Guest Author
Michelle Le Cornu from Box Hill Institute (BHI) reflects on a recent WorldSkills regional event that tested six young apprentices.
The atmosphere was hot, but the skills were ice cold as six apprentices battled it out at Box Hill Institute’s Elgar campus. The TAFE, located in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, recently hosted a regional refrigeration event for WorldSkills, widely regarded as the “Olympics of trade skills”.
Every two years, more than 500 regional WorldSkills contests take place across Australia. These competitions test the skills and knowledge of more than 4,000 apprentices, trainees and students.
Cool under pressure
Six of BHI’s best apprentices from the Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration course competed in the east Melbourne regional event. Their challenge? To complete a series of complex refrigeration-related tasks within eight hours. These tasks included piping, welding, pressure testing, evacuation, charging, wiring and commissioning a refrigeration system.
BHI Refrigeration Manager Len Raines has been involved with WorldSkills for 20 years. He believes skills-based contests raise the bar for students, teaching them how to perform at their best while working under pressure.
“The skills they learn are all transferrable to the workplace. We’re lucky to have world-class facilities at Box Hill Institute supported by industry and employers who encourage apprentices to have a go,” Raines says.
Accelerated learning
First-year apprentice Jake Hildebrand, 18, works for O’Brien Electrical and Airconditioning. He participated in WorldSkills because he wants to show his employer that he’s enthusiastic to develop his skills.
“It’s all new to me,” Hildebrand says. “I’ve learned how to wrap coils, mount a compressor feed and wire a switch.”
Second-year apprentice Nicholas Telford, 19, works for AJ Baker. He shares Hildebrand’s enthusiasm for sharpening his skills and gaining valuable experience.
“I’m here to test myself and put my best foot forward. The competition is tough but if I don’t win, I will have had a great experience, plus it’s good practice for the field,” Telford says.
A panel of experts – consisting of Raines and BHI trainers Nathan Dryzun and Huan Tran – assess each apprentice’s work against rigorous standards.
Later this year, WorldSkills will announce the winners from the regional competitions. These winners will go on represent Victoria at the WorldSkills national competitions in Brisbane in July 2025.
Leave a Reply