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 Mark Callaghan’s Welcome
Dear WorldSkills Supporter,
Late last month marked the 1 year to go milestone for the 2012 Olympic Games which will be held in London. Australian media focused its attention on our sporting champions and reviewed our preparations for the Olympics with 1 year to go with the 'collective' aim being to be amongst the top 5 ranked nations.
It is a shame then that with the 41st WorldSkills Competition in London less than 9 weeks away there is very little media attention on the event itself or on the young Australia skill champions who have been training just as hard as our athletes and who have put their lives on hold to prepare for their greatest challenge to date.
It doesn't take much to realise that without the skills that will be on display at the 41st WorldSkills Competition, staging an event like the Olympic Games would be difficult. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, bricklayers, etc. to build the stadiums – cooks, waiters, pastry chefs to feed the VIP's and spectators – florists to provide the bouquets to the medallists – just to name a few.
All the more reason why we all need to continually promote skills in the wider community. WorldSkills Australia continues to do this via our competitions (with Regional Competitions currently being held across Australia) as well as being involved in other activities such as Try'aTrade events, SkillEx events, National Skills Week and the Skills Australia conference – all of which are featured in this months edition of Skill News.
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The WorldSkills Foundation has launched the ‘Quest for 100 Great Ideas’ to help advance skills and training development.
This exciting new incentive will run until October and the ideas will be showcased at the 41st WorldSkills International Competition.
The most exciting ideas will not only receive widespread acknowledgment but will also be resourced to help make them a reality.
Anyone and everyone can post an idea, or as many ideas as they like on the website. Each week the WorldSkills Foundation will publish one of the great ideas on the website and encourage everyone to leave their feedback.
This quest is about opening up discussion and sharing ideas about how we can help young people to develop and enhance their skills. Your idea can be anything from a link to a website, an anecdote or even a new global project for skills learning and development.
Visit the website for more information and don’t
forget to submit your ideas! |
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While WSA and Team Australia has received less than ideal media coverage, The Global Skills Challenge and the lead up to the 41st WorldSkills International Competition in London, the Skillaroos did generate positive stories in the media. Follow the links below to read the recent stories on the flowing Skillaroos:
You can read more WorldSkills Australia media coverage here. |
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On Wednesday August 31st, The Sunday Times will be hosting a farewell cocktail party for WA based Skillaroos at their Headquarters in Perth. Jason Scott, Managing Director will farewell the Skillaroos, wishing them luck in their quest for Gold at the 41st International WorldSkills Competition in London later this year.
Competitors from Western Australia include Natalee Hibbins (Jewellery), Jake Hall (Wall & Floor Tiling) and Alexis Scott (Ladies’ and Mens Hairdressing) will be joined by friends and close family, as well as Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations.
The event is being organized in conjunction with other activities in recognition of National Skills Week, October 1-8. |
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The Skills Australia conference was held at the Crown Conference Centre on Thursday the 21st of July.
This year, the focus of the conference was to present an economic perspective on skills in terms of the 3 ‘Ps’ – Productivity, Population and Participation, debunk some of the myths and misinformation about skills as well as showcase how employers are dealing with skills issues in their workforce – in a nutshell: Putting skills at the heart of the economy
Hear what WorldSkills Australia CEO Mark Callaghan
had to say at the conference. |
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Skillex, the new vocational, education, training and employment event is coming to Victoria on the 25th of August.
The exhibition is dedicated to showcasing Australian skills and vocational training in both traditional and non-traditional skill areas.
Skillex runs for three days and is a free to the public event.
Skillex was held in NSW between August 4th and 6th, and was a brilliant success, with thousands of people walking through the doors to see in action the diversity of Australian Industry.
The event also provides attendees with the opportunity to Try’A‘Trade for themselves and is a fantastic platform to promote employment, apprenticeships, cadetships and the education and training needed in these areas.
Read more about Skillex. |
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As the 41st WorldSkills International Competition edges closer, a lot of hard work and preparation is taking place to get the 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos as ready as they can be for the event.
However, also bubbling away in the background is the first stage of the next WorldSkills Competition cycle, the WSA regional competitions, which are now in full swing across the nation.
Filtering through the WorldSkills community and the media are success stories of regional winners, some of who will make up the 2013 Team Australia Skillaroos, heading to Germany.
The competitions, held every two years, provide competitors with an opportunity to represent their local community and gain experience in their respective trade or skill.
Competing in such events can assist young Australians to maximise; their employment, lifestyle, training and higher education options. As well as present them with the possibility of advancing to the National Competition.
