A recurring fault at the mill gave Daniel Harpham an opportunity to put his EIT studies to work. After completing his advanced diploma at 45, the South Australian fitter reflects on finding answers in hydraulic schematics, studying around shifts, and preparing for his next career chapter.
A fault that kept returning at the mill gave Daniel Harpham a practical reason to look more closely at his hydraulics lessons. Working as a mechanical breakdown and shift fitter in southeastern South Australia, Mount Gambier’s softwood timber processing sector, he took on the troubleshooting task while studying the subject at the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT).
The learning helped him make sense of the system’s drawings and schematics, then trace the fault. It was a direct connection between his daily work and the 52884WA Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering Technology*, which he completed online in August 2026.
“This assisted greatly in solving a major downtime issue that had been intermittent for some time,” he says.
For someone who had wondered whether he was too old to take on further study, that experience gave the coursework an immediate purpose.
Building on Two Decades of Practical Experience
Daniel came to EIT with around 20 years of experience in manufacturing and fabrication. His working life has included production in a fast-paced meat processing plant, structural fabrication, mechanical fitting, and an industries supervisor role teaching fabrication skills in a prison workshop.
Before his metal fabrication apprenticeship, he had also worked on truck and trailer fifth-wheel couplings and pneumatic fitments. Moving into a shift role later exposed him to mechanical challenges that differed from those he had encountered in fabrication.
In his current role, his interest increasingly turned toward improvements and upgrades to the mill’s machinery. He wanted to develop the knowledge behind the equipment he worked with and build on the experience he already had.
That prompted his search for an advanced diploma in mechanical engineering. Accreditation, a suitable start date, and the time needed to complete the qualification all influenced his decision to choose EIT.
Finding Time When Both Partners Are Studying
Studying online meant fitting coursework around an already demanding working life. Daniel was working full time, taking overtime shifts, and sharing a household with his wife, who was also studying full time.
Time management became his biggest challenge. At points, he found the combined demands overwhelming.
He credits his lecturers and Learning Support Officer, Mandy Lewis, with helping him complete the modules. Their understanding and support mattered when work and study became difficult to manage together.
His account gives a realistic picture of returning to education while employed. The opportunity to study online was valuable, but completing the course still required time, effort, and people he could turn to for help.
Making Technical Learning Easier to Follow
Among his instructors, Belo Ferreira stood out for her teaching of lubrication and mechanical seals. Daniel remembers her knowledge, engagement with students, and ability to bring relevant conversation into the sessions.
Her familiarity with students’ local regions helped create a more relaxed learning experience while keeping discussions connected to the course. For Daniel, that approach made the material easier to learn.
The connection between learning and work was especially clear during the hydraulics module. He says many elements of the course appear in his everyday responsibilities, but the recurring system fault offered a specific opportunity to apply what he was studying.
Understanding the drawings and schematics helped him follow the problem through the system. The value of that learning was visible in a maintenance task at his own workplace, while the course was still underway.
Completing the Course at 45
Finishing the qualification challenged a doubt Daniel had carried about his age.
“I thought I was too old to take this on,” he says.
Completing the course with results he was pleased with, and receiving his qualification certificate, changed that view. He describes the achievement as evidence that he can pursue something he wants regardless of his age.
His next ambition is to deepen his knowledge of hydraulics, pneumatics, automation systems, and instrumentation programming. He is particularly drawn to the technical challenges of hydraulics and pneumatics and wants to develop a specialty for a future when he can no longer work on the tools.
His EIT studies have given him a foundation for that goal, alongside a practical result he can already point to at the mill. Having built on years of experience with further study, he also sees a responsibility to keep developing.
“I now must hold myself to a higher standard.”
VSL approved course, maximum tuition fee for Australian students: AUD $12,112.00
This article was published September 29th, 2026 and the content is current as at the date of publication.
