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WorldSkills Australia Regional Workshop

Wow, what a fantastic weekend we had at the start of the month with some of our inspiring volunteers. Every year we run a workshop to share ideas and gather new insights, we use this time to reflect on the past year and what the next 12 months might look like for WorldSkills Australia, including; the 2020 WorldSkills National Championships, which will be held from the 13 to 15 of August in Perth. A huge thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers, who are the workforce behind WorldSkills and drive skills excellence across Australia. 

A big thank you to all who came! 

WorldSkills Australia Board of Directors

Back Row (L to R): Jack Hanrahan, Brian Wexham, Wayne Collyer, Kevin Harris, Jarrad Langdon

Front Row (L to R): Chloe Benton (New Director), Terri-Helen Gaynor (New Director), Trevor Schwenke, Megan Lily, Vicki Kahanoff (Company Secretary), Duncan Jacklin (New Director)

Absentee: Kate Fraser (New Director) and Stephen Roche

Dear WorldSkills Supporters, 

A very Happy New Year to you all from the WorldSkills Australia team! I hope you celebrated the start of 2020 in great spirits with family and friends. As the year is now well underway, and exciting things are quickly appearing on the horizon, it's a great time to look ahead and think about what this year may bring.

First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Brian Wexham for his dedicated service to WorldSkills Australia. After nine years on the WorldSkills Australia Board, including four years served as Chair and five years as Board Director, Brian decided to resign his position at the close of 2019. We wish Brian all the very best as he continues to promote and champion the VET sector in Australia through his leadership of SkillsOne.

As we say goodbye to Brian we are also excited to welcome three new faces to the Board. After a very competitive selection process, we are pleased to announce that Terri-Helen Gaynor, Chloe Benton, and Duncan Jacklin have joined the WorldSkills Australia Board of Directors. They all bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge that will assist us in guiding WSA into the future. Welcome to the WorldSkills family, Terri-Helen, Chloe, and Duncan!

This year will be an exciting one for all of us as we ramp up our activities in preparation for the 2020 WorldSkills National Championships & Skills Show, to be held from the 13-15 August at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. These National Championships could not happen without the continued support of all those that contributed to a successful round of regional competitions conducted throughout 2019. It was wonderful to see the increase in engagement across the 34 regions!

Thank you to all the 2019 committees, competition designers, conveners, judges, and supporters for all your time and effort in making the regional competitions happen. Without your tireless work, our young skilled achievers would not have had the opportunity to compete. Because of you, they had a chance to move up to the 2020 National Championships and the honour and privilege to potentially represent Australia as a Skillaroo at the next International Competition in Shanghai, September 2021.

We're proud to announce that the 2020 National Championships will be bigger and better than ever. This year we will be co-locating with the annual SkillsWest Careers Expo in Perth. By integrating activities at these two events we can create an impressive showcase of skills and VET in Perth and help grow visitation. Additionally, TAFE Directors Australia will be holding its annual National Convention in Perth at the same time, so attendees can also visit the WorldSkills National Championships.

I encourage other organisations to plan their meetings and trips for Perth at this time to be part of this exciting event in the VET calendar. As the year progresses, we will provide further updates about the National Championships events and activities. Stay tuned and please let us know if you would like further information ahead of time.

In signing off this newsletter, I would like to take a moment to speak about the mission of WorldSkills. WorldSkills is not just an event organisation that runs competitions—we are an organisation that has the responsibility for benchmarking skills and upholding skills excellence, both in Australia and globally. Running and hosting competitions, and building partnerships between industry and training providers, helps us achieve these crucial goals. It is important for us to know, from both an industry and training perspective, that we are competitive on the global stage because that will assist in making the Australian economy stronger moving forward.

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to working with you all to make 2020 a successful and exciting year for WorldSkills in Australia.

Trevor Schwenke, 

WorldSkills Australia
Chief Executive Officer 

We are very excited to announce that both public and school registrations go live today to attend this year’s WorldSkills Australia National Championships & Skills Show in Perth from the 13–15 August! 

