Mark Callaghan’s Welcome

Dear WorldSkills Supporter,

The WorldSkills Australia national office and the army of WorldSkills Australia volunteers are now in the final stages of the planning for the 2008 National competition . With just over a month to go before the first day of competition on the 11th of July, the last materials and equipment are being secured from the many generous supporters which will allow the competitors from all over Australia to display the skills and abilities that make them amongst the best young apprentices and trainees in the country.

The competitors themselves are completing their training and honing their skills at training camps, their workplaces and their places of training – mentored by more supporters of skills excellence such as teachers, trainers and employers.

So, the stage is almost set. Just over 20 years ago in February 1988 , Australia and the world marvelled at the showcase of skills on display at the WorldSkills International competition. At the very same venue in July, Australia will again be able to witness the best young apprentices and trainees strive to be the best in the country in 50 skill categories. These young Australians will become ambassadors and role models for all young Australians contemplating their future. What better way is there than holding these young Australians up as perfect examples of the possibilities that exist in a trade or skill based career.

I look forward to seeing you all in Sydney in July.

Preparation in brief

Preparations are in full swing for the WorldSkills Australia National Competition to be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre from the 11th- 13th July 2008 each day from 9.00am- 4.00pm.

A great buzz has filled the Head Office with adrenaline kicking in and excitement rousing. The final countdown has commenced!

At the National Competition, one can watch over 500 of Australia’s best young skill and trades people battle it out in up to 50 trade and skill categories and even have a go yourself at WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade - the interactive program that lets you get a taste of various trades and skills. There are 30 trades you can get your hands on - from hairdressing, retail baking , cabinetmaking, IT software , electrical control, garment production and loads more.

Did you know that for the first time ever in the WorldSkills movement, both nationally and internationally, the ecological footprint of a competition will be measured? This is with the aim to set a precedent for all WorldSkills Australia National Competitions and international member countries to become more environmentally sustainable. 

In an effort to address challenges around environmental sustainability WorldSkills Australia and Dusseldorp Skills Forum (DSF) are working together to make the 2008 National Competition as environmentally friendly as possible.

One example of this is in the production of bags that will be used by the volunteers at the National Competition. WorldSkills Australia has worked with Promotion Products to produce the new Carbon Offset promotional range of bags. The ‘carbon footprint’ has been calculated by Promotion Products and offset by the planting of trees.

For more information visit www.worldskills-sustainable.org.au

Thousands get their hands on various trades across the nation

This month the focus was on WorldSkills Australia’s Try’aTrade programs which were held at various events across Australia.  Below are snapshots of the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade programs across the nation.

WorldSkills Australian together with GTA Victoria held a successful WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade event in conjunction with the National Careers and Employment Expo at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May 2008.

Up to 25,000 thousand visitors attended the National Careers Expo and WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade, while more than 8,000 hammered, plastered and drilled there way through 15 skill categories including: Automotive Mechanics, Bricklaying, Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Electrical, Engineering, Hairdressing, Horticulture, Hospitality, Mechanical Engineering, Nursing, Painting and Decorating, Plastering, Plumbing and Tiling. Visitors tried their hand at these various trades under the supervision of industry experts and current apprentices.

View more information on the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade in Melbourne.

View footage of the Melbourne National Careers and Employment Expo.

The 2008 WorldSkills Australia Queensland Try’aTrade and National Training Workshops were held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 23rd and 24th of May 2008. The event was run in conjunction with the National Careers and Employment Expo. The combined events welcomed more than 30,000 visitors over the two days.

The event kicked off with the SkillsTech Australia morning tea, where the Minister for Education, Training and the Arts, Mr Rod Welford presented the “Skills Ambassadors” with certificates of appreciation for their commitment to skilled careers. Minister Welford then enjoyed a guided tour of some of the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade activities on offer at the event, as well as the opportunity to interact with students and visitors.

40 areas of WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade were available for visitors throughout the expo. This was an outstanding success with positive feedback being reported from students, parents and teachers.

View more information on the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade in Brisbane.

Trying his hand at Bricklaying, a young man participates in the
WorldSkills Australia Brisbane Try’aTrade

The 2008 Apprenticeship Expo WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade was a great success with just over 400 Secondary Schools Students attending over the two days.

Using feedback from last year’s Expo, Student Recruitment and UBTAFE Departments worked together to improve both the smooth running of the Expo and the activities.

In many areas the UBTAFE trainers included their apprentices in conducting  the activities and using this as an assessment task.  This idea has been a great success - with all areas using this method, reporting an increased level of interaction and engagement from the secondary school students as well as an innovative assessment method for their apprentices.

View more information on the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade in Ballarat.

Rolling up the sleeves and getting hands dirty
at the WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade at the University of Ballarat TAFE Apprenticeship Expo.

