, you know, it's not just rocking up to work every day. There's so much more to being a tradie and being in an industry that they don't realize, you know, and ways to upskill themselves or, you know, become your own boss one day, have a bit of freedom. Like there's so many of these opportunities and things and aspects to being a tradie that
Aaron Ng (23:24)
Yeah.
Lewis Italiano (23:35)
you know, it's not really taught at school.
Aaron Ng (23:37)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Freaking love it, man. The other thing that you're very big on, M.M.E.C., you know, when we've been having our chats and doing a bit of research on you is you're very big around standards. As I said, I think you've written the playbook to the good builder, to be honest, because our whole thing is around raising standards. Funnily enough, and you already talk about it probably before we are even in the ethos of building. When you're talking about pushing for higher standards,
What do you are you sort of alluding to there? Lewis, like what do you want to see in the industry, in terms of that?
Lewis Italiano (24:11)
I think to me and sort of our career at work, we sort of strive to be, we might not be the fastest or that sort of thing on top, but we take pride in our work. We sort of like to go by the idea of caring more about the product than getting paid for it. We're making pieces and homes and that sort of thing that you can be proud of. I mean, that sense of pride in your work is really important to me.
Aaron Ng (24:34)
Yeah, yeah. And you can see it throughout everything that you've been doing, like in terms of even going into competitions. For example, you wouldn't enter a competition if you weren't proud of the work that you deliver. You know, and that's, and that's another part to it. Very similar. You are so interesting, Lewis. You're very...
in a mindset and I don't mean to make any comparisons but as I said just had a really really good builder on the couch that I never met before like I've never met you before and I sat down I'm talking to him and I and I'm like I despite that he's not one of the
you know, big loud builders out there that people know you probably would never hear of this particular bloke. And I won't say his name, but you will drop his podcast, but you will probably never have heard of this guy. But man, like the, the stuff he knows, the way he goes about it, the way he's passionate about the industry, is phenomenal. And there's some really good people in our industry, but
It's the platforms and the things like you're doing that I'm just like, wish the older generation, some of the builders like that would do exactly what you're doing now, know, getting out there, talking about it, talking about, you know, his journey, because I think in the beginning he was a tree lopper and now has a very successful building company and kind of goes through all of that. it's fascinating talking to
Lewis Italiano (25:37)
Here Yeah, right.
Aaron Ng (25:54)
to fellows like you and the passion behind it, but also to see, as I said, and I don't mean to play on your age, but having someone at such a young age that is passionate enough to talk about the industry and keep pushing us forward, is, yeah, just freaking cool. Well, I've got a couple more questions for you. Number one, I we talked about it on the phone a little bit. What does the future for Lewis look like?
Lewis Italiano (26:10)
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (26:18)
Where do you want to go, mate? Because I think the world's your oyster.
Lewis Italiano (26:20)
Yeah, yeah, I mean, obviously doing my second trade now in carpentry. So hopefully finish that in the next next year in a bit and have a dual trade. So pretty much, you know, wherever I look from there, I can I can take myself I think like, there's been a very good opportunity to have my own business someday or, you know, take the extra qualification to go and do a building course. I think that'd be pretty cool for me. I'd love to build my own house coming up.
It's probably something that's in the pipelines at the moment and the next six months to a year, I'd love to take on that project. I think it'd be a good challenge, but also to stay involved in this ambassador sort of role and mentoring younger apprentices, that sort of thing. I do enjoy that. And I think it's a very important part going forward for Australia's building industry too.
Aaron Ng (26:48)
Yes.
Yeah.
It's a huge part, mate. It's a huge part. Like I think the future, like he said, future proofing the future of Australia's of the industry is based on future generations. And this is why it's, it's, I'm so pumped to be able to have you on the podcast. And we're so pumped that, you know, I called you up and we just wanted to get to know you. Cause I'm like, man, you are, you are the answer to what's going to happen going forward.
Lewis Italiano (27:16)
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (27:30)
So yeah, it's pretty interesting. Well, mate, I only have one more question for you, Lewis. And I reckon we do another pod very shortly because I want to catch up with you about what you're doing. But well, actually, before we get into this one, how did people stay inspired and stay in touch with you, Lewis?
Like how can some of the generations get in touch with you or how do they join your programs? Do you have, you have schedules or do you have a calendar of when your next chats are on or a social media profile they're okay to follow and things like that for you, Lewis?
Lewis Italiano (27:59)
Yeah, I mean, you can, I don't really have any, like I said, I don't do it for a job or anything. I don't have any public speaking accounts or anything like that. It's something I just do because I want to, but if you want to find me on LinkedIn or on Instagram, it's just Lewis Italiano. I'd be more than happy to have a chat or answer some questions for sure.
Aaron Ng (28:06)
Yeah, yeah.
Mmm.
Yeah, cool. Man, I reckon you might you seem like you're not this kind of guy because you seem pretty humble, but you go pretty hard. Very hard. I was like, you should almost start your own Instagram profile. And be like gold medal chippy or whatever you want to call yourself, you know, and just have like, you know, I think you would inspire honestly do man, I think you would inspire millions of Aussies, young and old to join the to join the industry.
Lewis Italiano (28:32)
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (28:44)
You know, what we do, as you know, disseminating information out digitally and try and improve the industry. I think given, given what you've achieved and the examples that you could set and some of the, the just day to day stuff that you do, you'd do a better job than us. Louis make people, people would tune into you that us and be a lot more relevant. I think it would be a great idea for you, mate. Like, I don't want to put too much weight on your shoulders, but you're an inspiring guy.
Lewis Italiano (29:08)
Hehehe.
