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Siosi Koka: A journey from hospitality to parts interpretation

We caught up with Siosi Koka, a recent graduate of our Certificate III in Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreter) traineeship at McIntosh & Son, to learn about her journey into parts interpretation following a 20-year career in hospitality as she shares insights into the course and student life with McIntosh Training Academy.

Tell me about how your new career path came about, and what made you lean into a career in parts? Did you have any prior interest?

I came from a hospitality background and having spent 20 years in the industry working in New Zealand, the Gold Coast and Katanning, I was looking for a change.

My sister, Zarn, who’s the Warehouse Manager at McIntosh & Son Katanning, suggested I join her working in warehouse operations, so I made the shift. Five months after I started, management asked me if I wanted to enrol in the Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreter) certificate with McIntosh Training Academy and make a go of it!

How far along are you in your training?

I’ve completed the certificate portion of the program. The complete course is split into two parts: two years for the certificate and the next two years will be the McIntosh Milestone program.

I’ve done the certificate side of it so far. The Milestone program is more about working in the business and understanding customer needs. We each have a mentor, and mine is one of our customers.

I get to visit their property and see day-to-day tasks; we go harvesting, seeding and spraying. I also get to understand the challenges they face, which is anything from crops and livestock to breakdowns and how they’re managed.

I’ve learnt a lot of farmers lean on their Australian or New Zealand ingenuity, often making temporary fixes until the correct parts arrive. It’s a great learning experience.

It sounds like the extra context and mentorship has been really helpful.

Yes, absolutely. Both Jackson, another trainee, and I were the newest trainees. Everyone else in the course was already working in parts interpreting or had prior experience. Jackson and I were both warehouse prior to the course, so we began with a different foundation to the other students.

With limited parts knowledge, how has the course helped your understanding of parts and parts interpretation?

It’s definitely helped. Early in the course we visited McIntosh & Son Wongan Hills and went over a New Holland combine and that’s when it all clicked. We had a Service Technician take us through the machine in the classroom, then walked outside and he demonstrated the area of the combine he was talking about.

That hands-on experience from the classroom to the workshop and seeing what we were learning about in real-time solidified everything for me. Having everything at your fingertips at any of the McIntosh & Son dealerships puts everything into perspective and makes my job makes sense.

Having started in the warehouse, when did you transition into parts interpreting, and how long did that process take?

We started the course in February and by September I was at the parts counter full-time. If a trainee didn’t already have a job in another part of the business, they’d likely be fast-tracked to the parts desk to start learning there.

If you hadn’t done the traineeship and had just started working in parts, how long do you think it would’ve taken to gain the same level of understanding?

I think completing the traineeship was beneficial because you have structured time to learn, alongside practical experience, and makes a big difference. Without the theory and the hands-on training, it would’ve taken much longer to get up to speed.

You mentioned there’s a lot of support from people within the parts business at McIntosh & Son. Could you tell me some more about that?

Yes sure. When I moved to the parts counter full-time, my colleagues were there to answer questions, mentor us and guide us through processes. In addition to the team, we have a Parts Manager at each branch and Regional Parts Manager who is happy to help. There is a great core base of people who are very knowledgeable and happy to assist.

We always make sure the customer knows we’re training, and they’re always eager to help us learn. The overall support really makes a difference.

Can you describe a typical day in the life of a Parts Interpreter?

It’s a priority-based role, so once you’ve come in and set up for the day any service technicians or customers who are at the dealership take priority. Between customers you’re returning customer calls, merchandising the parts showroom and processing stock orders.

Who would you say suits the Certificate III Automotive Sales (Parts Interpreter) course?

Anybody. Even if you’re not sure what you want to do, it’s suitable for any age group and is a great way to explore. Our traineeship has an age range from 19 to 42.

I didn’t know what I was doing at the beginning and wanted to see how it would go. For me, the first six months took some adjustment because I’m not from a parts background and there was a lot to learn, but once I got into the flow of everything it’s quite interesting.

How have the lecturer’s supported you throughout the course?

The lecturers are fantastic. They share all their knowledge and if they don’t know an answer off the top of their head, they’ll source that information.

They’re also supportive on a personal level as well. I’ve got four kids and a partner, which is a lot to coordinate while I was away for workshop training, but they’ve been understanding and accommodating.

What excites you about the future?

After graduating, I was promoted to Assistant Parts Manager, so there’s always room for growth. Learning more is what I’m most excited about. I’ve only been in parts for 2 years, so I’m excited to keep learning, perfecting and honing the skills I’ve learnt throughout the certificate.

Interested in a career in Ag?

McIntosh Training Academy is committed to providing a high-quality, immersive learning experience for apprentices like Siosi. With a focus on practical, real-world skills and personalised training, the Academy is shaping the next generation of parts interpretation professionals.

For more information about McIntosh Training Academy and its apprenticeship programs, visit mcintoshacademy.com.au

We are always looking for passionate and enthusiastic people to fill a range of roles within our dealerships. If you think you can add value to our team, head to our website for current opportunities, or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.