My name is Youzy Vasquez and I recently completed a Certificate III level Arboriculture climbing course [AHARB319 and AHARB318] with Interlink Training in Queensland. Sascha Seifritz was the trainer.

This was the first time I had dealt with Interlink Training. I found the first phone call, to the last minute of my course and through to promptly receiving my completion certificate, to be very professional. My initial questions were quickly directed to Interlink National Training Manager (Short Courses), Sarita Edwards, who answered all my questions thoroughly and promptly sent me the information I needed.

The training delivered was of the highest quality and I felt a high expectation from me as a student. This was refreshing compared to the usual attitude every other trainer I have been too had, which is ‘just get the answers down on paper as we have lots get through’ and being left feeling like a whirlwind went through without enough time to absorb any of the information “taught”. I write taught in inverted commas as it feels these days you are not taught anything, you are thrown information and told where to write down that info in your assessment.

During these courses however, we were taught with emphasis on actually learning the subject matter, not just to put the right answers on the assessment. Despite being a group course, the information was individualised for each student with Sascha making sure we knew what we were learning to the best of our ability. Given the varying levels of experience and spectrum of industries represented in the course, this was a testament to Sascha’s interest in each student’s industry requirements.

In my 45 years of life, I have avoided most long courses and have invariably done many, many short courses, such as what I recently completed with Interlink. In the powerline vegetation management industry, which I am in now, it feels like we are constantly doing these short format type courses to renew and update our qualifications.

Sascha managed to deliver the best short course I have ever attended. Saying he has a natural flair for teaching is an understatement. He is an absolute wealth of information on the industry, but is still humble and open to network with the students to find out how to keep learning and keep on top of the game.

There are so many things I want to make note of, and the many nuances that make his teaching style so effective, that I have dot pointed the observations I made, although there are still positive points that I have missed.

• Sascha’s knowledge about the industry is a given, however from the conversations he was having with the more experienced men currently in the tree climbing business, it was evident that he is 100% on top of all the current developments. Many questions were fired at him about recent new releases in technology, teaching advances, and upcoming releases which he was able to address and answer thoroughly without blinking an eyelid.
• Sascha seamlessly networked with students as to each of their specific needs for their particular fields that required the addition of climbing and climber rescue. I observed Sascha educating the students, and himself, through networking about the future of teaching this course and placing himself as a pioneer in preparing to deliver courses that will more specifically suit these newer emerging industries requiring climbing and aerial rescue related skills.
• There was a perfect balance between speed of delivery of the course and thoroughness and quality of the information needing to be delivered, whilst still keeping it interesting and fun to learn.
• Sascha created an air of high expectation from us as students. I actually don’t even know how he does that or why I have never felt it in any other short course but it should be standard!
• Intuitively, Sascha kept track of where each student’s mind space was at. He pushed us students past our comfort zones where required, while still protecting our safety. At one stage, he noticed a particular student beginning to ‘psych’ themselves out by watching difficulties other students were having in completing the practical assessment. Sascha encouraged that student to step up and be next. It was quite phenomenal seeing him pick up on all these things. To deliver the quality instruction and attention that Sascha gives to such a complex course, I feel you’d need two instructors to replace him.
• Sascha has an otherworldly attention to detail! He could be answering someone’s question and then quickly glance up to the student completing the next stage of the practical assessment at height in a tree and identify exactly what was slightly unsafe or what might be a better technique or best practice. This was particularly important given this course is often a matter of life and death if not carried out correctly.

Overall, Sascha created an amazing team environment of positivity and encouragement amongst all the students. We would arrive in the morning to everything seamlessly planned and already set up, where required, before class even started.

I highly recommend your organisation to anyone and already have another guy, along with myself, interested in completing the Cert III in Arboriculture through you.

Thank you to the whole Interlink team for delivering such wonderful courses. I wish Interlink all the best in the future.