Mark Callaghan’s Welcome

Dear WorldSkills Supporter,

Already we find ourselves in December and counting down the days until another year rolls by. From all accounts, 2010 was a successful year for WSA with many highlights. In reviewing the year at the final WSA Board meeting recently, I noted the following as being significant events in 2010:

• The 2010 Australian Scout Jamboree -
  the World’s Biggest Try’aTrade
• The 2010 National Competition in Brisbane
• Entering into a new 3 year funding agreement with the Australian Government
• John Shiel (the very well respected Technical Delegate for WSA) being voted onto the Board of WorldSkills International
• The inaugural WSA Youth Forum
• The formal announcement of the 2010 Team Australia Skillaroos at the Australian Training Awards

In looking back at all of these events, I am grateful for the ongoing support of many people – from our Government partners and industry sponsors, to the broad support we receive from the training sector and, most important of all, our WorldSkills family of volunteers. You only have to look back at the Christmas/New Year period 12 months ago when over 100 people gave up their holiday period to provide Try’aTrade activities for up to 10,000 scouts to understand the resource that ‘volunteerism’ provides to WSA. And as we head into 2011 we are committed to continually recognising the contribution that volunteers make to WSA.

2011, of course, is shaping as another busy year with both regional competitions as well the 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos taking on the world in London. While we are all aiming for a strong showing in London, it is also our collective challenge to increase participation rates at the regional level. In addition to these two major components of the WSA program, we are also looking to strengthen and broaden our partnerships as well as investigating ways in which we can further develop the WSA brand. All in all 2011 should be an exciting year and as the 2010 WSA Youth Forum delegates challenged us in Adelaide, I dare you to move.

On behalf of us all here at the WSA National office I hope you all have a happy, safe and enjoyable Festive Season and New Year. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in 2011.

Vision - "To contribute to sustainable economic prosperity through the development, recognition and promotion of excellence in skills.”

Earlier this year the WorldSkills Australia Board, together with key stakeholder representatives, met in Sydney to discuss and develop a new strategic plan for WSA for the next 3 years. Following this initial strategic planning day, WSA staff also had the opportunity to contribute to the future direction of the organisation. The result is the WSA Strategic Plan (2010 to 2013).

Download a copy of the Strategic Plan

By Dave O’Donnell, Skillaroos Team Leader

Wollongong recently experienced an invasion of a swarm of exotic creatures.  For the four days from November 18 – 22 they flew in from all round Australia.  Highly destructive locusts?  No, instead highly constructive and creative – it was WorldSkills Australia’s new Skillaroos!

The Gong played host to the 30 young skilled technicians and tradespeople selected to represent Australia in the 41st WorldSkills International competition (sometimes referred to as the Skills Olympics) to be held in London in October 2011.

Some flew in a day early in order to have one on one time with industry specialists, but by Thursday evening all had gathered at Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort.  The Team Australia party was made up of competitors, trainers, officials and support staff totaling 70 in all and the four days were devoted to team building, planning, official functions and a bit of fun.

Read more on The Team Australia 2010 Development Camp

WSA and Manufacturing Skills Australia 41st WorldSkills International Competition Partnership

WorldSkills Australia and Manufacturing Skills Australia have formed a new partnership to support the Team Australia Skillaroos heading to London in October 2011 for the 41st WorldSkills International Competition.  WorldSkills Australia looks forward to working closely with MSA in the near future.

Read more on the partnership

When Melbourne Region Carpentry gold medallist, John Dagher answered a last minute request from the WSA Head Office to represent us at the 5.30 A.M. launch of Irwin Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge at Docklands in April this year, he had no idea what it would lead to. Hurriedly decked out in WSA and Skillers gear, John had to measure, mark, cut, drill and locate material in a blur, against the clock, against well practiced and experienced competitors on national television in front of his first ever audience. Johnno revelled in the experience, undeterred by being pipped at the post by tenths of a second by a chippie who had travelled from Adelaide to compete.

Read more on the Irwin Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge 2010

Watch all of the competitors in action

2007 Skillaroo Simon Buchanan, Channel 7’s Grant Denyer
and the WorldSkills Irwin challenge representative John Dagher.

Skillaroo Guy Brooks in November at the 2010 US
‘Weld-Off’ Competition, Atlanta, USA

Paul Condran, Guy Brooks, Michael Ashton, Jeremy Gransden with
representatives of Cigwelds’ parent company, Thermadyne in Atlanta, USA

The LU-VE Group is the combination of experience, tradition, forward thinking, and innovation. The Group is the embodiment of the principle that, first and foremost, companies are women, men and ideas. People with years of experience, young people blessed with creativity and enthusiasm, highly qualified professionals, all united in their passion for their work and in their vision of a world which will be more aware, more liveable, more advanced, and better balanced.

LU-VE has introduced a new way of conceiving and making refrigeration and air conditioning products, using avant-garde technologies which have then become a constant reference-point for the entire industry. The Group is an international entity (with its main offices and production facility in Uboldo, Varese) made up of seven production units

There are also ten sales companies in the LU-VE Group located in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg), Spain, Costa Rica and Australia. A network of experts - technicians and qualified staff – at the service of clients to satisfy their every need.

LU-VE is a supporter of the Worldskills Australia Refrigeration category and in recognition of his excellent performance, John Mignano, (Managing Director of LU-VE Pacific Pty. Ltd. Australia) and LU-VE Group awarded Liam Janetzki, WorldSkills Australia 2010 National Refrigeration competitor, a trip to Chillventa 2010 in Nuremberg (Germany).

We would like to thank LU-VE for it continued and sincerely appreciated support of WorldSkills Australia and in particular, the refrigeration category competitors.

WorldSkills Australia would like to extend to all our supporters and sponsors Seasons Greetings and sincerely thank you for your continued and much appreciated support of the WorldSkills Australia programs.

We hope you have a happy and safe Christmas/New Year and look forward to continuing and building on our partnerships in 2011. 

The WSA Head Office will be closed from 4:00pm Thursday 23 December and will reopen Monday 10 January 2011.

WorldSkills Australia would like to wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday season and a happy New Year!