Dusti-lee Franchi

Car Painting

WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017

  • Region Perth South
  • Employer Strokes and Renk Panel and Paint
  • Training Institute South Metropolitan TAFE
  • Supported by Axalta

Dusti-lee Franchi’s career in vehicle painting began in an unlikely place – a hairdressing salon.

Dusti-lee had started training as a hairdresser but was having doubts about her career choice when inspiration hit.

“I thought, ‘Let’s give fixing cars a go!” says Dusti-lee.

“I went and asked for work experience at a panel and paint shop every Thursday and Friday while I was at school. They put me in the spray painting side and I absolutely loved it!”

Based in Perth, Dusti-lee trained at the South Metropolitan TAFE, and has not looked back.

Currently employed by Stokes and Renk Panel and Paint, she says the best part about her skill is “seeing the end result”.

“You then see what all of your hard work has done and it makes it all worth it. The end result is so satisfying, especially knowing that you’re going to make the customer very happy.”

Dusti-lee says participating in a WorldSkills competition is a “career changer” and anyone thinking about it should “just go for it”.

“Not everyone gets this chance and you would be crazy to turn it up. It has been a life changing experience … it has definitely helped me further my skills in many different ways and helped make me into the best that I could possibly be.”

Dusti-lee plans to open her own vehicle painting business and pass down her knowledge and experience to the next generation of skilled car painters.

Dusti-lee is being supported on her WorldSkills journey by Axalta.

Dusti-lee Franchi is supported by:

Expert

Brad Franklin

Brad Franklin is a passionate and motivational mentor and International Expert in Car Painting with over a decade’s commitment to WorldSkills Australia.

What Brad enjoys the most about the WorldSkills journey is enjoy watching young trades people develop their skills up to an international standard and also mature as professional along the way.