This year, we want to shine a light on some of those people, and celebrate all they do for our competitors and our organisation. In part one of our ongoing series, we speak to Fiona Larkings, mother of Clinton Larkings, who represented Australia in Industrial Mechanics Milwright at the 2019 WorldSkills International Competition.

For Fiona Larkings, there was never really any question that her son Clinton would end up working with his hands. He was the type of kid who showed an affinity for anything mechanical at an early age – so much so that at school, he became the go-to person for anyone who needed something fixed.

After finishing Year 12 with impressive marks, Clinton’s love for mechanics and engineering saw him take on an apprenticeship in Dubbo, rather than following his friends to uni.That choice, Fiona says, was one that was difficult for Clinton. In turning down an offer to study mechanical engineering at uni in favour of an apprenticeship, her son missed out on the uni experience, while also having to deal with people who had misconceptions about TAFE.

While a difficult choice, it was one that ended up paying off for Clinton, who won Silver in Industrial Mechanic Milwright at the 2019 WorldSkills International Competition in Kazan, Russia.

Training for Internationals wasn’t exactly a picnic, especially for someone whose mother describes him as “a bit of a perfectionist”, and who went into the competition aiming to be the best. Clinton’s training saw him rack up plenty of long hours, new and improved skills, and more than a few blisters.

For his proud parents – who jumped at the rare opportunity to travel overseas to support their son – seeing Clinton compete and succeed on an international stage was a thrilling moment, and one that validated Clinton’s decision to pursue an apprenticeship rather than attend university.

“There’s no way he would have achieved what he did with WorldSkills at uni,” says Fiona.

The post What it means to be a WorldSkills parent appeared first on WorldSkills Australia.

Two of WorldSkills Australia’s dedicated volunteers have had their service formally recognised by WorldSkills International with a Certificate of Merit.

Peter’s WorldSkills journey began in 2010, as a Project Writer in Turning. Since then, he’s gone on to wear a number of WorldSkills hats, including Regional Judge, National Judge, National Skill Manager for Metals & Engineering, Expert in Polymechanics/Automation, 2015 Deputy Chief Expert Industrial Mechanic Millwright , 2017/2019 Chief Expert Industrial Mechanic Millwright, and Chief Expert and Project Designer for the Global Skills Challenge in 2015 and 2017.

As Deputy Chief and Chief Expert for Industrial Mechanic Millwright, Peter was instrumental in the implementation of the skill alongside Skill Competition Manager and Chief Expert Craig Brazil.

Under’s Peter’s guidance, three WorldSkills Australia competitors have achieved silver medals at the WorldSkills International Competition.

“I have worked in education for a number of years and the opportunities WorldSkills provides young people to showcase their talents within their chosen skill or trade is truly remarkable. I have seen firsthand how being a part of WorldSkills can change your life and career opportunities in the most positive of ways”

Peter Buttenshaw

Sarah’s journey began in 2001, when she entered a WorldSkills Australia Regional competition in Graphic Design Technology. From there, she went on to compete at both a National and International level, coming home with a gold medal from the 2003 WorldSkills International Competition in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Since then, Sarah has used her expertise to help guide the next generation of WorldSkills Australia competitors, taking on roles as a Regional Judge, National Judge, National Chief Judge, National Project Designer, International Expert, Deputy Chief Expert, International Skill Competition Manager and, most recently, a Skill Assessment Advisor for the WSA National Championships in 2021.

“I wrote my Masters thesis on the benefits of the WorldSkills programme which gave me time to reflect on the true impact that the WorldSkills platform provides students, teachers, parents, employers and the economy. It provides people with a wealth of transferrable skills that are of exceptional value for any employer. WorldSkills creates industry leaders and I can’t image my life without it’”

Sarah Jones

We want to take this opportunity to congratulate Peter Buttenshaw and Sarah Jones on this honour, and to thank them for their many years of service as role models and mentors for young Australians.

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As the year has progressed and with monitoring of both the domestic and international environments, it has become clear that, although there now does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel, there still exists uncertainty around some logistical aspects which may affect the event.

After careful consideration and in collaboration with our event partners, the Western Australian Government as well as major event stakeholders, WorldSkills Australia have made the decision to move the WorldSkills Australia National Championships & Skills Show to 26 – 28 August in 2021.

We are thrilled that we have been able to secure these event dates with the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre with the support of the Western Australian Government and Western Australian Metropolitan TAFE’s we cannot wait to bring all the excitement and exhilarating competition of the WorldSkills Australia National Championships to Perth in 2021 as planned.

Our talented competitors have displayed resilience and tenacity to embrace new opportunities and enhance their skill level and employability through their dedication to the National Training Programme, which will be extended to ensure competitors have the opportunity to continue to engage with their peers and mentors so they are at their peak when the Championships commence. WorldSkills Australia wishes to acknowledge both the competitors and our volunteers (judges and mentors) who have embraced this new initiative and rose to the challenge of training their way to WA.