Visit the WorldSkills Australia website to learn about the regional competitions being held near you. |
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WorldSkills Australia hosts some of the nation’s largest and most logistically complex events, catering for up to 50 different skill categories at the biennial WorldSkills Australia National Competitions. In order to run these skills categories, significant quantities of water, energy and various materials that can create waste are heavily utilised.
Faced with these challenges, Dusseldorp Skills Forum and WSA worked together on an innovative project for the 2008 and 2010 WSA National Competitions - the Green Team.
As part of the Green Team, TAFE event management students and university environment management students conducted an Environmental Review. The Review was guided by an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) allowing the Green Team’s work to conform to internationally recognised standards. The 2008 EMP provided WSA with an event sustainability blueprint for continuous improvement in the years to come
Watch the Green Team in action. |
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Try’aTrade is an interactive program which allows people to try out various skills and trades in an exhibition of the multifaceted Australian Industry.
The displays are entertaining, informative and offer access to some of the basic skills involved with a range of fields.
WSA's Try'aTrade allows people to meet and talk with experts who are recognised as leaders in their trade as well as other apprentices, TAFE teachers and local business owners.
WSA Try'aTrade is held all over Australia. Keep an eye on your community events for the next local event or have a look at our Try'a Trade schedule to find out when you can get your hands dirty.
View the schedule here.
If you are organising an event, be sure to send the event details to sgioia@worldskills.org.au and have your event published on the WSA website. |
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In less than two months, the Team Australia Skillaroo’s will be heading to London, set to embark on their biggest career challenge to date. Visit the WorldSkills Australia website for updates, profiles of the Skillaroos, and up to the minute coverage in the countdown to the WorldSkills International Competition.
Last chance to get your tickets
We are now down to the last few tickets for the Opening & Closing ceremonies at the 41st WorldSkills International Competition in London. Don’t miss out on your chance to be there alongside the ‘Skillaroos’ to witness the fun and fireworks, you can purchase your tickets by completing the attached booking form, also found on the WorldSkills Australia website.
Tickets for each ceremony are sold separately and are only $37 each. The dates for each ceremony are as follows:
Opening Ceremony: Tuesday 4th October 2011
Closing Ceremony: Sunday 9th October 2011
Purchase tickets here. |
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Capron Carter is the proud to announce their support for Rhaman Donovan- Fashion Technology competitor for the Team Australia Skillaroos.
Capron Carter Australia is a wholly owned Australian company which has remained a family business since its inception in 1912.
They supply world renowned leading brands of industrial sewing machines, ironing equipment and fusing presses as well as StyleCAD; Australia's biggest selling computerised pattern grading and marking system. An extensive product range which includes; used machines, spare parts, sewing needles and attachments is available in each of our four branch offices.
View more information here. |
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You can now book tickets to hear Minister Chris Evans speaking at the official launch of National Skills Week, being held on 21st September 2011 at the National Press Club of Australia.
National Skills Week is a new initiative, a collaborative approach dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational learning, enabling all Australians to gain a greater understanding of the opportunities, their potential and how they contribute to a successful, modern economy.
The awareness week will run between October 1 and 8th, coinciding with the 41stWorldSkills International Competition.
National Skills Week will bring to life the positive messages, highlighting the talents, the skills and the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia to the wider public and employers.
Visit the website to see how you can help to spread the message.
Book tickets to the official opening here. |
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The WorldSkills Australia office is pleased to introduce our newest team member, Sarah-Jane Durdle.
Sarah-Jane’s new role as an Operations Assistant makes her the third member of the WSA Operations team, working with Lincoln Costello (Operations Manager) and Michelle Hardy (Operations Coordinator).
Having completed a Bachelor of Business and Event Management degree and working at a number of events and exhibitions, we are very much looking forward to having Sarah-Jane’s fantastic skills and experience in the office. Welcome Sarah-Jane!
You can contact Sarah-Jane on the following email:
sdurdle@worldskills.org.au |
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Do you want to learn how the carbon tax will affect your enterprise?
If so, make sure you register for the MSA Conference.
The conference and reception, themed Productivity and Participation-addressing the Balance, is a must see for those interested in the future direction of workforce and skills development.
The reception will be held in Melbourne on the evening of Tuesday 23rd August and the conference on Wednesday 24th August.
More information and registration is available at Sustainability Training Package Launch. |
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This newsletter is about the WorldSkills community, so we want news from the WorldSkills Australia community. If you would like to spread your news across Australia contact: Simone Gioia (sgioia@worldskills.org.au) at the National Office. |
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