50 days to go

By WorldSkills Australia

Thursday 18 March marked 50 days until more than 500 of Australia’s highly skilled apprentices from around the country will demonstrate their talents at the nation’s largest showcase of skills and trade excellence in Brisbane.

The Hon. Geoff Wilson MP, Queensland Minister for Education and Training officially launched the ‘50 Days to Go’ countdown to the WorldSkills Australia National Competition Brisbane, 2010.

WorldSkills Australia took over Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall where the public joined the Minister in trying their hand at a new trade career with WorldSkills Australia’s fun interactive program, Try’aTrade.

Try’aTrade activities included Beauty Therapy, Sheetmetal Technology, Bricklaying and Hospitality with the 2009 Team Australia Skillaroos Jessie-Lee Gladwell (Gold Medal, Beauty Therapy), Andrew Arthur (Silver Medal, Manufacturing Team Challenge) and Daniel Karanges (Bronze Medal, Sheetmetal Technology) on hand to show the public why they are the best trades and skillspeople in Australia.

WorldSkills Australia CEO, Mark Callaghan, said the 50 day milestone was an important reminder for competitors to fine-tune their skills in the lead up to the event.

“Before we know it, Australia’s most remarkable talent will be fighting not only to become the National Champion in their chosen trade, but also for the opportunity to gain a coveted place in Team Australia Skillaroos, the national team who will be competing at the WorldSkills International Competition in London in 2011, " he said.

The WorldSkills Australia National Competition sees competitors aged between 16 and 23 vying for a gold medal in 50 different trade and skill categories, ranging from carpentry and welding, to hairdressing, cooking and web design. The competition will take place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7 - 9 May, and will coincide with the 2010 National Careers and Employment Expo.

To coincide with the 50 Days to Go event, 50 Skills in 50 Days was launched. Each week different skills and trades will be profiled on the WorldSkills Australia website www.worldskills.org.au and SkillsOne website www.skillsone.com.au leading up to the National Competition. Check it out!

Thank you to Southbank Institute of Technology Event Management students for coordinating the event and St Peters Lutheran College for their fantastic Drumline performance to open the event.

View photos from the Official ‘50 Days to Go’ Competition Launch.