Dear WorldSkills Supporter,

Late last year, WorldSkills Australia released its Strategic Plan (2010-2013) following discussions at Board level and a process of consultation with various stakeholders.

The Plan outlines the Strategic direction for WSA for the next few years as we aim to realise our vision which is “to contribute to sustainable economic prosperity through the development, recognition and promotion of skills excellence”. In developing this plan the WSA Board feel that WSA has an opportunity to use the Competition process as a vehicle for achieving more as an organisation however, it importantly recognised that the WSA Competition process should always remain the focus of WSA activities.

To that end, one of the Strategic Goals (Goal 2) is to “extend the participation and engagement in skill based competitions”. Given that we are on the cusp of Regional competitions commencing around Australia, I think it is timely to provide an overview of what is happening that will help us all realise this goal.

• The WSA National office continues to develop our relationship with the WSA Regions in an effort to broaden the competition base and to increase the accessibility of the regional competition.
  
  Early indications from the WSA regions are that competition and competitor numbers will increase in 2011 – this is despite many setbacks such as floods and cyclones as well as the increasing demands for time on the volunteers who form the WSA Regional Committees.

• We have formed a partnership with the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence (NCI) and the Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF) to explore ways in which we can involve more Indigenous Australians in WSA programs. In addition, we are looking at ways in which we can include an Indigenous Ambassador program as part of our contingent heading to the 41st WorldSkills Competition in London with the hope that they will return to Australia and promote the benefits of involvement in WSA programs.
  
  
• WSA aims to continually provide competition in skill categories that reflect skill demand areas. Following consultation with many dedicated professionals we are hopeful of offering competition at the Regional level in new categories such as Floor Laying. In addition, we are confident that Mechatronics will be reintroduced at this round of Regional Competitions.
  
  
• WSA continues to promote the inclusion of ‘local’ skill categories at the International level as evidenced by the submission that the WSA Technical Delegate will be making at the WSI Technical Committee meeting this week in London for the inclusion of the Signage category. If approved by WSI, it will provide us an opportunity to further showcase the skills of young Australians on the world stage.

Good luck and thank you to everyone involved at the Regional level as the 2011 Regional Competitions commence. To those of you who work with young Australians eligible to compete, please urge them to take up the challenge. As we have seen throughout the history of WSA, there are many benefits of competition – both individual and collective, and as the WSA Board have noted, it is only through a strong regional base that WSA will be able “to contribute to sustainable economic prosperity through the development, recognition and promotion of skills excellence”.

View the WorldSkills Australia Strategic Plan (2010-2013)

The regional competition is the first level of the WorldSkills competition cycle. Competitions are held every two years in 29 regions across Australia. When competitors participate they are representing their local community while gaining the opportunity to excel in their career.

Regional competitions are held over one or two days and consist of projects to be completed within a set time frame. A selection of place getters may then advance to the National Competition the following year.

Regional competitions are an ideal way to measure the standards of skills across Australia and to view the status of vocational education and training in specific areas. More and more young Australians are competing to stand out from a crowd and maximise their employment, lifestyle, training and higher education options.

For more information please visit the WorldSkills Australia website www.worldskills.org.au.

View additional information.

183 days until the Opening Ceremony of the WorldSkills International Competition, London, United Kingdom. Keep your eye on the WorldSkills Australia website for updates, profiles of the Skillaroos, and up to the minute coverage in the countdown to the WorldSkills International Competition.

Profiles of the 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos to be launched on
the WorldSkills Australia website this week.

In October this year, 30 of Australia’s best young skill champions will board a flight bound for London and their biggest career challenge to date. The 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos will demonstrate unequalled dedication and passion in their quest for gold for Australia and attempt to improve on our current ranking of 5th in the world. Team Australia will not only be competing for gold, but will also demonstrate to the rest of the world the high level of vocational education and training currently available within Australia.

The Global Skills Challenge 2011 is an important event in the preparation and training for the international competition. The four day event will replicate, as closely as possible, the conditions that will be experienced by Team Australia in London and provide Team Australia Skillaroos with a valuable opportunity to gather as a team, as well as to hone their skills against competitors from countries such as UK, China, USA, New Zealand, Jamaica, Singapore, France and Japan (to name a few).

If you are in the area this is a great opportunity to witness the 2011 Team Australia Skillaroos in action as they prepare for the 41st WorldSkills International Competition in London.

Details of the Competition are as follows:

Global Skills Challenge 2011
Date: 5-8 July 2011
Venue: TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute – Wollongong Campus

For any additional information regarding the Global Skills Challenge, please contact the following personnel in the WSA National Office on (03) 9249 1000.

