Entrepreneur | Investor | Champion of Learning
Meet Paratene
Entrepreneur, Investor & Co-Founder at SCAFFKiT
Commencing his scaffolding journey as a yard hand at Boral Formwork & Scaffolding, he progressively moved onto work sites, attaining licenses and tickets to perform high risk activities in very challenging and demanding environments within the construction, defence, mining, marine, oil and gas sectors.
At age 29, Para was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, requiring 12 months of intensive treatment including chemotherapy, radiation treatment, a bowel resection and an ileostomy bag. During the initial diagnosis, the importance of his mental health was recognised and it was suggested by his former employer to consider starting an online scaffolding tools business. It worked! For 12 months, Para kept his head busy by searching the entire globe for scaffolding tools whilst simultaneously completing a Cert IV in Training & Assessment. The following year, SCAFFKiT was formed and he returned to full time employment.
Throughout Para’s employment, he forged a long standing and valuable reputation with his employer, clients and customers by displaying numerous personal attributes required to be part of a high performance team and a successful organisation. His professional expertise earnt him promotions through the ranks from leading hand to supervisor to a Marine & Industrial Area Manager for Scafwest, managing a successful defence contract on the Australian Collins Class submarines for 10+ years. During this time, he also obtained a Diploma of Leadership & Management to improve and impact his foundational skills. Para demonstrated exceptional resilience to be able to work a full time role, long hours, and most weekends for 10+ years, whilst also working on SCAFFKiT after hours.
In 2022, Para took a leap of faith, with the support of his employer, to follow his long life dream of operating his own business full time. SCAFFKiT then transitioned from a sole trader to an incorporated company. Through adversity, innovation and combining over 30+ years of experience in the scaffolding industry Para and Mary are proud to have built SCAFFKiT from the ground up to a seven figure company.
Para is a staunch advocate for personal development and men’s health. With core business values of integrity, excellence and innovation, Para is looking to expand his horizons with partnerships, investment opportunities, mergers and/or acquisitions.