Gagan Juneja

From Accounting to Carpentry: Gagan Juneja’s Inspiring Journey at Orange College

From the Heart of India to Building a New Life in Australia

Gagan Juneja’s story is one of courage, adaptability, and following your passion. Originally from Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), a small City in the heart of India, Gagan moved to Australia in 2017 seeking better opportunities. Like many international students, he began his journey pursuing what was expected of him—a Master’s of Accounting from Victoria University—rather than what truly called to him.

“My parents wanted me to do accounting,” Gagan recalls with a smile. “I was not very good with maths. I am still not very good with maths! Sometimes I still dream that I’ve failed and wonder how I even made it to Australia.” Despite his struggles, he completed his degree, but deep down, he knew accounting wasn’t his calling.

A Pivotal Decision

Before COVID-19 hit Australia, Gagan made a bold decision that would change his life. Instead of pursuing a Professional Year Program in accounting, he chose to follow his heart and enrolled in Certificate III in Carpentry at Orange College while on a Temporary Graduate visa.
“I couldn’t see myself doing a 9-to-5 accounting job. It was really hard,” he explains. “So I decided to join Orange College, and it was fun because they were teaching creative stuff.”

The Orange College Experience: Teachers Who Transform Lives

When Gagan speaks about his time at Orange College, his enthusiasm is contagious. He credits two trainers in particular—Damian Murphy and Darren—with shaping not just his career, but his entire approach to the trade.

“Whatever Damian taught us, I’m here in front of you today because of that,” Gagan says emphatically. “Even after completion of my course, Orange College called me three or four times offering job opportunities because Damian had recommended me.”

Damian’s teaching philosophy left a lasting impression on Gagan. “He used to tell us: write whatever you think you know, even if it’s wrong. I will tell you that it’s wrong and give you the right answer. But try yourself, understand the question.” This approach taught Gagan to think critically and solve problems independently—skills that serve him to this day.

The college’s commitment to practical learning was equally impressive. “Damian had a rule: if you don’t enter the class on time, I’m not allowing you in the practical,” Gagan remembers. “This taught us discipline and respect for the craft.”

One particularly valuable piece of advice has stayed with him: “Whatever task you are doing, take a picture of it at the end. My trainer told me this, and even now when I’m creating training files, those pictures still benefit me because they show what I learned and where I learned it.”

A Multicultural Learning Environment

Orange College’s diverse student body became one of Gagan’s favorite aspects of his education. “You will see people from every single country, and everyone respects each other,” he notes. “There were Colombians, Sri Lankans, Indians, Pakistanis, Italians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysians, and Mexicans.”

This multicultural environment taught Gagan invaluable lessons about teamwork and communication. “Orange taught me how to work in a team and how to deal with different cultures,” he explains. “While some students would only team up with people from their own country, I made sure to work with people from different nationalities. This is what Orange taught us—how to work as a team.”

Building a Career: From Student to Business Owner

Gagan’s dedication at Orange College paid off in ways he never imagined. With 100% attendance and a strong work ethic, he absorbed every lesson his trainers offered. While studying carpentry, he was working in cabinet making, and he strategically used this opportunity to learn both trades simultaneously.

“I learned carpentry through studying and working, and I learned cabinet making through hard work,” he explains. “Then I merged both of them together, and now I have my own Company JUNEJA TRADE LINK PTY LTD based in Melbourne and I am running my own Interior design business.”

Today, Gagan works as a trainer at Glen Institute and with TAFE, passing on the knowledge he gained to the next generation of tradespeople. On the side, he runs his own Interior Design business with a small team, taking on projects that allow him to combine his carpentry and cabinet-making expertise.

“When you hire two trades, each one will charge you a different price. But when you’re getting a combined package of a carpenter and cabinet maker, the prices are less,” he notes, explaining his competitive advantage.

His approach to growing his business reflects the patient, quality-focused mindset his Orange College trainers instilled in him. “I don’t want to invest everything at the start. I want to go slowly and make it bigger. At the moment, making a customer happy with perfect work is more important than rushing for big jobs.”

The Value of Practical Skills

Having experienced both university education and vocational training, Gagan has a unique perspective on the value Orange College provides. His Master’s degree cost around $64,000, while his Certificate III at Orange College was just $12,000-$13,000 for the entire course.

“If you were doing the same trade course at Victoria University or RMIT or La Trobe, they would charge you a fortune—$30,000 to $40,000,” he points out. “Orange is giving you face-to-face interaction, practical training, and everything you need at a fraction of the cost. Students should utilize it.”

But for Gagan, the real value wasn’t just financial—it was about gaining skills that would last a lifetime. “You can drive Uber or do whatever you want, but if you have skills, the skills will get you money. If you have the skill in your hand, you will not go home empty-handed.”

Advice for Future Students

Gagan is passionate about sharing his wisdom with current and future students. His first piece of advice? Show up and engage.

“Do well in college and keep a good rapport with your teacher, and the college will look after you,” he emphasizes. “Giving fees and not going to college will not help you. If you pay the fees and learn something, it will help you in the future.”

He’s particularly insistent that students take their practical training seriously. “Students should always take pictures of their work, wear PPE, and actually learn something. Students don’t understand—they just want to skip classes. But if they work hard, go to college, and learn something, it will help them in the future.”

His advice for building a career is equally valuable: “Don’t rush for the dollars. If you rush for the dollars, the industry has a lot of options. First, prove your job. Make people happy, and then people will chase you. If you show them your work and do your job well, people will be happy and they will chase you.”

A Full Circle Moment

Interestingly, Gagan’s journey into trades wasn’t entirely disconnected from his roots. His father runs a successful carpentry and cabinet-making business in India, working on large-scale projects like hospitals, colleges, and five-star hotels. While his parents initially wanted him to pursue a “professional” career, Gagan has found success by following in his father’s footsteps—on his own terms and in his own way.

Even his accounting degree hasn’t gone to waste. “Having an accounting degree, it’s my choice that I don’t want to do it, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about it,” he says. “I can do my own accounts. When you’re running your own business, that knowledge comes in useful.”

A Lasting Connection to Orange College

Years after graduating, Gagan still keeps his old assessments from Orange College on his laptop. “Whenever I’m stuck with some theory knowledge, I will go and check: what answer did I give that day?” he laughs.

He continues to recommend Orange College to students he encounters in his current teaching roles. “Whenever I have new students in my other colleges, the first thing I ask them is: do you have a white card? They’ll say no, and I always recommend them to go to Orange and apply for the white card. I got my white card from Orange, and my teacher was great.”

Several of his students have transferred to Orange College after visiting for their white card training. “When they went for the white card, they loved the environment of Orange and then they moved there,” he says proudly.

Looking Forward

Now 33 years old and an Australian citizen, Gagan is planning his next educational step—a Diploma in Civil Construction Design to further enhance his trade expertise before pursuing a builder’s license.

“These days there are many builders using different licenses and making houses without knowing the ABCs of the building industry,” he observes. “It’s better to learn the trades, take your time, learn what expertise you want, and then go for the industry.”

His nine-year journey from accounting student to successful tradesperson and educator exemplifies the transformative power of finding your true calling and pursuing it with dedication.

Gagan’s story is a testament to Orange College’s commitment to practical, quality education and the life-changing impact of passionate trainers. His success proves that with the right support, dedication, and willingness to learn, international students can build thriving careers in Australia’s trades industry.