Aaron Ng (29:10)
And I think he would inspire a lot of people. So I love it, dude. Like everything about you, what you've done and stuff like that. You don't have to do that, but you know, pretty cool, man. But as I said, I want to get you back on and want to track what you're doing, what you're up to next, send through your updates of when you're talking at the next school, any photos, we'll share anything that you do, Lewis, because you're a great ambassador for the world skills, obviously, and a great ambassador for our industry. ⁓ Yeah, mate.
Lewis Italiano (29:16)
Yeah, thanks, I appreciate it.
Yeah, cool. appreciate it. That's cool.
Aaron Ng (29:38)
It's cool. Well, I've only got one more question for you, Lewis. And it's a question that we ask every guest. In your eyes, mate, what do you think makes a good builder?
Lewis Italiano (29:49)
I think to me, a good builder is someone that's always willing to keep learning and upscaling yourself. know, so many people just go to work every day and are happy just to check in day in day out. But someone who's a good builder is going to be always learning, always open to new ideas and always trying to improve on the things that they do in their day to day. Someone that is organized and enthusiastic about their work and showing up on time, especially for apprentices, you know, like
I guess from my perspective, I could sort of talk about being a good apprentice as well, like more than a good builder. It's someone who's reliable. Someone who's reliable on time every day and someone that your boss can count on, even though you might not know everything, it's someone that your boss can rely on to be there and help out and be willing to learn day in and day out.
Aaron Ng (30:21)
Okay?
but again, love your answer, Lewis. It's, know, I think there's more to doing something well once compared to being consistently there showing up and doing the job. You know what I mean, Lewis, like just having that consistency in yourself. It's very interesting that you actually brought this up. And I love how you twisted the question and said, I to talk to what a good apprentice is. think that shows how passionate you are about it. You know,
Lewis Italiano (30:45)
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Aaron Ng (30:59)
You talk about consistency. can see through your career, man. There's just a consistent, that's what I'm saying to you. Like, all right, the beating. I'm fascinated by a man. Cause when I talked to you on the phone, I got energized after coming off the phone of you in the car before this podcast. And I'm talking to you and I'm like, there's something about you. There's something that in you that, you know, makes you special. And I think there's a lot of things, but I think one of the things is definitely that you show up that consistent.
Lewis Italiano (31:10)
Heh.
Aaron Ng (31:26)
behaviour that predictable behaviour for whoever you work for or whatever you do, you're predictable in what you do because you're to get the job done and nothing's going to stop you. And that's about it. And it's really interesting because you can, you can come up with all these technical things that make a good builder and things like that. But there's a lot of personal traits that I think make a good apprentice and a good builder. And you've got them all, man. I think it's awesome. I think it's so cool.
Lewis Italiano (31:36)
Yeah.
Thanks.
Aaron Ng (31:50)
Yeah, no worries, Lewis. Well, mate, I think that is basically the pod for today. I was so good to introduce you to our audience. You was going to be such an inspiration to so many young guys and girls out there that I think, you know, we need more people in the industry, don't we, Lewis? So it'd be so good to, you know, get you out there. You're already out there, but we're going to keep checking in with Lewis and bring you back on, mate, because I'd love to see what's, what's next for you.
Lewis Italiano (32:08)
Yeah, 100%.
Aaron Ng (32:18)
what's coming up, what you're doing when you start your own business, I think you're going to be a living case study into whatever you turn out to be. I'm not saying you're going to turn out to be a builder. You don't have to be, although we're called the good builder, but I keep saying to myself, man, I'm like, man, it would be cool if we could just like, and I said this on a pot on the podcast with Toby loft actually. And I said, it would be cool to have a living case study of someone that that's
Lewis Italiano (32:22)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Aaron Ng (32:43)
going through the motions and I'll set it to you on the phone actually. And, and you know, you can go and, and we track them, not track them, but we kind of stick close to them. We do interviews with them, see how they're going year after year and, and, see how they turn out and do it almost a living case study on a good builder. And I think you probably don't need us, but I think you'll be it, mate. So we're to stick close to you for you. it's going to be cool, man. I can't wait to watch your journey dude. Like I can't wait.
Lewis Italiano (32:47)
Mm-hmm.
That's cool.
Aaron Ng (33:10)
I'm not a jealous type of guy. I get inspired by watching other people succeed and I might man, I can do things better. So yeah, love what you do, Lewis But no, thank you so much for your time today, mate. We'll have you back on as we said. And if you want to say anything else to the audience, go ahead. Otherwise, we'll finish it up there,
Lewis Italiano (33:31)
Yeah, just thank you. Thanks, As. Thanks for having me. Yeah, I appreciate the opportunity to be on the podcast.
Aaron Ng (33:36)
Yeah.
May there'll be plenty more. I appreciate it more than I think maybe not, but more than you appreciate me. And I should, because without guys like you, we, aren't the good builder. And we've never had, as I said, we've never had an apprentice on this podcast. We've never had it. We haven't had many people of your caliber on this podcast. And I don't, I don't say that with a great assault either. You're at your, your young gentlemen. I think you've got a lot. you've got a lot to do.
and it's going to be cool. No pressure, but you're going to do some cool stuff, man. So absolutely. I'll finish it off here and mate, will have Lewis back on,
Lewis Italiano (34:05)
Nah, that's all good. I'm excited, so...
Aaron Ng (34:13)
We'll put all the links below so you can stay in touch with Lewis because we follow him and he is an inspiration to us. And yeah, as I said, mate, if you want to start that gold medal, chippy page or whatever you're going to do, I think you're going to inspire even more people. But thank you so much for your time.
Lewis Italiano (34:30)
Thank you.