Get ready to see excellence in action at Australia’s largest trades and skills competition. Held every two years, the 2020 National Championships will give regional winners from across the nation an opportunity to put their talent to the test. Over 500 competitors will showcase and benchmark their skills as they compete for gold and a chance to represent Australia at the International Competition in 2021.

Over three action-packed days, visitors will have access to an exciting array of interactive events, workshops, and activities. Witness over 50 exhilarating skills and trades competitions, get immersed in cutting edge VR and tech at the new STEMhub, or Try’aSkill out for yourself at one of our demo areas. Plus, this year we’re co-locating with SkillsWest Careers Expo, so there will be even more opportunities to connect with education institutes and employers for career advice and insights.

As always, registration is free!
Secure your spot to witness greatness at the National Championships today!

Bridgetown, WA, cabinetmaker and WorldSkills National Championships alum, Kevin Dirks, has been selected to represent Australia for World Wood Day at the International Young Adult Furniture Making Invitational (IYAFMI) held in Tokyo, Japan.

As Australia’s sole representative, Kevin will be highlighting and showcasing his design and construct talents alongside 20 of his young international colleagues. The event is a feast for wood enthusiasts with woodturning, carving, instrument making and all things wood as the central theme. WorldSkills Australia has been represented in six of the past seven annual events, with any summary of our involvement always including the word “magnificent”.

“My nomination for an invitation came completely out of the blue,” says Kevin. “I knew very little about the event but I watched their video and decided there and then that I wanted to give this my best shot.”

Employed by Glen Holst Furniture and attending South Regional TAFE in Bunbury, Kevin has achieved success and exemplified excellence in both his private career and through public competitions. Kevin won a regional gold medal in cabinetmaking and progressed to represent WA at the Sydney 2018 National Championships, where he narrowly missed gold to take home the silver medal.

YES 2020 -  Thursday, March 19, 2020

Learn how your organisation can best connect with Gen Z at Year13’s Youth Engagement Summit. Be the first to gain access to their latest research as they release their much-awaited After The ATAR III report. Plus, hear from keynote presenters Sarah Tang (Freelancer.com Enterprise) and Ty Hayes (former Curtin University) as well as expert panellists from a range of industries.

Click here for more information on the panellists.

Make sure to secure your place today.

Due to COVID-19 – we have postponed the WorldSkills National Championships & Skills Show 2021 proudly funded by the Government of Western Australia which will be held from 29 April – 01 May in Perth. The 2021 National Championships will give regional winners from across the nation an opportunity to put their talent to the test. Over 500 competitors will showcase and benchmark their skills on a national stage as they compete for gold and a chance to represent Australia at the International Competition in Shanghai, 2021.

To ensure we keep our competitors engaged, upskilled and motivated we have worked together with our volunteers and implemented a 10 Month National Skills Training Program which is being led virtually in over 50 skills and trades for all of our competitors and their mentors to ‘Train their way to WA” for the 2021 WorldSkills Australia National Championships.

We are hosting a number of webinars and here are some snippets from our most recent webinar where we hear from past WSA competitors and mentors.

During the COVID-19 global pandemic, our world has faced lockdown on a scale never experienced before. But thanks to essential skilled workers, doing their jobs behind the scenes, the world hasn’t completely shut down. We had food on our tables, water running from our taps, computer networks staying connected, plumbing systems functioning.

We at WorldSkills Australia, want to come together to say thank you to our skilled workers as Australia reopens for business.

Update: TDA Convention 2021

We are pleased to confirm that the TDA Convention 2021 will still align with the WorldSkills National Championships & Skills Show which will take place on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 April, at the Westin Hotel in Perth, Western Australia.

Reflections from the WorldSkills Australia Community

By donating to WorldSkills Australia you will help young Australians across the country rise to the challenge, thrive at their highest level at work, communicate, problem solve and innovate. Your support assists young Australians to excel in their chosen skill or trade, creating a "medal-winning" mindset - training towards essential skills not just for competition but also for the workplace.

Support our next generation of skilled workers and the prosperity of Australia
with a tax-deductible donation.
 