Michelle Hardy - general enquiries
Josie D’Arino   - specific government, sponsor or media enquiries

Dan Tehan MP and John Forrest MP were in Stawell last week visiting Matthew Hall - Team Australia Skillaroo - Manufacturing Team Challenge (MTC). The MPs visited Matthew and his employer Darren Egan onsite at Stawell Engineering. From all reports the meeting went very well. Matt was able to brief the ministers on the Skillaroos, his trade, and how it feels to be a Skillaroo. Darren was pleased that both MPs took so much interest in Matt, himself and the trade. Darren was delighted the MPs left wearing a Stawell Engineering cap.

Stay tuned for more updates on MPs from all across Australia meeting with our
Team Australia Skillaroos.

Pictured with (L-R) Mathew Hall, Manager of Stawell Engineering Darren Egan and John Forrest.
Photo courtesy of Kerri Kingston - The Stawell Times News.

WorldSkills Australia, Team Australia Skillaroos and Kate Crocker – Restaurant Service Skillaroo received excellent exposure in a feature article in The Weekend Australian a couple of weeks ago.

Read the full article.

View more of WorldSkills Australia’s Media Coverage.

Congratulations to two of our 2011 Skillaroos

Congratulations to Team Australia Skillaroos Ben Houghton and Micheal Theobald who are joint winners of the Dubbo Campus Apprentice of the Year. Ben is competing in the category of Electrical Installations and Michael is competing in the Manufacturing Team Challenge at the WorldSkills International Competition, London, UK. Well done!

2011 Skillaroos Ben Houghton and Michael Theobold

Congratulations WorldSkills Australia Youth Forum Delegate

Ebony Miller, WorldSkills Australia National Competition, Brisbane 2010 competitor from Victoria, and also WorldSkills Australia Youth Forum 2010 Delegate won the Chamber of Commerce Youth Enterprise Award. The Awards night was held at Crown Palladium on the 17th of March 2011.

Well done on this fantastic achievement Ebony!

2009 Team Australia Supporters Tour

"The encouragement that we received from the Australian supporters was unbelievable. From the cheers at the Opening Ceremony when we marched in behind the Australian flag to the countdown at the end of our competition, it felt as if we had an extra person lending a hand throughout the four days of competition” – 2007 Team Australia Skillaroos.

WorldSkills Australia Tour Land Only Package
WorldSkills Australia Tour Booking Form
WorldSkills Australia Tour Booking Terms
WorldSkills Australia Tour Credit Card Authority
WorldSkills Australia Tour Post Competition

George Alexander Foundation Fellowship 2011

ISS Institute is an independent, national organisation that for over two decades has worked with Australian governments, industry and education institutions to enable individuals to gain enhanced skills and experience in traditional trades, professions and leading-edge technologies. They do this through their Fellowship program.

The ISS Institute is pleased to announce applications are currently open for the George Alexander Foundation International Fellowship 2011. The George Alexander Foundation and ISS Institute are offering one (1) international Fellowship in the amount of $10,000.

Read More.

Dusseldorp Skills Forum and WorldSkills Australia have just surveyed the 2008 and 2010 WorldSkills Australia National competitors to find out what they know about skills and sustainability. The 101competitors who responded to the Gen Green survey went into a draw for an i-Pad.

Craig Gillard, from Vehicle Painting is the lucky winner!

This is the second time this Gen Green survey has been run and it will be interesting to see what has changed since the first survey in 2008. The 2008 survey asked what WorldSkills competitors thought about ‘green skills’. The 2011 survey has been expanded to cover social & economic skills as well. Competitors were also asked to suggest how WSA could promote skills and sustainability. We’re now working through all the terrific responses!

Next Issue: What do WorldSkills Competitors think about skills and sustainability?

2011 MSA Innovation Program Study Award

Applications are now open: Download an application form
Closing date Friday 3rd June 2011.

Win $10,000 to study overseas skills and technologies. Help the Australian manufacturing industry through workforce development and education and training. The purpose of the MSA Innovation Program is to extend the capability and performance of the Australian manufacturing industry through education and training, and workforce development. Applications are invited from vocational education and training (VET) students, VET teachers and trainers, assessors, enterprise employees and owners. There are no limitations on age or background.

Read More.

WorldSkills Australia is pleased to announce our latest major partner, Visual Impact Suppliers Association (VISA) who will be supporting the Signage Category.

Serving the Australasian sign, screenprinting, display and related industries, VISA is a non-profit organisation working in partnership with the Australian sign industry and regional industry associations to provide a cost-effective and professional marketing service for industry and related suppliers and consumers.

Visual Impact Promotions produces Visual Impact Magazine six times a year, The Cutting Edge Magazine four times a year, VI eNews on-line news service weekly and Visual Impact Exhibitions once a year at Darling Harbour, Sydney, and on the Gold Coast and Melbourne every alternate year.

The VISA website can be found at www.visa.org.au.