Rowan Diggins

Training Institute: TAFE NSW – Riverina Institute, Wagga Wagga Campus
Regional Results: Gold
National Results:  Silver
Qualification: Certificate III in Electrotechnology

“WorldSkills Australia has given me the opportunity to meet interesting people, make new friends and learn things about my skills and myself as a person. It provided me with new experiences that previously, I never thought were available to me.”  

Upon completing year 12, Rowan Diggins, was unsure of what he wanted to do. He did know, however, that he wanted take on a trade and he began researching his options. Rowan was lucky enough to find an electrical apprenticeship with Carter Holt Harvey, an Australian timber mill manufacturer which produces timber-based products for external and internal construction needs.

Rowan is now a maintenance electrician for the company and enjoys the versatility of the job, “although all of my work is based in one location, I am doing something different every day,” says Rowan. He also enjoys working in a team environment.

The Manufacturing Team Challenge is one of two team categories that Australia competed in at the International Competition. Rowan  competed together with Phillip Matthews-Frederick and Mathew McGlashan in Leipzig, Germany. These three young men trained individually and as a team, despite the geographical barriers.

Expert

Brent Butler

Brent is a toolmaker at the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University. Brent won a gold medal at the
2005 WorldSkills International Competition in Helsinki as a member of the Manufacturing Team Challenge category. He has also acted in Judge and Chief Judge roles at the 2008 and 2012 WSA National Competitions. Brent’s first international judging role
came in 2009 where he was given the position as Expert in Calgary, Canada. Brent was then promoted to the role of Chief Expert for the 2011 International Competition, a position he will again hold in 2013 in Leipzig, Germany. As Expert of MTC, Brent’s aim is to help the three MTC competitors reach their full potential. His advice to his team is, “work hard during your preparation and training, it’s amazing how quickly the competition will come around.”