The delay in the National Championships will not affect the opportunity of a further pathway for any competitors (in eligible skills) of representing Australia at an International Competition, as  WorldSkills International officially announced the postponement of WorldSkills Shanghai 2021 by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UPDATED KEY DATES – National Championships 2021

• Familiarisation & Opening Ceremony
  • Wednesday 25 August 2021

• Competition Dates
  • Thursday 26 August 2021 – Competition Day 1
  • Friday 27 August 2021 – Competition Day 2
  • Saturday 28 August 2021 – Competition Day

• Closing Ceremony
  • Sunday 29 August 2021 – Closing Ceremony

We understand that this decision will be disappointing for some of you, but we also know that this decision is in the best interests of everyone involved in the event and we appreciate the understanding and support of our talented WorldSkills Australia community, at this time. We encourage you to follow all Government guidelines to maintain your health and wellbeing, and we look forward to seeing you all face to face, ready to witness greatness, discover potential, and explore skills excellence at Australia’s largest trades and skills competition in 2021!

We will be keeping you up to date in the lead up to the event over the coming months, so don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and refer to our website if you have any questions.

The post Update on the 2021 WorldSkills National Championships & Skills Show appeared first on WorldSkills Australia.

WorldSkills Australia (WSA) today announced it is working with Amazon Web Services Inc.(AWS) to inspire young people to develop a passion for technology skills and excellence, through training and education programs.

The WorldSkills Australia regional competition is a one-day cloud skills competition, supported by the AWS Academy and AWS Educate programs, which will provide in-person cloud computing courses, AWS Academy accredited educators, and learning resources to member institutions to help them prepare for the virtual competition.

WSA is a social enterprise that passionately believes skills drive the future of young people, and focuses on driving technology-focused skill acquisition in Australia, and around the world. With industry support from AWS, WSA can continue to champion skills excellence in vocational, technological, and service-oriented careers. It will also continue to highlight the importance of high-quality teaching and learning, and the value of competition as a tool to showcase skill excellence in Australia on a regional and national level.

WSA holds more than 500 regional competitions in 34 regions across Australia, including Cyber Security, Web Design and Programming. These competitions test and help cultivate the skills of more than 4,000 young Australians.

The competitions provide participants and trainers with advice, practical productivity-based training, and development in skills such as cloud computing, and the opportunity to put these skills to the test. By building this mindset, WSA supports diverse participants compete in WSA competitions and helps broaden the adoption of these attitudes and skills in the workplace, bringing to life enhanced performance and career success.

Iain Rouse, Country Director for Australia and New Zealand, Worldwide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services Australia Pty Ltd, said, “AWS’s collaboration with WorldSkills Australia enables us to continue our investment in building diverse local talent, by making training available to more people. Cloud skills are in higher demand than ever before, and it is our mission to enable all people at any point in their education journey, as well as the current workforce, to upskill or reskill for the future.”

Trevor Schwenke, CEO at WorldSkills Australia said, ‘’The collaboration with AWS is a significant step forward for WorldSkills Australia’s vision of benchmarking skills excellence both domestically and internationally.  It will ensure that young Australians develop skills that are world leading which in turn will allow business and industry in Australia to compete in the global marketplace.  Digital skills and the use of technology is critical in many workplaces today and we are pleased to be working with AWS to help promote these pathways.’’

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The Hon Steve Irons | Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships

The way we train, learn and teach may have been turned on its head this year, but the Australian Government applauds WorldSkills Australia for its continuing work championing skills training for young people.

Its ten month training program ahead of next year’s National Championships will use the latest technology to ensure up to 500 participants can continue to hone their skills, no matter where they live.

This is the kind of program that will help build the skills Australia needs to kickstart a COVID-19 economic recovery.

It’s terrific to see how WorldSkills Australia has adapted to these challenging times and put together a comprehensive plan to get the best out of our vocational education and training students.

The webinars, Zoom meetings, Facebook groups and ‘digital badges’ will help ensure our participants are at the peak of their form, covering over 50 skills and trades.

Through events like WorldSkills, as well as the Australian Training Awards later this year, National Skills Week is a great opportunity for people to find real skills for real careers.

Like WorldSkills, the Australian Government has reacted quickly to support skills and training in response to the pandemic.

We have committed $3.3 billion in funding towards skills development as part of the JobMaker strategy, designed to set up Australia for economic success over the next three to five years.

This includes $500 million for the establishment of the JobTrainer Fund, which is expected to provide up to 340,700 training places in areas of genuine need.

We’re also providing an extra $1.5 billion for the Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage, on top of the $1.3 billion already committed, so employers can continue training the next generation of plumbers, hairdressers, chefs and many other trades.

I congratulate the participants, trainers and volunteers for taking on the challenge.

I’ll be closely following your journey ahead of the WorldSkills Australia National Championships which will be held in my home state of Western Australia next year.

I’m confident we will build a team to take on the world at the International Competition in Shanghai, 2021.

