November Update

At times in our working lives, especially working in an ever more challenging environment, it is easy to lose sight of why we do what we do. Over the last week, I had the opportunity to lead a team to India to be a part of the 3rd India Australia Skills Conference. The ‘team’ consisted of two of our WorldSkills Australia (WSA) champions as well as two Australian Training Awards winners. Spending time with them in India, watching them present at the conference as well as interacting with local students and teachers/trainers at different training institutes reinforced all that is great with the VET sector.

Another source of inspiration occurred over the last weekend in Melbourne where WSA held its Regional Workshop. Representatives from all WSA regions from around the country gathered to discuss the future of WSA. The dedication, commitment and passion of each and every one of these Regional representatives is the very reason why WSA continues to shine the spotlight on VET.

With ‘champions’ like the team that visited India and the WSA regional representatives, I am confident that we will continue to ‘inspire’ many others to pursue a skilled pathway and a meaningful and rewarding career.

Image L-R: Morgan Clemenston, Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador, Jessica Martin, 2013 Restaurant Service Skillaroo, International Silver medallist and Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador, Joshua Mason, 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Gold medallist and Fiona French, 2012 VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Australian Training Awards.