Skills Squad converge for first time

WorldSkills Australia hosted the 2014 Skills Squad Training Camp at the Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort between December 4-7. The training camp was the first opportunity for members of the 2015 Skills Squad and their respective Training Managers, to meet and familiarise themselves with their teammates.

The 2015 Skills Squad is an elite team consisting of the most talented tradespeople in the nation representing a range of different trade and skill professions. The squad are currently in training with the hope of securing themselves a position on the Australian team set to compete in their respective fields at the upcoming 43rd WorldSkills Competition being held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Together with their Training Managers, members of the Skills Squad used their time to develop their training plans for the next six months.

Aside from taking part in the planning and team bonding activities, the Skills Squad also worked together on a community project at Mt Keira Lookout on Friday morning designed to give the iconic local attraction a face-lift.

The community project saw all 29 members of the Skills Squad and their training managers work together to utilise their impressive skills to conduct some general maintenance at Mt Keira Lookout which included a fresh coat of paint on the fencing, clearing vegetation, installing bench seats and repairing some dilapidated walling to name only a few.

Thank you to the combined efforts of WorldSkills Australia, Wollongong City Council, TAFE NSW Illawarra Campus and the Rotary Club in Wollongong, the picturesque location has now been revamped for local tourists and members of the community to enjoy.

WorldSkills Australia would like to thank everyone who contributed to the training camp and made it a great success. A special thank you to the Woonona Lions Club for all your help with preparing meals for the Skills Squad and for generously providing a BBQ trailer as well as a team of wonderful volunteers.

WorldSkills Australia would also like to thank TAFE NSW’s Illawarra Institute and Illawarra TAFE Student Association (ITSA) for providing conference facilities for the Training Managers and for supplying morning tea and refreshments for the community project.

08/12/2014