Cooper Mann says apprenticeships offer more than just a pay cheque. The 22-year-old’s own journey—from social anxiety to national advocacy—is proof of what’s possible.
There was a time when Cooper Mann couldn’t make it through a day at school.
Crippling social anxiety meant classrooms felt impossible to navigate. Growing up queer and autistic, fitting in didn’t come easily, and finding confidence took years.
Today, the 22-year-old mechanical apprentice spends his days working on Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines, has travelled to Parliament House to advocate for apprentices and was recently recognised in South Australia’s Young Achiever Awards.
Not bad for someone who once wondered whether he’d ever find his place.
“When I was young, I was someone who couldn’t even attend school due to social anxiety stopping me from being able to cope in a classroom,” Cooper says.
“I have had to work my entire life to improve myself to become the person I am today.”
Finding his fit
An apprenticeship wasn’t always part of the plan.
Cooper was interested in the maritime industry and was fascinated by engineering, so after school he initially considered studying Nautical Science or Naval Architecture.
But during a gap year, a tour through Australian Collins Class submarine HMAS Dechaineux changed everything.
Instead of studying ships, he realised he wanted to work on them.
That decision led him to an apprenticeship with the Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) at Osborne, where he’s now in his third year as a mechanical apprentice.
And it’s exactly where he feels he belongs.
“The best part is all of it. I know I’m being set up with good skills in many areas, in an industry that will see me have a vibrant and sustainable career for decades to come,” he says.
“There’s just nothing better than taking a break and realising that I’m performing maintenance deep in the bowels of a multibillion-dollar naval submarine. It’s just so cool.”
Speaking up, making changes
Cooper didn’t wait long to make an impact.
Just a couple of months into his apprenticeship, he noticed something wasn’t right.
While reviewing safety procedures, he realised 1mm cutting discs had been banned because they were prone to shattering. Yet they were still being handed out to apprentices during training.
He raised the issue.
“They immediately banned 1mm cutting discs across the site until new procedures could be written with all the stakeholders’ input.”
It was a small observation with a big outcome – improving safety for apprentices across the site. And he was named ASC’s Safety Leader of the Year in 2024 because of it.
Finding a voice
The confidence Cooper has gained on the job has spilled into every other part of his life.
After joining the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU), he began speaking up about issues affecting apprentices and pushing for better conditions across the industry.
Before long, that advocacy had taken him all the way to Canberra, where he met with Federal Ministers for Industry and Skills Tim Ayers and Andrew Giles to discuss apprenticeships and Australia’s future workforce.
He advocated for better apprentice wages, improved TAFE funding and housing affordability for tradespeople.
“Disparities exist in almost every company in Australia. This is where I really started to push my advocacy in apprenticeships, and this is what made me push for my union to act on these issues,” he says.
Those conversations also sparked a broader interest in politics and Australia’s defence industry.
“The politics surrounding AUKUS are of particular interest to me. Not only because it directly affects my future career options but also because I believe in Australian industry being the best industry to invest in.”
He has since applied for the US Embassy’s Youth Advisory Council to continue this advocacy.
Why apprenticeships deserve another look
For Cooper, apprenticeships offer something that’s hard to ignore.
You earn while you learn, gain years of practical experience and finish with skills employers are actively looking for.
“You get paid for every hour you’re working and learning, and you come out of it with a trade in a high-paying industry with in-demand skills that guarantee you a prosperous and long career,” he says.
His journey recently earned him the South Australian Skills Commission Outstanding Apprentice Award at the Young Achiever Awards.
He was among 11 young South Australians recognised in the awards across various fields. The others were:
- Edward Robinson – Adelaide University STEM Award
- Lou Potter – Department of Human Services Pride Award
- Kahlia Gibson – Department of Human Services Aboriginal Achievement Award
- Bailee Phillips – University Senior College Create Change Award
- Amelia Griffin – Sweat Female Tech Entrepreneur Award
- Hugo Taheny – Aceit Transport Solutions Sports in the Community Award
- Suriya Down – Credit Union SA Education Award
- Madeleine Perrett – Websters Lawyers Achievement in Law Award
- Eloise Hall – Konica Minolta Career Achievement Award
- Charlee Watt – Carclew Creative Achievement Award
More than the win
But for Cooper, the biggest achievement isn’t the trophy.
It’s proving to other young people that your starting point doesn’t have to define where you end up.
“I do really want to use my position to tell other people in a situation similar to what I was in that it’s not simple or easy, but you can always achieve great things,” he says.
“No matter how much of a ‘handicap’ you feel like you have to push through, if you strive for something, you can achieve it.”
For young South Australians weighing up what’s next after school, Cooper’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t always start with university.
Sometimes it starts with taking a chance on an apprenticeship.
Find out more about apprenticeships in South Australia here. And for more information about the defence industry in SA, click here.
