Skills Institute

Friday, 10 August 2012 - 10:21am

Across the state 16 Skills Institute apprentices have been busy fine tuning their skills in preparation for the upcoming National Worldskills competition, to be held in Sydney later this month. 

Held bi-annually, the Worldskills competition involves thousands of apprentices in over 40 categories from around the nation.  The competition not only highlights the importance of Vocational Education and Training as a career option, but also encourages young people to achieve work skill excellence. 

Skills Institute CEO Malcolm White says the Skills Institute is committed to providing high quality training and support to apprentices. 

“By competing in prestigious competitions such as Worldskills, it not only gives apprentices confidence, but also allows them to compete against their peers and show-off their workmanship as tradespeople” he said.

Tasmania often punches above its weight on the national stage, winning the Evatt Shield for best performed region three times since 2001.

The Tasmanian team consists of:

Category                                      Competitor                                Employer / Host Employer

Automotive Mechanics              Jed Ryan                                     TACC/ Bathurst Street Workshop, Launceston

Bricklaying                                   Matthew Barratt                          All Brick. Bricklaying Pty Ltd, Mornington

Cabinetmaking                           Brock Whiteley                           Toledo Furniture, Invermay

Carpentry                                     Samuel Nancarrow                   JPO Building Contractors, Spreyton

Construction Steelwork            Joshua Pratt                                Kingston Bros, Smithton

Fitting                                            Clinton Morgan                          ACL Bearing Co, Rocherlea

Hairdressing                                Jessica Kerstan        

Heavy Vehicle Mechanics         Kristofer Maxwell                     Work & Training Ltd/De Bruyn's Transport,Burnie

Joinery                                          Brodie Robins                         Hillcrest Joinery, Moonah

Meat Retailing                            Joshua Webb                           McLennan's Butchery, Scottsdale

Plastering                                     Scott Louw                               Hi-Lite Plaster, Rosny Park

Retail Baking-Bread                 Adam Rich                                 Banjo's Bakehouse, Latrobe

Retail Baking-Pastry                  Bianca Heenan                        Wrest Point Hotel Casino, Sandy Bay

Sheetmetal Work                        Joshua Boag                            SEBA Sheetmetal, Devonport

Turning                                         Joshua Cameron                   Kolmark Pty Ltd, Westbury

Welding                                        Joshua Power                         BHP Billiton TEMCO, Bell Bay