I completed the “Fell Trees Manually (Intermediate)” Training provided by Interlink in Loganholme and Doonan on the 9th and 10th of October 2024. I am a Trainer Assessor myself. My qualifications include a Cert IV in Training and Assessment, Cert IV WHS, Cert III Carpentry and Joinery, and Cert III Cabinetmaking, as well as a number of other skillsets and competencies across firefighting, forestry, WHS, electrotechnology, health and training. I’ve been both a trainee and a trainer for a few decades and have seen a lot of trainers at work, both as a student and a trainer.
In 2012 I completed FPIFGM3204A Fall Trees Manually (Intermediate) as the Qld Rural Fire Service required me to have this competency to be able to use a chainsaw during firefighting activities. At the time I’d been using chainsaws as a farmer, carpenter and firefighter for around 30 years already and was not pleased to have to undergo the training. I found it an absolute waste of time and learnt literally nothing.
I’m currently semi-retired and self employed delivering training in first aid, WHS, agricultural chemicals, and chainsaw use (Fall Trees Manually, Basic). My partner RTO required me to retrain as my competency is no longer equivalent which brought me to your course.
I found my trainer, Sascha Seifritz, to be an engaging and knowledgeable trainer. He is an absolute subject matter expert and I was learning the moment he started talking to us in the classroom. I was also really happy to see how well he was able to communicate to his students, some of whom were probably not happy being in a classroom.
Sascha was able to explain even relatively complex concepts and processes in a manner that made it possible for anyone to understand them. He put a lot of effort into supporting his students to complete their theory work which, I know from personal experience, can be one of the most difficult aspects of training delivery. I am certain that you would have a lower successful completion rate with a trainer who put in the average or usual amount of effort.
Once we got out into the field on our second day, it was obvious that Sascha has a huge wealth of knowledge and experience that underpins his training delivery. Despite the rain, Sascha was able to keep the practical activities moving safely and selected activities for each student that were tailored to their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Sascha supports his students to enable them to gain knowledge and competency, which, from my observations and experience, is often not the case. This training has hugely expanded my knowledge around tree felling as well as giving me some strategies for my own training delivery.
I would thoroughly recommend Interlink, and Sascha, for anyone who requires training in this field. I thoroughly enjoyed my two days of training; they were an absolute standout from all the training I’ve observed over the last couple of decades.
– Michael Vandersar
