Mark Callaghan’s Welcome

Dear WorldSkills Supporter,

Recently a colleague asked me what our attention would be turned to now that the 2010 National Competition had been completed. The person who asked went on to say that WorldSkills Australia must have a ‘quiet period’ in front of them. My response probably echoed everyone who is involved with WSA, noting to them that while the 2010 National Competition had finished and that the immediate pressure of planning and staging an event was passed, WSA activity continued to be strong.

As everyone who witnessed the 2010 National Competition will attest to, the WSA National Competition is now a major event and planning for the 2012 National Competition is well underway (in fact commencing well before the conclusion of the 2010 National Competition).

However, before we get to the 2012 National Competition, we need to select and prepare the 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos for the 41st WorldSkills International Competition to be held in London in October 2011 as well as coordinating other International Pathways such as BBM and AOF Scholarships.

In addition, the starting point of all WSA competitions, the Regional Competitions are due to be held in 2011 and I am sure that everyone in the regions are already starting to think about the preparations for these competitions.

And while we all continue with WSA’s core program of competitions, other activities such as WSA Try’aTrade events continue to be held around the country.

After explaining to the colleague what lies ahead, they soon realised that WSA events and programs are ongoing.

As such, I think it is timely to remember that while WSA has a very small number of professional staff in the National office, the real strength of the organisation lies with our regions – regions who are made up of dedicated and passionate supporters who are all working towards providing young Australian apprentices and trainees with the opportunity to benchmark and showcase their skills. I have had the opportunity over the past week to catch up with 2 of the WSA regions at separate functions and having had the opportunity to attend these functions has shown me first-hand the tremendous amount of support that WSA enjoys at the regional level. Without this support WSA would not be able to continually raise the profile of trades and skills and to unearth ‘real’ role models who can be held up to all Australians as examples of what can be achieved via a trade or a skill.

Next Monday and Tuesday ( 5-6 July) in Sydney sees the staging of a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop for the WorldSkills Australia (WSA) board.

This will be a critical workshop in determining the future directions of the WSA board and of WSA in general. The Strategic Planning sessions will be lead by Jeanette Allen ( WSA Chair) and Mark Callaghan (WSA CEO). Watch this space.

Civic Reception for the Ballarat/Wimmera region WorldSkills team 

On Tuesday 22 June, the Mayor of Ballarat, Councillor Judy Verlin hosted a Civic Reception to acknowledge the efforts of the Ballarat/Wimmera region WorldSkills team at the 2010 National Competition. WorldSkills Australia CEO Mark Callaghan attended the reception and said in his speech that “it came as no surprise that the team were so successful in Brisbane as it is obvious that they have a tremendous amount of support at the local level - from the Mayor through to employees, trainers, teachers, family and friends”.

The Civic Reception was fantastic recognition, not only for the achievements of the competitors but also for the importance of trade and skills based careers. Just as for all WorldSkills competitors, those from the Ballarat/Wimmera region have accepted the challenge of skills excellence and they have shown themselves as ‘real’ role models whose efforts will encourage others within the region to consider a trade or skills based career as a viable first-choice career option.

2009 Skillaroo and Ballarat/Wimmera Region Team Leader,
Ben Dean speaking at the function

On the night of the 10th of May, the Macquarie region were awarded the much sought after Evatt Shield as the best performed WorldSkills Australia region at the 2010 National Competition. Last Thursday (24 June) WSA CEO, Mark Callaghan and Operations Manager, Lincoln Costello travelled to Dubbo last to formally hand over the Evatt Shield to the Macquarie region.

Thanks to the support of Katy Baxter (TAFE NSW Western Institute - Institute Director), the hand over took place as part of the TAFE NSW Western Institute Outstanding Graduating Students Awards and it was a privilege for WorldSkills Australia to be included in this forum.

L-R Drew Minto (Painting and Decorating ) Benjamin Houghton (Gold Medal, Electrical Installations),
David Arnold (Regional Chair), Wayne Stewart (Team Leader), Micheal Theobald (Silver Medal, Electrical Control)
and WSA CEO Mark Callaghan.

2011 Team Australia Skillaroos

WSA is currently reviewing all categories and all National Competition medalists with a view to naming a ‘Training Squad’ for London 2011. This squad will be assessed in the next few months with regard to skill level, commitment and support.