WorldSkills Australia National Championships & Skills Show 2021

Are you becoming more focused than usual on your daily step count, the ideal temperature, settings and rest time required for the perfect loaf of sourdough, or maybe even considering refreshing your tresses with a bold new hair colour?

We get it, you need a little distraction. Something like...planning your next trip? Well, we hear you! Come with us and get ready to witness greatness, discover potential, and explore skills excellence at Australia’s largest trades and skills competition. The 2021 National Championships in Perth will give regional winners from across the nation an opportunity to put their talent to the test.

Perth is situated in a lovely spot by waters of the Indian Ocean. Beautiful sandy beaches, islands, riverside parks and gardens and historic seaside towns surround this city and play a key role in its charm. In recent years, Perth has truly come of age as more and more Australians have realised the beauty of the city and its many offerings within driving distance nearby – despite its remote location – and tourism has flourished as a result. Make sure you put the dates in your calendar and start planning your trip to Perth 2021!

We couldn''t be prouder of our young 2019 Plumbing & Heating Skillaroo Patrick Keating 

Patrick has just bought his first house and is currently the third-best plumber in the world! Following Patrick''s medal-winning mindset has been incredible. Patrick is a great ambassador for the importance of trades and skills to all economies and we can’t wait to see him judging at next years’ National Championships in Perth.

Volunteer: Online Workshops!

Over 160 volunteers including past Skillaroos, Chief Judges, Skill Managers, State Managers, Regional Co-Ordinator’s and Team Leaders have joined us for a variety of working groups and Q&A sessions in the lead up to the launch of the 10 month WorldSkills Australia National Skills Training Program which is being lead virtually in over 50 skills and trades for all of our competitors competing at the 2021 WorldSkills Australia National Championships. 

Opportunity: 2021 BBM Global Industry Scholarships

Applications for the 2021 BBM Global Industry Scholarships are closing next Friday 8 May.

If you know of a young Australian, aged 17-23 who would do well with this life-changing opportunity please encourage them to apply.

A BBM Global Industry Scholarship is an $8,000 grant for young people to build their career and future, to reimagine a sustainable and significant Australia and to take on the opportunity of a lifetime. Most of their scholars travel for two to three months before they take their new skills and ideas back to Australia.

Scholarships are available in agriculture, trades and horticulture or the performing arts. Applications for travel in 2021 close 8 May 2020.

Hear from BBM Recipient Scott Shearan, our awesome Gold Medalist from the 2016 WorldSkills Australia National Championships.

Opportunity: Year13 Digital Career Expo 
 

WorldSkills Australia are proud to partner with Year13 as they hold an all-inclusive Digital Careers Expo in order to help youth navigate the transitional period from high school. Since October 2018, Year13 have been building its post-school marketplace to be able to run this Digital Careers Expo, to be hosted during National Careers Week, May 18-22.

With the current outpouring of questions and concerns from their audience, Year13 are bringing together all industry and associations who are greatly affected by the current situation and will be hosting webinars to discuss careers, wellbeing and more. Year13 are offering students free, lifetime access to Premium MyYear13 enabling them to get their own personalised Skills Forecast, build a career plan using their Career Explorer tool, and access all the content related to the Digital Careers Expo. This content will help youth build confidence around their career pathways and post-school options during this period of uncertainty – there are already hundreds of schools signed up to provide their students access.

If you want to find out more, please reach out to Will Kirsop from Year13: wkirsop@year13.com.au

WorldSkills Australia and AWS collaborate to inspire a passion for learning digital skills.

AWS will provide free training to participants through AWS Academy and AWS Educate. Competitive challenges for participants to demonstrate their skills.

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 to 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.’’

SEE EXCELLENCE IN ACTION ALONGSIDE CAREERS EXPO PERTH!