Thousands Try’a Trade at the Adelaide National Careers and Employment Expo

Thousands of senior students from over 60 schools across South Australia converged on the Adelaide National Careers and Employment Expo in early May to try their hand at 15 interactive trade displays as part of WorldSkills Australia Try’aTrade.

Expo attendees could build a brick wall, learn how to plumb a house, style hair, make a pencil case an LED torch or try out a flight simulator among other traditional and emerging skill areas.

View more information on the WorldSkills Try’aTrade in Adelaide.

WorldSkills Exchange

Calling all employers: don’t miss your chance to join the global network!

WorldSkills International is providing the unique opportunity for your company to learn from other countries/regions and the expert skills of a WorldSkills Champion. How? Host a WorldSkills Champion in your workplace by joining the WorldSkills Champions Exchange program.

WorldSkills guarantees a high quality WorldSkills Champion for the duration of the Exchange, while your company enjoys the benefits of becoming involved with a growing network of like-minded host Companies in the global skills market.

If you'd like to be a host employer for 6 - 18 months please contact Mikaeli.Costello@worldskills.org
For more information please visit: www.worldskillschampions.com 

Melissa Luhrman- Events Coordinator/ Special Projects

Melissa is an experienced Events Coordinator, having recently moved to Melbourne from the Northern Territory (NT) where she worked for the Department of Employment, Education and Training as Events and Publication Coordinator managing Worldskills, Careers Expo, Try’aTrade, NT Training Awards, Adult Learner’s Week and creating the employment and training publication ‘Training the Territory’.  Melissa has been Event Manager for the Croc Festival® which is an innovative performing arts and educational festival for primary and high school students in regional and remote communities around Australia.  Previous to this Melissa worked for Katherine Town Council in the NT as Community Liaison Officer where she managed the Major Festival and community projects and events where she was also involved on many boards and committees including the Youth Group, YMCA, Arts and Cultural Committee and Katherine Regional Youth Development Committee.

Veronica is Administration Assistant for WSA. Veronica will be assisting in as many aspects of the competition as possible in the lead up to the National in July.
Veronica has come from a fashion background with Belgravia Formalwear where she was administration, customer service, sales and Events Assistant. Her previous experience includes customer service for the Herald Sun, reception and administration for various small businesses and media involvement.
She has now been involved in over five Major Bridal Exhibitions, completed several Business Short Courses, and assisted WSA in the recent Careers and Employment Expo in Melbourne.
Veronica has exceptional enthusiasm when it comes to events and the WorldSkills philosophy, and is very excited to be involved in her first National Competition- she has never been to Sydney before!

Sarah graduated from RMIT with a Communications degree in 2006.With a burning curiosity to explore parts of the world, Sarah strapped the backpack on and travelled through Morocco, Turkey, UK, US and South East Asia. After a dose of post culture shock, Sarah commenced work in a public relations agency. This saw her working with diverse clients, managing events and working closely with the media. Not quite the fit for her (and passion for the not-for-profit sector calling) Sarah is delighted to join the WorldSkills Australia team- working as Marketing and Communications Coordinator. With the global skill shortage, Sarah says she knows she is going to find her job at WSA very rewarding and is looking forward to a successful year for WSA.

Brenda is a recent graduate of Ryde TAFE NSW. She completed an Event Management Diploma in 2007 graduating with Distinction and was awarded the Most Outstanding Student of the year in the Event Management Course & the most outstanding Female Student of The Year in Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management Course. Brenda has been nominated for NSW student of the year. Brenda joins the WorldSkills Australia team, working alongside Lincoln Costello as Operations Assistant.

CareerOne, News Limited

CareerOne is News Limited's national careers brand appearing in over 117 metropolitan, regional and local papers and online. Since January 2007, CareerOne.com.au is the fastest growing job board in Australia. CareerOne.com.au offers jobseekers access to over 60,000 jobs, extensive content, advice and resources, including a comprehensive company profile library to support job seekers in finding the perfect opportunity. Our improved site offers enhanced job listings, corporate profiles with the ability to upload photos and video; guided search capabilities and an entirely new look and feel.

CareerOne is the employment media network that others aspire to.

30% off Skillers Workwear & Flexi System Plus other terrific financial incentives

Proskill Australia proud distributors of Skillers workwear and Flexi System
are offering competitors, judges and volunteers 30% off Recommended
Retail Price participating in the WorldSkills Australia National Competition,
Sydney 2008.

By now you should have received details via either email or the post.
To check out live demonstrations and the Skillers gear on offer
go to www.proskill.com.au. Our Skillaroos have competed in the Skillers
gear in Helsinki & Japan and love it!

If you have any queries either email worldskills@proskill.com.au or
call 1300 722 797.

           Hoster pocket vest                      Holster pocket pants