Mark Callaghan’s Welcome

Dear WorldSkills Supporter,

As this is the first SkillNews for 2010 I would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe New Year.

Once again, it is going to be a big year for WorldSkills Australia and already we have seen plenty of activity. With the year only 4 days old, Lincoln Costello and Michelle Hardy from the National office, together with a dedicated group of WorldSkills volunteers, WorldSkills Australia staged the ‘World’s Biggest Try’aTrade event’ as part of the 2010 Australian Scout Jamboree. The event, held from the 4th to 14th of January, was a huge success as 10,000 scouts from around the country were provided with the opportunity to try their hand at over 30 different skill activities. One of the aims of WorldSkills Australia is to raise the awareness and profile of trades and skills and the Australian Scout Jamboree provided us with an ideal opportunity to do this on a massive scale. As a result of the efforts of all involved we have developed a very positive relationship with the Scouting movement and are already looking at other ways in which we can work together in the future.

500 of Australia's best competing across 50 trade and skill categories. Over 70,000 visitors are expected to attend the free public event.

The competition will incorporate the 2010 National Careers and Employment Expo making the WorldSkills Australia National Competition Brisbane 2010 the biggest skills and careers expo in the southern hemisphere.

If eligible, medalists may advance to the 41st WorldSkills International Competition in London in 2011.

Watch this space!

WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade at the National Competition 2010

WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade program will run over the three days
in conjunction with the National Competition. The WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade program will:

• hold 30 interactive skill and trade categories
• involve over 60 skilled tradespersons, industry experts and apprentices

expect to have up to 25,000 participants ‘having a go’ at various skills through mini projects

View additional information on the WorldSkills Australia Try'aTrade.

2010 WorldSkills Australia National Competition - Satellite Competitions

WorldSkills Australia National Competition Brisbane 2010 will see two satellite competitions- Refrigeration and Floristry.  The Refrigeration Competition will be held amongst industry members, employers and enthusiasts at the ARBS Exhibition.

Floristry Competition
12th to 14th April 2010 at the Sydney Royal Easter Show held at the Sydney Showgrounds.

Refrigeration Competition
12th to 14th April 2010 at the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Building Services Trade Exhibition (ARBS) held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

WorldSkills Australia conducted its largest Try’aTrade event
at the 22nd Australian Scout Jamboree from the 4th to the
14th January 2010.  WorldSkills Australia, partnering with local
industry and TAFE NSW, conducted the Try’aTrade at Cataract
Scout Park in NSW. This was the “Skills Village” activity for
10,000 Scouts in 10 days.

Read more about the Try’aTrade event at the
22nd Australian Scout Jamboree.

Channel 9 top rating breakfast TV program, TODAY broadcast live weather crosses from the Jamboree with a focus on the WorldSkills
Australia Try’aTrade, engaging viewers and further spreading the word
on the benefits of such a program.

View video of the live cross to the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade.

A big thank you to all involved from WorldSkills Australia volunteers, Scouting volunteers, RSPCA NSW and Australian Scout Jamboree 2010.

View photos taken at the 22nd Australian Jamboree 2010.

Kyle Butler
Silver Medal, Manufacturing Team Challenge (MTC)
40th WorldSkills International Competition Calgary, Canada

It’s been a busy few months for 2009 International Competition Silver Medallist Kyle Butler. From Sydney West to Arizona, USA - the WorldSkills Australia Competitions have opened many doors to the world. In just a few weeks, Kyle is moving to Phoenix, Arizona to complete a course in Motorcycle Mechanics at MMI (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute). The course is full time and will take 18 months to complete.

Following completion of the course, Kyle hopes to get a job with a race team to apply his new skills.
Enrolling in the Motorcycle Mechanics Course at MMI has been a long term goal for Kyle. He has been ‘saving up’ for months in anticipation for the ‘big move’. His success at the 40th WorldSkills International Competition in Calgary, Canada cemented his fine skills and professionalism on the world stage. All the best in your future endeavours Kyle, you are a great representative for Australia!

Kyle Butler in action at the 40th WorldSkills International
Competition in Calgary, Canada.

The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program is an Australian Government AusAID initiative which supports skilled young Australians who want to live, work and make a difference in the Asia Pacific region. Each year the AYAD Program places 400 young Australians (18 to 30) on short-term assignments (3 to 12 months) covering a diverse range of sectors including Education, Environment, Gender, Governance, Health, Infrastructure, Rural Development and Trades.

If you are interested or want to learn more about the AYAD Program please
visit their website - www.ayad.com.au

WSA would like to formally welcome Kylie Philippzig to the team. Kylie worked with our
CEO Mark Callaghan on the 2006 National Competition in Melbourne and has joined the team
at WorldSkills Australia as Project Manager in the lead up to the WorldSkills Australia
National Competition Brisbane 2010.

The James N Kirby Foundation is a private fund established
by the late Sir James Kirby, in 1967. Since its inception,
the Foundation has donated nearly $13 million across a
broad charitable spectrum and are currently distributing
approximately $1m in grants each year.

As the Foundation enters its fifth decade the Kirby Family,
along with the current board oversee a breadth of grants
that impact not only towards the future educational and
technical development of young Australians.

The James N Kirby Foundation supports WorldSkills Australia
through support grants for both our National Competition
and our International Skillaroos.

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: Sarah Tulloch (stulloch@worldskills.org.au) at the National Office.