How to become a laboratory technician

To find out how you acquire the skills to work in a lab The Daily Telegraph reporter Gary Smith talks to NSW TAFE teacher Sandy Pitchfork and student Anna Yu. The two explain the range of activities required including the application of technical and scientific knowledge including environmental analysis, chemical testing and forensic testing, as well as analysing and reporting data.

Sandy Pitchfork, head teacher of the Diploma of Laboratory Technology (Chemical and Forensic Testing) at TAFE NSW-South Western Sydney Institute.

Ms Pitchfork is proud to say that students who complete the course graduate with the skills and experience to enter the workforce straight away.

“Students complete a large amount of practical work as part of the course, probably about 75 per cent,” she says. “It’s effectively a simulated workplace so students become totally familiar with the instrumentation and the settings of a laboratory. That’s one reason why we get many university students doing our course because they’ve gained the knowledge, but not necessarily the skills, needed to become a laboratory technician.”

Ms Pitchfork, a teacher at TAFE NSW for almost 40 years, says students gain the skills to be able to conduct analysis on petroleum, cosmetics, plastics, pharmaceuticals, paint, and environmental elements such as water, air, soil and noise. There is also a forensic flavour to the course where students analyse material from crime scenes.

“If the students don’t go on to become lab technicians, they will most likely matriculate to further courses such as lab operations or chemical science,” she says.

Ms Pitchfork believes successful students need to be diligent and focused on detail and, crucially, be able to work as a team.

Student Anna Yu is quickly running out of room to house the collection of awards she has won during her studies at TAFE NSW.

She took home four prestigious awards, including a Royal Australian Chemical Institute gong for outstanding achievement, and topped the state rankings in the course with 86.2 per cent before graduating last year.

Now, in 2011, the International Year of Chemistry, Yu is working in the environment and food sections of a laboratory in North Ryde.

Ms Yu comes from a background in the industry. When she was growing up in China two of her uncles were senior chemical engineers. When she came to Australia, she needed the extra qualifications to enable her to get work here.

“I really enjoyed the flexible work and study environment at TAFE NSW,” she says. “There’s a lot of practical work involved in the course, the hands-on skills you need in the workplace. There’s lots of attention to detail, you have to be very precise and accurate, and I love that aspect of the work.”
In her current job Yu works on analysis of water and sediment as well as pesticides in food. She plans to stay in the industry and is considering doing a university degree in environmental science.

Snapshot

Course: Diploma in Laboratory Technology (Chemical and Forensic Testing), National code: MSL50109, TAFE NSW Course No: 19417
Cost for 2011: $637 per semester, $1274 per year
Entry requirements: There are no formal educational requirements.