2013 Regional Competitions

2013 saw the beginning of a new cycle of Regional Competitions and after another successful round, WSA is pleased to report the return of Regional Competitions to the Pilbara region in Western Australia and the introduction of new competition categories in a number of the WSA Regions across Australia including Goldfields, North Queensland, Wide Bay and Ballarat/Wimmera, signifying the growing reach of WSA across Australia.

WorldSkills Australia would like to take this opportunity to highlight one of our many successful regions in 2013, the Ballarat/Wimmera region. One of the few regions who has been continuously running successful WSA competitions since 1981.

Not only did the region hold 17 Regional Competitions this year, but the past 18 months has seen many triumphs for Ballarat/Wimmera, including the success of Tim Taylor, 2013 Automobile Technology Skillaroo and international gold medallist, at the 42^nd WorldSkills International Competition. Tim now holds the prestigious title of “Best Automotive Technician in the World”, an outstanding achievement for him, his region, his industry and his country.

Tim was the 13^th International Competitor and the second international gold medallist from the Ballarat/Wimmera Region. Peter Bailey, being the first, who won gold in the Welding category at the International Competition held in St Gallen,Switzerland in 1997.

The most recent triumph for Ballarat/Wimmera, was Patrick Janes’ crowning of the 2013 Australian Apprentice of Year at the Australian Training Awards held in Perth last month. Patrick, a past WSA Welding competitor participated in the Ballarat/Wimmera Welding Regional Competition and took home the gold medal. Patrick went on to compete at the 2012 WSA National Competition in Sydney. Patrick is fast becoming a business entrepreneur having recently bought the business in which he trained where he hopes to mentor his own Australian Apprentices in the future. Patrick hopes to stay involved with WorldSkills Australia by volunteering his time and knowledge to assist the Ballarat/Wimmera Region on their Regional Committee.

It’s great to see WSA regional competitions thriving, not only in the Ballarat/Wimmera but in all WSA regions across the nation.

WSA would like thank our State and Territory Managers, our Main Regional Coordinators and all of our wonderful volunteers who collaborated to deliver over 500 Regional Competitions across our 30 WSA Regions. We look forward to welcoming our 2013 regional champions to the 2014 WSA National Competition in Perth.