Worldskills National Comp, Forums & Try’aTrade, Melbourne May 5-7

Working to raise the status & standards of vocational skills & training

???During the National Comp. Group Training Victoria together with WorldSkills Australia will run a Try’aTrade program with 20 interactive trades and skills available for anyone to ‘have a go’. Similar events will be held in Adelaide May 25-26 at the Wayville Showgrounds and in Brisbane at the Convention & Exhibition Centre June 2-4. To celebrate Worldskills Australia’s 25th anniversary there will be:

-A Youth Forum that has attracted 35 participants from 17 countries;

-A Leaders’ Forum with Bob Hawke as patron;

-A General Assembly of member countries.

Will you/have tried a trade? Does your region have a team? We’d love to hear some individual stories!

Every two years there are regional and national competitions in over 52 trades and skills. There are 29 regional competitions all over Australia, usually held at TAFE and other educational or industry institutions.

Winners from each Region form a regional team and go onto the National competition which this year is in Melbourne at the Exhibition and Convention Centre.There are three levels of competition – Regional, National and International and a large variety of categories eg: Architectural Computing; Autobody Repair; Automotive Mechanics; Bricklaying; Business Services; Cabinet Making; Detailed Joinery; Hairdressing; Plumbing; Printing & Graphic Art; Retail Bread Baking; Sheetmetal Work; Turning; Welding.

What exactly IS WorldSkills?
WorldSkills is an independent non profit, international membership organisation that conducts trade and skill competitions to challenge young people to achieve work skill excellence and to learn about skill base careers.

WorldSkills Australia says, through strong links with the Commonwealth and State Governments, as well as industry and the community, it has directly encouraged over 45,000 young people to achieve excellence in a trade or skill career. 5000 volunteers support the project.

Competitions highlight the importance of Vocational Education and Training as a career option. The competition stimulates the academic motivation of many students by focusing on the ‘fun’ of learning through interesting and diverse skill challenges.

The Competition is open to the public and is free. The 2006 Melbourne National Comp. is sponsored by the Victorian Department of Education and Training. Australia became a member country of WorldSkills International in 1981 and has participated in every international competition since.

The regional structure provides greater access for young people living in rural areas of the country to benchmark their skills amongst their peers.

Regional Committees are established by volunteers; people who have a passion about skills excellence; people who work within small business, the training sector, industry bodies, employers and government officials. The committees work closely with TAFE institutes, colleges, private providers, schools and industry.

For more info you can contact the WorldSkills Australia Office T:(02) 4932 4349 F: (02) 4932 0858 or email info@worldskills.org.au.