Apprentices put to the test
Ten engineering apprentices have participated in the Ballarat-wimmera region welding heat of Worldskills Australia 2017.
Skillinvest hosted the heat at its engineering centre at Longerenong College.
The competition started with a familiarisation session followed by seven hours of project working time.
The competitors were required to demonstrate their ability to produce competition standard welds in a variety of plate positions and processes which include overhead, horizontal, vertical, fillet and rotating pipe weld.
A competition viewing session after lunch allowed guests to see the competitors in action and get a feel for the level of skills across the region.
Skillinvest engineering trainer and Worldskills judge Lee Hutchinson said the quality of the work demonstrated by all competitors was exceptional.
“The skills demonstrated by all the competitors shows the commitment from employers in investing in our youth and ensuring the region has highly skilled individuals to build capacity throughout the region,” he said.
Worldskills aims to promote and build a skills culture by inspiring young people, celebrating skills excellence and providing an opportunity for them to showcase their trade and skill talent.
The aims are supported through competitions on a regional, national and international level. The welding heat coincided with National Skills Week, which is dedicated to raising the status of vocational learning.
Results will be announced once all welds have been through the visual and destructive testing phase in Ballarat.
Worldskills Australia competitions operate on a two-year cycle.
Regional competitions flow into national competitions and winners, if eligible, will advance to the international competition to represent their country.
Mr Hutchinson said the regional heat would not have been possible without support from Horsham Hydraulics, BOC Gases, Onesteel Metalland and On Site Engineering for supplying additional equipment and materials.
He said the competitors’ host employers played a vital role in ensuring the competition’s success. 2017 competitors: Sam Hernon, Horsham Hydraulics; Joshua Curry-talty, Dunstan Engineering; Mitch Spasic, CHS Onsite Engineering; William Gray, Shannon Bros; Lochie Potter, Smallaire; Koen Jones, O’connors; Ash Geue, CHS Onsite Engineering; B-jay Enriquez, Action Steel Industries; Jackson Welsh, Smallaire; Trent Johnson, Horsham Hydraulics.