Carl Dillon

I have been a plumber for the past 40 years having run my own business and sub-contracting to other plumbers over that time. I have experience in supervising job sites large and small, managing staff, organising material delivery to site, arranging time schedules and liaising with architects, builders and other contractors, quoting jobs and supervising apprentices. I have experience in all aspects of plumbing including gas, sewer, roofing, drainage and have managed varying job sites including water and sewer mains to housing estates; asbestos removal; factory and domestic roofing; fire services; caravan park sewerage main; commercial and domestic pump systems; gas, electric and solar hot water services. I have a great deal of practical experience in home maintenance including tiling, painting, mechanical repairs, lock repairs. I have experience in welding, chainsaw and power tool usage. I believe I can utilise my skills and expertise at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service. I have a full Victorian Heavy Rigid Manual Driver’s Licence and also have experience in operating small machinery such as diggers, tractors, and ride-on mowers. I am punctual, reliable and honest and prepared to obtain a Working With Children Card.

I am a team contributor with strong organisational capabilities, experienced in handling numerous projects at once while ensuring accuracy. I am effective in prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines.

I bring strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to new tasks. I am adaptable and results-oriented with a committed attitude to making meaningful contributions and advancing organisational goals.

• Licenced Plumber since 1986.
• Accredited Plumber and Gas fitter.

1. Demonstrated competence and knowledge to perform a range of mechanical repairs and maintenance to machinery. 

 Previously I have lived on acreage and was responsible for maintaining our ride-on-mower.  I would keep the mower functional by replacing spark plugs, changing oil filters and oil, replace blades, belts and troubleshoot any issue that presented to ensure it work efficiently around our farm.

2. Proven ability to diagnose faults, problem solve and achieve optimum solutions. 

I attended a job at my local Recreation Reserve to replace the cisterns in the public toilets.  The cisterns required parts that were no longer made for the model. I was able to replace two of the cisterns that were mounted differently to the third being in the Disability toilet.  This particular cistern was recessed in the wall therefore was going to be difficult and more costly to replace.  To alleviate the cost, I used parts from the other two dismantled cisterns to fix the Disability toilet whilst still being able to keep to the recommended specifications for function of the toilet.

3. The ability to work in and contribute to a high functioning team. 

I was working on an Architecturally designed house build where the roof line was customised and not your average type.  Some of the roofing sheets were quite long and would need to be transported to the site on a semi-trailer.   The driveway to the property was long and winding.  I raised with the house owners how they planned to get the roofing sheets to the building site as the semi-trailer would not be able to navigate the driveway with the lengthy roofing sheets.  The owners had not realised this was going to be a problem.  I was able to liaise with the owners, builder and delivery driver to formulate a plan to get the sheets safely to the site.  The semi-trailer attended the property to where he could negotiate the driveway, then a crane was used to lift the sheeting from the truck to the job site.  The roof sheets were delivered to the site without incident.

4. Computer literacy, with a demonstrated ability to learn new systems with suitable support. 

I am able to communicate with my clients via email and messenger.  I use the internet to research information, pay bills and keep in touch with friends and family via Facebook.  I use Quikbooks for my business and am able to raise invoices, record payments, record expenditure and complete GST summary for my quarterly reports and payments.  Although my computer knowledge is somewhat limited, with support I have the ability to learn new systems.

5. High level interpersonal skills and the proven understanding of the need for effective communication within a team based service environment.

I currently attend to accommodation apartments in Metung for routine plumbing work but also after hours if required.  I work closely with the managers and am respectful with the guests when sometimes having to interrupt their stay.

Recently one of the apartments had a water leak and it was found that the flick mixer tap in the bathroom had deteriorated causing a flood of water to the apartment.  I conferred with the manager of the site to discuss this issue with the owners of each apartment and was able to negotiate a fair price for the replacement of the flick mixer taps in their respective properties.

6. Proven ability to learn and apply departmental specific procedures and practices. 

Recently I was asked to install a gas heater in a home owned by a close friend.  Once at the site, I realised the gas heater was second hand but my friend wanted me to install it to save him money.  I explained that I would not install the heater as firstly I could not provide a Certificate of Compliance and secondly it was against Plumbing regulations to do so.  I further explained that if the appliance was faulty and caused an issue such as leaking gas, I would be held responsible and I was not prepared to put someone's life on the line or risk being deregistered as a Plumber.

7. Demonstrated highly developed customer focus.

I was asked to attend at a unit where the customer was having difficulty accessing her bath safely due to glass screens being placed around the bath to accommodate the overhead shower.  The glass partitions did not allow the customer to turn on the tap from outside the bath and having mobility issues, the customer was being put at risk of falling and possible burns due to having to get into the bath to turn on the taps.  I was able to remove the glass, install a rod and curtin around the bath which enabled the customer safe and direct access to taps from outside the bath.

8. Proven ability to work autonomously and without close supervision, including good organisational skills. 

The referees I have nominated in my application will attest to my ability to work autonomously and without supervision.  I have completed many building jobs for both builders and am often on the job site completing my work whilst they are not present.  I was working on a site where the roof had almost been completed and another tradesperson had been on the roof completing the stone work of the chimney.  I attended to finalise the capping on the roof and realised that this tradesman had used an angle grinder on the roof and had caused damage to the roofing sheets with sparks from the grinder. I informed builder of the damage that had been caused..

9. A responsible and flexible approach to tasks with a demonstrated mature work attitude. 

I am able to maintain composure under pressure, offer solutions to problems rather than focus on the constraints.  I listen actively and treat customers and fellow tradesmen with respect.  I currently have a customer who has been in and out of hospital without notice and several times I have had to adapt my schedule to fit in with his medical appointments and hospital stays.

10. A mature understanding of the Work Health and Safety framework.

I have a mature understanding of Work Health and Safety adhering to regulations, practicing safe procedures in the workplace, conducting risk assessments and ensuring I take care of my own safety and that of others on the site.  I have had to engage with other site members in health and safety decisions. I consult with other site attendees prior to commencing work such as drilling, grinding and use of noisy machinery.

I worked on a new build where I realised some of the batten joins in the roof were not placed correctly and if you were to stand on them you would have gone straight through them.  I brought this issue to the attention of the builder who had not realised the issue as his apprentice had been completing the battens.  I insisted this issue be fixed and scaffolding to be erected before I would install the roof.  The battens were completed correctly and with the scaffolding in place I was able to complete the roof safely.