WorldSkills winners fly high in Melbourne

THE best automotive apprentices in the country – representing TAFE colleges from across the nation – gathered to compete at the WorldSkills Nationals in Melbourne last weekend, with a particularly impressive performance from students of Melbourne-based Kangan Institute that resulted in a four-medal haul on home turf.

Students took part in a range of exercises and assessments aimed at finding the best of the best ahead of next year’s WorldSkills International competition in France.

Of those high achievers representing Kangan, Silver was taken home by Tom Saxon (Motorcycle Mechanics) and Dylan Hoskin (Automotive Refinishing, pictured main), Bronze by Ali Akber Rezaie (Auto Body Repair) and Joshua Darmody-Schembri (Motorcycle Mechanics).

The competition, which was held from 17-19 August, saw more than 500 young competitors from a wide range of trades compete at the globally recognised event, including 22 year-old Melbourne-based auto body repair medallist Ali Akber Rezaie.

“It’s the greatest experience I’ve ever had. It was only three days, but the experience was far beyond my expectations,” said Mr Rezaie, a second-year apprentice employed with national smash repair chain Capital SMART.

“The competition was a very good platform to meet other people and to show your skills. It was great to be with others who are very good in the trade and to watch what they were doing and what they’ve got.”

Originally from Afghanistan, Mr Rezaie worked in a meat factory upon migrating to Australia, while keeping his eye out for a long-term career path. A friend introduced him to automotive body repair and the rest is history.

“I’m feeling great – very excited and happy,” he said from the winner’s podium.

“It was challenging with a lot of time pressure, but it was also full of excitement. There were new challenges in the competition and things we don’t normally do at work, but the training at Kangan really helped me a lot.

“If I ever get a chance to do any further competitions, I’m more than happy to do it. It was a great experience and a chance to learn a lot.”

Motorcycle Mechanics silver medallist Tom Saxon (23) said he had been honing the skills that helped him to the podium for five years, and that he looked forward to the opportunities a place at WorldSkills will open to him.

“It feels pretty good, quite an achievement. My parents and boss are proud of me; it’s pretty cool to be up there with the best in Australia,” he said.

Mr Saxon recently completed his apprenticeship with the Kangan Institute and is now employed as a motorcycle technician at Frank’s Garage in Tullamarine, Victoria.

“I’ve been in it four or five years now. I had bought a bike and did bits and pieces on it. I thought it was cool doing services and thought it could be a career,” he continued.

“I just love it and I want to stay in the industry. I may open my own shop one day.”

Indeed many WorldSkills competitors go on to fast-track their careers ahead of their peers.

Speaking to GoAuto from the judging floor of the WorldSkills Nationals, WorldSkills Australia CEO Trevor Schwenke said Australian-trained competitors often punch well above their weight, particularly when vying against contenders from regions with larger budgets.

“There are so many promising career opportunities in exciting industries awaiting our competitors,” he said.

“Their passion and talent, coupled with the pursuit of skills excellence that the WorldSkills Australia program helps inspire, sets them up with a bright future.

“We work closely with schools, governments, tertiary institutions and more to build awareness among young people of not just WorldSkills Australia, but the exciting and unexpected doors that vocational education and training can open.”

Commenting on the skills shortage in Australia’s automotive sector, Mr Schwenke said he would encourage anyone considering a role in the industry to make an enquiry and to consider challenging their skills alongside the world’s best.

“We are so proud of all our competitors, and our national team, the Skillaroos. They embody everything that makes our skills sector great,” he enthused.

“Not only do we medal well at the internationals, our team does it with respect, passion and the spirit of mateship that makes our skills industry one of the best in the world.”

A total of eight automotive students from Kangan Institute participated in the 2023 WorldSkills National Championships, with the TAFE’s automotive educators also involved as competitor mentors, competition convenors and judges.

Kangan Institute chief executive officer, Sally Curtain, echoed the sentiments of Mr Schwenke, saying the WorldSkills experience offered competitors an exciting avenue from which to progress their career.

“We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our eight Kangan Institute competitors, who have performed outstandingly as part of Team Victoria,” she said.

“The competition itself lasted three days, but the training and preparation began long before the big showdown. A massive congratulations to our medallists Tom, Joshua, Dylan and Ali – to come out on top against Australia’s finest apprentices is no small feat.

“The WorldSkills experience is an opportunity for our students to not only enhance their skills, but to also demonstrate their abilities to the wider nation. I am confident this experience will be a platform for our student competitors to achieve bigger and better things in their career.”

Both automotive industry apprentices and Kangan Institute students performed admirably at the WorldSkills event, with young men and women from across the country taking home Gold, Silver and Bronze (see full list of winners below).

Other Kangan Institute competitors to be recognised at the prestigious event include Noah Farrugia and Kristian Mitrovski for Automotive Electrical), Connor Matkovic (Automotive Mechanics) and Coady Gorringe (Heavy Vehicle Mechanics).

Top competitors at the National Championships will now have an opportunity to be selected for Team Skillaroos who will represent Australia at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition in France.

WorldSkills National Championships 2023 – Transport & Logistics Winners:

Overall:

3. Joshua Anderson (Gold)
4. Dean Muscat (Silver)
5. Luke Callaway (Bronze)

Auto Body Repair:

0. Robert Polito (Gold)
1. Lockie Hipkins (Silver)
2. Ali Akber Rezaie (Bronze)

Automotive Mechanics:

6. Ross Colquhoun (Gold)
7. Dylan East (Silver)
8. Harrison Crawter (Bronze)

Automotive Refinishing:

4. Dylan Cleaver (Gold)
5. Dylan Hoskin (Silver)
6. Jake Twyford (Bronze)

Heavy Vehicle Mechanics:

1. Thomas Bevan (Gold)
2. Dirk Holmes (Silver)
3. Taj Fowler (Bronze)

Motorcycle Mechanics:

5. Bailey Rice (Gold)
6. Tom Saxon (Silver)
7. Joshua Darmody-Schembri (Bronze)

VETiS Automotive Services:

2. Abbey Slater (Gold)
3. Felix Gonzalez (Silver)
4. Liam Papas (Bronze)