Over three action-packed days, all visitors will have access to an exciting array of interactive events, workshops, and activities at the WorldSkills National Championships & Skills Show 2021 proudly funded by the Government of Western Australia. Witnessing over 50 exhilarating skills and trades competitions, while getting immersed in cutting edge VR and tech at the new STEM Hub, or trying a skill out for themselves at one of the demo areas. Plus, next year we’re co-locating with Careers Expo, so there will be even more opportunities to connect with the State''s key education, training, and employing organisations for career advice and insights. It’s all under one roof at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Get ready to witness greatness, discover potential, and explore skills excellence at Australia’s largest trades and skills competition. The 2021 National Championships will give regional winners from across the nation an opportunity to put their talent to the test. Over 500 competitors will showcase and benchmark their skills on a national stage as they compete for gold and a chance to represent Australia at the International Competition in Shanghai, 2021.

Perth is situated in a lovely spot by waters of the Indian Ocean. Beautiful sandy beaches, islands, riverside parks and gardens, and historic seaside towns surround this city and play a key role in its charm. In recent years, Perth has truly come of age as more and more Australians have realised the beauty of the city and its many offerings within driving distance nearby – despite its remote location – and tourism has flourished as a result. More exciting details closer to the event, but for now be sure to lock away the event dates, 29 April–02 May, and start planning your trip to Perth 2021!
 

 We have some great news – we are still going ahead with the WorldSkills Australia National Championships – it will just be moved to 2021!

In light of restrictions now in place in response to coronavirus (COVID-19), we have made the decision to postpone the WorldSkills Australia National Championships & Skills Show 2020 proudly funded by the Government of Western Australia.

Get ready to still support young Australians in Perth from Thursday 29 April – Saturday 01 May 2021, with the Closing Ceremony held on the evening of Sunday 02 May 2021.

We are thrilled that we have beena able to secure alternative event dates with the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and cannot wait to bring all the excitement and exhilarating competition of the WorldSkills Australia National Championships to Perth in 2021.

Further International competitors will now be invited to compete to assist with the final selection process for the 2021 Skillaroos where they will represent Australia at the upcoming 46th WorldSkills International Championships.

KEY DATES – 2021

28 April – Familiarisation & Opening Ceremony

29 April – 1 May – Competition Dates

2 May – 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.

WorldSkills National Championships Current Registrations

Volunteers & Judges Ratio : Industry – 42% & RTO (Public and Private) – 58%

Event Update: ARBS 2020

ARBS are pleased to announce that ARBS 2020 has been rescheduled to be held from 15th- 17th February 2021.  The exhibition will stay at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and will occupy the same space, the same floor plan and the same itinerary as was proposed for ARBS 2020.  The only difference will be that the tenancy has moved forward by one day, with open days/competition days now from Monday to Wednesday.

WorldSkills Australia is pleased to be able to continue to showcase Skills Excellence by hosting the National Championships for Refrigeration and Air-conditioning at ARBS 2021, together with our Partners – Kirby, Refrigerant Reclaim Australia and BOC.    

Opportunity: Year13 Digital Career Expo 
 

WorldSkills Australia are proud to partner with Year13 as they hold an all-inclusive Digital Careers Expo in order to help youth navigate the transitional period from high school. Since October 2018, Year13 have been building its post-school marketplace to be able to run this Digital Careers Expo, to be hosted during National Careers Week, May 18-22.

With the current outpouring of questions and concerns from their audience, Year13 are bringing together all industry and associations who are greatly affected by the current situation and will be hosting webinars to discuss careers, wellbeing and more. Year13 are offering students free, lifetime access to Premium MyYear13 enabling them to get their own personalised Skills Forecast, build a career plan using their Career Explorer tool, and access all the content related to the Digital Careers Expo. This content will help youth build confidence around their career pathways and post-school options during this period of uncertainty – there are already hundreds of schools signed up to provide their students access.

If you want to find out more, please reach out to Will Kirsop from Year13: wkirsop@year13.com.au

Virtual Competitions: Cyber Security Regional 

We saw the second WorldSkills Australia Cyber Security Regional Competition take place on the 4th March supported by our incredible Industry Partners Ixia - Keysight Technologies.

