Yes, most of our trainers have lived for five or more decades – some of us are well into our seventh decades, but we check our mental health regularly and we’re still allowed to drive and live independently.
Covid 19 hasn’t beaten us, so we will keep on keeping on, transferring our knowledge and good and bad experiences to our training clients.
Really, we are as sharp as ever and having the combined experience of this group of guys is of immeasurable benefit to you, our clients.
PRINCIPAL: Brian McDonnell
CB-L 42783, BD-M 58200
A registered teacher since he was 23 yrs old (he doesn’t want to tell you how long ago that was), Brian has always had – and still has- a passion for renovating, extending and improving – much to his wife’s chagrin. (By the way, his second-storey extension at home has just started – and his wife is off in her new ( 12 years old, actually) Camper van until the dust settles – literally).
Brian has many academic qualifications, with an emphasis on financial controls but, like many older, battered builders, his degree from the School of Hard knocks is his most valuable asset.
Brian transferred from Swinburne University to Master Builders Association, having spent 12 years at each organisation whilst undertaking many commercial fit-outs and project management contracts throughout the country. Brian was the founder of Builder Registration, the country’s largest provider of such services but has moved on – some say – been moved on – to create a leaner, meaner, more economical service.
For seven years, Brian held DB-U 54577, which he has parked for a year after jointly having to put the building company into administration, mainly due to growing very quickly and not being paid by developers and financiers at critical stages. What has been learned through a difficult 2020 – and now the recovery is firmly in place and the knowledge gained is already being transferred to his growing client list.
Brian teaches most aspects of training for registration, but being an academic, not a chippy – you probably don’t want him teaching you how to set up a sub-floor (each to his own). But he reckons he’s getting better at it.
PARTNER: Ben Graham
DB-U 67805
We call him “Ben 16” – why? Because his VBA assessment was done and dusted in 16 minutes (and he reckons they talked rubbish for 5 of those 16 minutes).
Ben Graham is the ultimate builder and trainer, looks like a chippy, talks like a chippy but he is a registered builder and educated trainer.
Ben is Brian’s partner in Affordable Registration… and he’s currently build his extension.
ASSOCIATE: Eric Scott
DB-U 17130
As a full time case assessor with the DBDRV – (Domestic Building Dispute Resolution. Victoria and a qualified, registered trainer, with a current TAE and over 40 years building and educating
ASSOCIATE: Achille Costabile:
DB-U 37689
With over twenty five years building, training and project managing with large and small companies including Henley, Latitude 37 and Bricol Building projects, Achille is our designated personal coach for our client from the South Eastern suburbs.
ASSOCIATE: Steve Kinrade
DB-U 45710 and CB-L 45745
Former Head of Training at Builder Registration, Diploma trainer at BCTA, director of Clever Dick Builders, Steve is a busy boy. Did I mention he and his wife, Jo, have just finished their own development in the now rather salubrious suburb of Dromana.
Steve is currently running AR’s Technical Training classes, with clients as far away as Essendon travelling to the Morn Peninsula to avail themselves of his knowledge and ability to transfer his skills to the client.
Did I mention he and his wife, Jo, have just finished their own development in the now rather salubrious suburb of Dromana, where they live peacefully with their four cats.
ASSOCIATE: Marcus Read:
DB-U 72859
For many years Marcus has been a hands on carpenter, working mostly for high end clients in the Eastern and northern suburbs.
Being the builder of choice for his long established clientele, Marcus felt the need and the pressure to get registered in recent years and through us he is now successfully registered and is an integral part of Affordable Registration’s on-site training program.