In November of this year, the 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos will be formally announced.

2010 Australian Overseas Foundation (AOF)

The Australian Overseas Foundation (AOF) provides scholarships to
travel and work overseas for Australians between the ages of 21 and
27 who have completed a trade apprenticeship or vocational traineeship
to Certificate Level Three.

Application forms and information on AOF can be found on the AOF website www.aof.org.au.

Completed applications are to be forwarded to the WSA National Office by 9th August 2010 as all applications will be submitted to AOF on behalf of WorldSkills Australia. For further information on the AOF Scholarship please contact Michelle Hardy at the WSA National Office on 03 9249 1000 or mhardy@worldskills.org.au

2011 BBM (Big Brother Movement)

The BBM Scholarship offers eligible candidates a unique leadership development program in the UK. The program is then followed by
work experience in the UK.

The selection process for 2011 BBM Scholarship Recipients will commence in the coming months. The travel date for this program will not be until late 2011.

Details on this scholarship and the application process will be available in due course. For further information on the BBM Scholarship please contact Michelle Hardy at the WSA National Office on
03 9249 1000 or mhardy@worldskills.org.au

Expressions of Interest are now open from people wishing to pursue the voluntary role of designing competition projects that are used in the 2011 Regional and 2012 National Competitions.

Download the application form

The 2010 FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo is an exciting initiative of FOGS (Former Origin Greats) and the Australian Government. The program provides Indigenous job seekers and school leavers with the opportunity to connect with Queensland’s largest employers, education and training providers in seven Queensland locations in 2010.

Launched in 2009, the initiative experienced incredible demand in its first year, with over 200 exhibitors and 10,500 people attending the expos in six Queensland centres.

SkillsTech Australia and WorldSkills Australia are combining to support 2010 FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo through the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade program at the events.

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In early June the Interagency Transitions Committee hosted the 2010 ACT Post School Options Expo at the Centre for Teaching and Learning in Canberra. The Expo has been in operation for five years and provides an opportunity for students with disabilities, their parents and carers to obtain career and transition advice. Attendees at the Expo were exposed to over 50 exhibitors including 10 WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade ‘hands on’ activities. The exhibitors came from a variety of industry, employment, education, training and disability service providers.

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Q&A with Alexis Scott, Hairdressing
Gold Medal winner and recipient of the
CareerOne Best Performed Competitor Award 

Alexis had the highest score of all the competitors
at the competition. Alexis is from the West Australian region, her employer is Salon De Coiffure and her training provider is South West Regional College - Bunbury. WorldSkills Australia had a chat to Alexis following her success at the National Competition.

What was it like competing at the WorldSkills
Australia National Competition Brisbane 2010?

Being involved with WorldSkills Australia National Competition has been the best experience of my life. Knowing you’re up against the best people your age in the country is amazing there is no other feeling that can beat that. 

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Stone Eagle Handcrafted Massage Stones is based in Tropical North Queensland in the small resort destination of Port Douglas. Stone Eagle is the only manufacturer of handcrafted massage stones in Australia, and sells throughout Australia and exports around the world. Specialising in Australian Granite and Marble for their massage stones is also a unique point of difference.

To complement the beauty of Kakadu, Dreamtime and Daintree granite and marble, Stone Eagle also source the finest raw materials from around the globe, including Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan,  Fossil Stone from the Himalayas in India as well as  the local Mookaite Jasper from Western Australia. The eleven steps in crafting each stone is why these stones are regarded as the finest in the world. Using handcrafted stones, specifically designed for massage, offers a world of difference to using the random rocks and pebbles cheaply imported by wholesalers.

The energy, heat capacity and ergonomic superiority of hand shaped and polished stones are the best platform from which therapists can conduct beautiful, deeply therapeutic stone massage and facial therapies. Stone Eagle supplies TAFEs, colleges, Spa’s, clinics, salons and individual therapists.

WorldSkills Australia would like to thank Stone Eagle Handcrafted Massage Stones for its support of the Beauty Care Category of the recently held WorldSkills Australia National Competition Brisbane 2010.

Contact details:
Brett Smith 
www.stone-eagle.com
www.massagestones.com.au
1800 504 886