My week of work experience at AUSMAR

During the September school holidays, I was lucky enough to undergo a week of work experience at AUSMAR in Maroochydore.

Originally, I was nervous to start, skeptical of working alongside mature adults, however, as soon as I arrived I was welcomed by Josh and Bec, the team of Atelier design experts, with whom I would be spending the week.

First impressions

Q: What were your first impressions of the office/team environment?
The atmosphere of the workplace was very professional yet approachable, with a strong sense of collaboration. I noticed how colleagues worked together, asking questions and sharing ideas, which made the environment feel inclusive and welcoming.

Q: How did it feel different from school?
Compared to school, the office felt more structured and professional, but in some ways more relaxed. Without bells and teachers leading lessons, I had to hold myself accountable and rely on my own self-discipline and independence.

Learning about colour selection

During my week, I not only learnt about the steps involved in colour selection, but also how a successful company is run and how going above and beyond in customer service can foster a positive, stress-free experience for clients.

Q: What surprised you most about the colour selection process?
I was surprised by how intentional and thought-out each selection was. Before this experience I assumed colours were chosen simply because they “look good”, but I learnt that they are selected based on the mood and emotions the homeowner wants to create.

Q: Did it seem more creative or more structured than you expected?
I realised there are endless colour combinations to create a desirable space, no matter the home’s theme. The process was both creative and structured.

Creating my own dream selection

On my first day, I was given the chance to create my own colour selection for a dream home - with Josh’s help of course, I chose the most luxurious countertops and bathroom tiling!

Q: Which colours/materials stood out to you most?
I chose neutral tones such as white tiles and light finishes in the bathrooms to keep the space open and airy.

Q: Why did you pick them?
I wanted a calm and timeless base, then added depth with accent choices like burgundy tiles and Terril cabinetry.

Q: How did it feel to see your design come together?
After placing everything together in a flat-lay, I was able to visualise the overall effect - it made the design feel real and exciting.

Visiting display homes and construction sites

On Wednesday, I was fortunate to visit some of AUSMAR’s display homes and homes under construction.

Q: Which part of the construction process did you find most interesting?
Seeing how projects are managed and how different trades work together was eye-opening. I enjoyed watching the teamwork that goes into each stage.

Q: What was different seeing it in real life compared to social media?
On social media, construction looks fast and effortless. In real life, I saw the hard work, communication, and physical effort required - even for small tasks.

Behind the scenes in marketing

While visiting display homes, I also got to see how marketing and social media are used to promote the business—and I even appeared in one of the videos!

Q: How did it feel to be part of that process?
It showed me how important promotion is for building trust between the customer and the company.

Contributing to real client decisions

Across the week, I had many great opportunities - including helping a client choose their letterbox.

Q: How did it feel to contribute to a “real” client decision, even a small one?
Even with something as small as a letterbox, I could see the importance of providing practical and personalised advice to match the client’s lifestyle.

Reflections on my experience

After spending a week with the team, I can definitely see myself pursuing a similar career path in the future. Being in such a supportive environment helped me grow in confidence and knowledge every day.

I would like to thank Martina for organising this, and Josh and Bec for taking the time to mentor me. I have gained valuable insights into the workplace and a better understanding of possible career paths ahead.

Advice for future students

Q: If you could give advice to another student thinking about doing work experience, what would it be?

Choose a company with a strong culture and welcoming nature just like AUSMAR. It makes all the difference in gaining the most from your experience.