The post Message from Steve Irons MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships appeared first on WorldSkills Australia.

Where other teams may be working on building those key features of a successful team – such as trust, respect and communication – Georgia and Bryce, who have been dating for two and a half years, already have that on lock.

The pair, who are studying at Box Hill Institute in Melbourne, have both long had an interest in IT, and decided this year to start building their skills in the industry.

Strengthening their team even further is the fact that Bryce and Georgia have different, but very complementary skillsets, with Bryce showing a talent for offence, and Georgia having an affinity for defence.

While some industries are seeing significantly reduced demand in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, cyber security is not one of them. In fact, skills in cyber security are more in demand than ever, with attackers taking advantage of the fact that so many organisations are currently running on skeleton staff.

As well as training for Nationals, Georgia and Bryce are starting to think about where their careers in cyber security will take them. Georgia, who previously studied Fashion Marketing and has a flair for design, is looking towards Cyber Forensics or Network Design, while Bryce is looking towards Penetration Testing.

While the pair have high hopes for winning big at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships next year, it looks like no matter where they land, they both have successful careers ahead of them.

The post National Skills Week: Introducing Bryce Campbell and Georgia Cazdow, Cyber Security appeared first on WorldSkills Australia.

Bricklaying was not the career path Monique Juratovac saw for herself when she was younger.

The Perth-based bricklaying apprentice initially embarked on a career in hairdressing – but after completing her three-year apprenticeship, as well as an additional year of industry experience, she knew it wasn’t for her.

While searching for a new calling, Monique decided to do a trial run with a bricklaying family friend – and she hasn’t looked back.

It’s a trade where she gets to work outside, be hands-on, and still harness that creativity and eye for detail that initially led her to hairdressing.

Since discovering her love for bricklaying, Monique has focused on making a career in the industry a reality, and is now doing an apprenticeship with ABN Group, a leading construction and property group based out of WA

Given her passion for the field, as well as the consistently great feedback she’s received during her apprenticeship, it’s unsurprising that Monique decided to compete at a WorldSkills Australia regional competition in 2019, where she received a gold medal for bricklaying, and, as a result, a spot at the upcoming WorldSkills Australia National Championships due to be held in Perth in May 2021.

Like so much of the up-and-coming skilled talent across Australia, Monique will spend the next few months perfecting her skill in the hopes of winning a medal at Nationals, and a spot on the Skillaroos.

While she received some pushback from people when she decided to make the switch from hairdressing to bricklaying, Monique is confident she made the right choice, and has some advice for other young people who are hesitant to take on a non-traditional trade.

“If you really want to do it, set your mind to it and go for it.”

The post National Skills Week: Introducing Monique Juratovac, WA bricklaying apprentice appeared first on WorldSkills Australia.

Clive Glauert’s love affair with food began when he was working as a packer for his family’s seafood wholesale business, Festival Fish.

With some of Perth’s most highly regarded chefs placing orders with Festival Fish, Clive started to ask them questions about the items they were ordering, and what they planned to cook with them. From there, Clive’s curiosity about food was piqued.

At just 21 years old, Clive has since thrown himself into Perth’s culinary scene with enthusiasm, embarking on an apprenticeship at popular restaurant Odyssea City Beach. While his food journey began with seafood, he’s now tackling all types of cuisines, including desserts.

After hearing about WorldSkills from a former competitor, Clive decided to enter a WorldSkills Australia regional competition in 2019, where he won gold in his region. Now, he’s honing his skills in preparation for the WorldSkills Australia National Championships in 2021.

For Clive, cooking is about creativity – about exploring new flavours, new ingredients and new techniques, and he’s hoping to use that creativity to win a gold medal at Nationals, and a place on the Skillaroos.

The post National Skills Week: Introducing Clive Glauert, WA cookery apprentice appeared first on WorldSkills Australia.

Having already won Bricklaying Apprentice of the Year at the 2020 Master Builders Association WA Building Excellence Awards, Timothy Pratt is well-positioned to impress at next year’s WorldSkills Australia National Championships.

The second-year bricklaying apprentice, who is currently completing his apprenticeship with the highly-regarded ABN Group in WA, has long had a penchant for the outdoors, physical work and building things. At school, he particularly enjoyed the Building & Construction units, which led him to do some work experience in that field.

After trying out a number of different trades, Timothy landed on bricklaying, and realised it was what he wanted to do.

Inspired by a co-worker and former WorldSkills Australia competitor to enter a WorldSkills Australia regional competition, Timothy competed and won silver at the South West regional bricklaying competition, earning himself a chance to compete at Nationals.

As he trains for the WorldSkills Australia National Championships in May 2021, Timothy is furthering his skills and knowledge and ultimately working toward his goal of one day building quality homes throughout South West WA with his own team.

The post National Skills Week: Introducing Tim Pratt, WA bricklaying apprentice appeared first on WorldSkills Australia.

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