Hosted and delivered by Northern Victoria Institute of TAFE, comprising GOTAFE and Wodonga TAFE, WorldSkills gives apprentices and trainees the chance to showcase the skills they have honed throughout classrooms, workshops and the workplace.
Some 23 competitors took to the Docker St Automotive Department to complete three of four timed tasks in their chosen field.
Ted Cahill Motors apprentice Harry McIntyre competed in the light vehicle category and said he was glad he gave the competition a go.
“One of the teachers at TAFE told me I should have a go at it … it was something different to have a crack at,” he said.
He said he felt fairly confident.
“It was pretty good, one of the stations was a bit tricky,” he said.
Alongside Harry, GOTAFE’s Thomas Carlin (Body Tech, Seymour), Brock Voisey (Salters Motor Panel Repairs, Kyabram) and George McKimmie (Wyatt Mechanical, Wodonga) won gold in their categories.
All four apprentices will now have the opportunity of progressing to the Victorian team selection and the national competition stage.
Executive director trades education and contract delivery Graham Hart said everyone at NVITAFE looked forward to supporting students to the next stage of competition.
“WorldSkills gives students the chance to take that next step and go beyond their regular study,” Mr Hart said.
“Our teachers and former competitors were on hand to provide judging and mentorship, to ensure everyone who competes learns and develops with confidence.”
Part of the judging panels were three former WorldSkills national competitors: Zane Cannon (Shepparton), Benjamin Millen (Harris Panel Beating, Numurkah) and Nicholas Stephens (Complete Body Craft, Rutherglen).
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