Mark Callaghan’s Welcome

Dear WorldSkills Supporter,

As this is our first newsletter for 2009, on behalf of the WorldSkills Australia National office, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

2009 is shaping as a challenging year for everyone involved with WorldSkills Australia. Amidst a climate of economic uncertainty, 2009 will see the latest round of Regional competitions being held across Australia as our plumbers, bricklayers, hairdressers and web designers (to name a few) set out to prove they have the skills to be the best of the best. 2009 will also see Australia represented at the 40th WorldSkills International competition in Calgary, Canada where we will be aiming to improve on our current ranking of 5th in the world.

As with all WorldSkills Australia programs, we are reliant on the support and goodwill of many individuals and organisations. Of course, given the financial pressures that currently exist, it will be even more difficult to raise financial support for the Regional competitions and Australia’s participation in Calgary. However, I urge everyone to continue to support WorldSkills Australia competitions as now, more than ever, the value we all place on skills and skills excellence should not be forgotten.

A recent discussion paper prepared by Toni Wren  for the Dusseldorp Skills Forum and Job Futures titled “Keeping Skills During Hard Times” stated that “Australia’s underlying skills shortages and ageing population are long-term problems and will not be affected by economic slowdowns in the US and Europe.” It further went on to state that “the recent increased focus on skills should not be lost: Australian firms will need skilled workforces to remain strong and productive both to sustain themselves over the downturn and take advantage of growth when it flows through.”

Only 209 days to go until the 2009 WorldSkills International Competition in Calgary, Canada.
With the festive period a distant memory, the Skillaroos have stepped up their regimes, training tirelessly preparing for their biggest career challenge to date.

Experts and trainers are working though the monthly training plans with each of the Skillaroos, with some of the Skillaroos and their Experts training overseas such as Ladies and Men’s Hairdressing Skillaroo Megan Kuhn and Expert Donna DeMaria training in France and Finland as we speak! Stay tuned for more.

Show your support for our Skillaroos

Do you want to be a part of a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience? Do you want to witness Australia’s best trade and skill technicians pit their skills against the rest of the world?

What better way to follow the 2009 Skillaroos than as part of the Team Australia Supporters Tour.

Many people have already registered their interest. Should you or a group wish to travel to Calgary to support the Skillaroos, this is your last chance to register your interest.

Currently we are looking for expressions of interest in the tour with further information forthcoming in the next couple of weeks. Finalised details will be released via the WorldSkills Australia website.
If you are interested in being part of the 2009 Team Australia Supporters tour please register your interest via info@worldskills.org.au, stating your name and contact details.

What a surprise it was for Joshua Turnbridge (Signcraft Gold Medalist, 2008 WorldSkills Australia National Competition) to see his dads Ute splashed with a very interesting and familiar design.
Josh’s Dad and employer Geoff, proud of his son’s achievements at the 2008 National Competition sign crafted the Ute with an enlarged identical version of Josh’s Gold Medal from the competition. The medal is so realistic it looks like you could grab the medal off the Ute in attempt to put around your neck!

Geoff drives his ‘WorldSkills Ute’ all around the Illawarra and Sydney region advertising WorldSkills Australia and Josh’s fantastic achievement.

Quick reminder the Operations Assistant applications are due on Friday 13th February.
View the position description and position advertisment.

Applications are to be sent via email to Lincoln Costello lcostello@worldskills.org.au

Have you visited the WorldSkills Australia website lately? If not, you’re missing out! If you have, you may have encountered some of the fresh, interactive additions such as:

The front page of the WSA website has:

• Addition of Regional competition promotions and information
  • TV commercial
  • Regional competitions promotion
• Addition of 2009 Skillaroos profiles with video interview pop up
• Inclusion of photo gallery on front page
• WorldSkills Australia TV

Additions have also been made to the Regional Competition page including application forms for regional competitions (open and VETiS).

Flowers in the Garden

As Team Australia – the Skillaroos prepare for their attendance at the 40th WorldSkills International Competition WorldSkills Australia would like to acknowledge the tremendous support of the many Skillaroos employers.  

These organisations play an integral part in the competitors’ preparation through provision support and leave, enabling the additional training required by each competitor.

Flowers in the Garden, Garden City Shopping Centre Booragoon, Western Australia is the employer of Stacey Pitman who will be representing Australia in the Floristry category of the 40th WorldSkills Competition.

Flowers in the Garden is a floral studio that provides the freshest and finest quality flowers at the best possible price. Their selection of material is expansive, combined with the team's experience and willingness to assist you in any way possible.  Flowers in the Garden can organise anything from a simple single flower to an innovative floral design. They offer a diverse selection of cut flowers and provide a wide variety of services, such as affordable cut flowers, bouquets, arrangements, plants, wedding flowers, celebrational flowers, corporate arrangements and any special requests. Flowers in the Garden offer professional and reliable service and are a member of InterFlora.

WorldSkills Australia would like to thank Flowers in the Garden for their fantastic support of Stacey as she undertakes her journey to the 40th WorldSkills International Competition in Calgary, Canada.

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.