WorldSkills: The ‘Olympics’ for Skills
It's not just Australian athletes who have the opportunity to represent their country and compete on the global stage. In fact, every two years our best young tradespeople line up to take on participants from 48 member countries in an international competition called WorldSkills.
What is WorldSkills Australia?
Every International WorldSkills Member runs their own competition series in the lead up to the grand event. Worldskills Australia is the independent, not-for-profit organisation that was established 26 years ago with the mission of promoting the status and awareness of trade and skill-based careers.
"For too long in this country a lot of emphasis has been placed on the success of a person by going through and doing a university based education," explains WorldSkills Australia CEO, Mark Callaghan.
"A trade and skill-based career should be a first option, not a second."
To achieve this goal, WorldSkills Austalia's core program is a series of trade and skill based competitions to encourage young people to achieve excellence in their career.
"It's brought me more recognition, says Dale McMullen, 2007 International WorldSkills Automobile Technology competitor. "It's also made me have to raise the bar at work so it's made me a better mechanic."
As a result of the competitions, and other WorldSkills' initiatives like Try a Trade, many people are now embarking upon a vocational career.
"We have had a direct impact on 70,000 young Australians who have been through our programs and many more involved in other ways," states Mr Callaghan.
When did Worldskills start?
The international WorldSkills movement started some 55 years ago in Spain.
"Just after World War II there was a severe shortage in skill and trade areas due to the war. Spain thought it would good to have a competition to try and attract skilled tradespeople into Europe," says Mr Callaghan.
Initially the competition was between Spain and Portugal but it quickly grew, adding new member countries each year. Today, 48 countries from around the world compete.
What is involved in the competition?
The WorldSkills Australia competition is structured into 29 regions to allow people from every part of Australia to compete in their specialised trade skill area.
"From traditional trades, like bricklaying and plumbing right through to other areas such IT support and beauty therapy," explains Mr Callaghan.
The regional winners qualify for entry into the national competition and the winners of that event are eligible to become Team Australia, known as the 'Skillaroos', representing Australia at the WorldSkills International Competition.
"It's a little bit scary but you've got to go do it because to turn around and tell people you're the best in Australia - how many people say that to you everyday?," says Anthony Cassar, 2007 International WorldSkills Cabinetmaking competitor.
Every two years, one of the member countries hosts the event which showcases up to 50 skills categories.
The competition runs over several days with each competitor being given a number of tasks to complete over a limited time period. A panel of judges decides the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners for each category based on set of standard criteria.
"Training for the competitions helped my skills," says 2007 International WorldSkills Autobody Repair competitor, Luke Gallagher. "Not only to compete well and be rewarded for it personally, but also to help me achieve in the long run professionally."
Team Australia 2007
The 39th Annual WorldSkills International event is taking place in Shizuoka, Japan from 14 - 21 November this year and 200,000 people are expected to turn out.
"You learn so much more when you participate and you are given a chance to travel at the same time," explains Suwanna Rattananikom, 2007 International WorldSkills Apprentice Chef competitor.
"I don't enter to win, I enter for the experience because I want to keep myself motivated and I want to learn more."
This year, there are 29 competitors in the 'Skillaroos' across individual and team categories and covering 24 different trades and skills. They have been set with the task of maintaining Australia's world ranking of ninth and according to Mr Callaghan, they might just do it.
"We're quietly confident that this team will be a very successful team. It's one of the biggest teams that we've ever sent over."