 |
Mark Callaghan's Welcome
Dear WorldSkills Australia Supporter,
As this is the last SkillNews of the year I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with WorldSkills Australia for your continued hard work, passion and dedication – all of which have been central to a great year of skills.
Merry Christmas to you and your families and I hope that 2014 is a happy and prosperous year for you all.
I look forward to seeing you in the New Year and welcoming you all to Perth in September for the 2014 WSA National Competition – The Ultimate Skills Challenge.
 |
|
| December, 2013 |
In this issue...
|
|
 |
Mark Callaghan & Jessica Martin with Indian Delegates at a WorldSkills Workshop in Goa, India
|
India Australia Skills Mission
The second India Australia Skills Conference: Training and Industry – Bridging the Skills Divide was held recently in New Delhi, India. Mark Callaghan, CEO of WorldSkills Australia and Jessica Martin, 2013 Restaurant Service Skillaroo, International silver medallist and Australian Apprenticeship Ambassador attended the event as part of the largest ever skills delegation to visit India.
The Indian Government has set a target of skilling 500 million workers by 2022 and skill development therefore has emerged as a national priority. The Australia India Education Council (AIEC) has enhanced the skills relationship between the two countries. This conference saw a continuation for Australia and India to work collaboratively to build India’s skill development capacity.
Continue reading...
|
|
Cabinetry Students from the Allied Timber Trades section at TAFE NSW, Lidcombe College
|
Giant Steps Cabinetry Project
Earlier in the year WorldSkills Australia in collaboration with BBM Youth Support and TAFE NSW coordinated a project to have much needed drainage installed in a play area at Giant Steps, an educational centre for children and young adults with autism in Gladesville, NSW.
The original program proved so successful for all parties involved, the organisations decided to collaborate again to deliver another project for the school. Giant Steps identified the need for new storage cabinets in classrooms as being a high priority. The classroom cabinets needed to be custom made for two reasons. Firstly they needed to be designed to make the most efficient use of the space available but secondly and most importantly they needed to be a particular design with concealed hardware that will ensure the children’s safety.
Continue reading...
|
|
 |
Healthabitat Sanitation Studio in Bangladesh
WorldSkills Australia’s Bricklaying Expert, Troy Everett, joined the Healthabitat Sanitation Studio in Dinajpur, Bangladesh in October on a 10 day volunteer program.
The project involved working closely with local partners on the detailed design and construction of two trial toilets and waste systems that included hand washing and water supply for two local families.
Continue reading..
|
|
 |
2013 BBM Youth Support Awards
On Monday the 18th of November, recipients of the 2013 BBM Skilled Futures program were recognised at the official BBM Youth Support Awards function held at Parliament House in Sydney. 150 guests attended the function to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of the 2013 awardees.
Every two years, BBM Youth Support funds the BBM Skilled Futures Program which provides WorldSkills Australia competitors with the opportunity to attend an intensive two-week leadership and development program with Mission Performance in the United Kingdom.
Continue reading...
|
|
 |
2013 Australian Training Awards
The 2013 Australian Training Awards were held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 22nd of November.
Celebrating 20 years of rewarding skills excellence in the Australian vocational education and training sector, the annual gala event is the peak national awards for recognising innovation and excellence in the training sector. Many of the awards are the culmination of the state and territory training awards with winners from each state and territory competing in these national finals.
Amongst the winners was Patrick Janes, a welding competitor at the 2012 WorldSkills Australia National Competition, who was awarded the prestigious title of Australian Apprentice of the Year.
Continue reading…
|
|
 |
The AuSkills App has officially launched
The AuSkills Mobile/Web Application (App), serves as a careers search resource for careers advisors and job seekers. The purpose of the App is to provide job matching support and comprehensive, interactive and engaging information to users interested in an Australian apprenticeship.
Included in the AuSkills App are profiles of a wide range of trades and skills, engaging videos of people working in the industry, a snapshot of potential career opportunities and links to information of over 4000 vocational education and training courses being offered around Australia.
