National Skills Week (21 – 27 August) aims to raise the status of practical and vocational qualifications and training, bookending the WorldSkills Australia National Championships held last weekend in Melbourne.
Even with the automotive industry experiencing a drought upwards of 35,000 skilled vacancies for mechanics, panel beaters, spray painters and motor trimmers it has been a positive week spotlighting the immense apprentice TAFE talent surfacing in our industry.
The present skills gap in Australia is one of the biggest economic challenges the country has faced in decades. Motor mechanics rank sixth out of the top 10 as the most in-demand occupations according to a recent survey, with registered nurses topping the list.
Recognition goes to Melbourne-based Kangan Institute, whose automotive students celebrated a four-medal haul at the WorldSkills Championships. The event saw more than 500 youths from a wide range of trades compete at the globally recognised event.
Skills Week highlights that over the past year, 60 per cent of employment growth has been in occupations that require a vocational qualification, compared to just 36 per cent growth for university qualified professions.
Young and aspiring talent can kick-start their automotive career by heading to www.autoapprenticeships.com.au
WorldSkills Australia – Transport & logistics Winners:
OVERALL
GOLD Joshua Anderson | SILVER Dean Muscat | BRONZE Luke Callaway
AUTOBODY REPAIR
GOLD Robert Polito | SILVER Lockie Hipkins | BRONZE Ali Rezaie
AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS
GOLD Ross Colquhoun | SILVER Dylan East | BRONZE Harrison Crawter
AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING
GOLD Dylan Cleaver | SILVER Dylan Hoskin | BRONZE Jake Twyford
HEAVY VEHICLE MECHANICS
GOLD Thomas Bevan | SILVER Dirk Holmes | BRONZE Taj Fowler
MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS
GOLD Bailey Rice | SILVER Tom Saxon | BRONZE Joshua Darmody-Schembri
VETiS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
GOLD Abbey Slater | SILVER Felix Gonzalez | BRONZE Liam Papas