“Round -2 of the regionals saw 28 teams [56 participants] competing remotely with each other from all over Australia. Participants loved the different level of challenges - both teams defending and attacking the network. It’s a great opportunity for competitors to get hands-on experience from both sides which helps to create the picture of how the attacker works and most importantly can be stopped. Having access to some of the best tools and products while competing gives our students the best possible exposure for any future role in Cyber Security’’

Mateen Padela
Sr. Solutions Architect, ANZ
NSS, Keysight Technologies

2020 has been full of challenges, and those challenges have required us to innovate, and find new ways of keeping our community of volunteers connected.

While COVID-19 restrictions meant that we couldn''t hold our annual regional workshop in person like previous years, we couldn''t miss an opportunity to share our plans for 2021 and get valuable feedback from our regional coordinators, volunteers and industry partners - and so the first ever WorldSkills Australia Skills Symposium was born.

Held over two nights, the Skills Symposium allowed us to connect virtually and share our goals and plans for 2021. It was fantastic to get our volunteers together for the sessions - and the boxes of goodies were well received!

Certificate of Merit awarded to Peter Buttenshaw (National Judge, National Skill Manager, International Deputy Chief and Chief Expert  - Industrial Mechanic Millwright) and Sarah Jones (Competitor, National Judge, National Chief Judge, International Expert, International Deputy Chief Expert, International Skill Competition Manager – Graphic Design Technology)

Please join us in congratulating both Peter and Sarah who have been honoured with a WorldSkills International Certificate of Merit for their long-standing service as role models and mentors. It’s recognition of their commitment to the WorldSkills programmes, the future of young Australians while always keeping the standard of training at an exceptional level.

The WorldSkills National Championships and Skills Show will co-locate SkillsWest Careers & Employment Expo and host over 80 organisations and employers with career opportunities for all ages. Kick start career conversations and learn about different industries, discover exciting job pathways, and see if Vocational Education & Training could be the right pathway for you. 

By donating to WorldSkills Australia you will help young Australians across the country rise to the challenge, thrive at their highest level at work, communicate, problem solve and innovate. Your support assists young Australians to excel in their chosen skill or trade, creating a "medal-winning" mindset - training towards essential skills not just for competition but also for the workplace.

Support our next generation of skilled workers and the prosperity of Australia
with a tax-deductible donation.
 

Our competitors are training their way to WA with the WorldSkills Australia National Skills Training Program which is being led virtually in over 50 skills and trades for all of our competitors and their mentors in the lead up to the competing at the 2021 WorldSkills Australia National Championships. 

The programme is not only upskilling our competitors in essential skills for the workplace but also geared towards benchmarking excellence for our young Australians and their future careers. Here is a snapshot of what they have been up to …

Dior Mentorship Program Opportunity for WorldSkills Competitors

In early July, WorldSkills was invited to participate in an exciting mentorship program led by globally-renowned fashion brand, Dior.

Running for 10 months, Women@Dior is a unique opportunity for female students who are enrolled in skills or vocational education and training.

Sixteen past and present WorldSkills Australia competitors have applied for this exciting program. If selected, they''ll gain access to a global community of young leaders and gain valuable skills and experience. 

Kirby Apprentice Fund Celebrates 1 Year

On World Refrigeration Day in June, the Kirby Apprentice Fund celebrated its 1 year anniversary. The Fund accumulated $6065 in donations with 83 HVACR apprentices registered in over 63 companies.

The fund-raising efforts made by Kirby staff, customers and suppliers has enabled the fund to distribute inaugural packs containing trade tools, maintenance product, merchandise and literature valued over $450 each to every apprentice registered up to 30 June 2020.

Kirby developed the Kirby Apprentice Fund to support HVACR trade apprentices with easier access to trade tools and skills training. CO2 systems training webinars and additional supplier product training will be conducted throughout the remainder of the year to enhance skill development.

By donating to WorldSkills Australia you will help young Australians across the country rise to the challenge, thrive at their highest level at work, communicate, problem solve and innovate. Your support assists young Australians to excel in their chosen skill or trade, creating a "medal-winning" mindset - training towards essential skills not just for competition but also for the workplace.

Support our next generation of skilled workers and the prosperity of Australia
with a tax-deductible donation.