The AuSkills App is online here and is now available for download at Google Play and the Apple App store.
|
|
 |
Take the Gen Green 4 Survey Now!
Are you an apprentice or trainee? Perhaps you teach apprentices or trainees? If so, WorldSkills Australia strongly encourages you to spend 10 -15 minutes completing the Gen Green 4 Survey. This is your chance to have your voice heard on the topic of skills for sustainability and to assist WSA in shaping our future programs.
Click here to access the survey.
|
|
 |
Apply now for the Ern MacDonald Fellowship
Want to develop your skills? Interested in an interstate or overseas experience? Or working for a leading organisation? Or adapting your skills for a more sustainable future?
WorldSkills Australia is calling all 2012 National Competition medallists from the Building and Construction categories to apply for the prestigious Ern MacDonald Fellowship.
The Ern MacDonald Fellowship, in memory of a great industrial relations visionary, launches the careers of talented young tradespeople and is supported by project partners, the MacDonald family, Dusseldorp Skills Forum and WorldSkills Australia.
Please register your interest for the Ern MacDonald Fellowship through Michelle Hardy (mhardy@worldskills.org.au)
|
|
 |
Become a 2014 National Judge!
WorldSkills Australia invites applications for the voluntary role of National Judge for the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition, Perth. The competition is being held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 18th, 19th and 20th of September, 2014.
In order to be successful, applicants must meet all essential criteria and submit an online Expression of Interest by Monday the 13th of January, 2014
For further details on the role and to submit your online application please visit the Expression of Interest to Judge page on the WorldSkills Australia website.
|
|
 |
2013 Regional Competitions
2013 saw the beginning of a new cycle of Regional Competitions and after another successful round, WSA is pleased to report the return of Regional Competitions to the Pilbara region in Western Australia and the introduction of new competition categories in a number of the WSA Regions across Australia including Goldfields, North Queensland, Wide Bay and Ballarat/Wimmera, signifying the growing reach of WSA across Australia.
WSA would like to thank our State and Territory Managers, our Main Regional Coordinators and all of our wonderful volunteers who collaborated to deliver over 500 Regional Competitions across our 30 WSA Regions. We look forward to welcoming our 2013 regional champions to the 2014 WSA National Competition in Perth.
|
|
Dion Iori, Joinery Expert and David Corrigan, 2013 Joinery Skillaroo, on the last day of the International Competition
|
Thank you to our Volunteers
WorldSkills Australia would like to thank everyone who has been involved with WorldSkills over the past year. To the people who coordinated and assisted with the Regional Competitions throughout 2013, to the judges who designed the projects, to the team leaders who supported their competitors, to the trainers and experts who dedicated countless hours to train the 2013 Skillaroos and to every other person who has helped make this year the success it was – WSA’s success is your success.
Thank you for your commitment, passion, dedication and support of WorldSkills and of Australian youth in their pursuit of skills excellence.
|
|
A message to our Sponsors
WorldSkills Australia would like to sincerely thank its partners, supporters and sponsors for their tremendous support and generosity throughout 2013.
We would also like to acknowledge our many regional partners who proudly supported Regional Competitions and Try’aSkill events that were held throughout the 2013 Regional Competition cycle, your support is greatly valued and appreciated.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment in making these events so successful and for helping to support skills excellence in Australia. We look forward to continue working with you in 2014.
|
|
 |
Christmas/New Year Office Closure
The WorldSkills Australia National Office will close on December 23rd and will re-open January 2nd. Staff will not be responding to emails or calls during this time. All enquires will be attended to after the closing period. We appreciate your patience during this time.
This newsletter is about the WorldSkills community, so we would like to hear from you. If you would like to spread your news across Australia contact: Jessamine Laplagne (jlaplagne@worldskills.org.au) at the National Office.
|
|
|
