Australia’s best young fridgies will be competing for the title of the nation’s best at the 2014 Worldskills Australia National Refrigeration Competition.
The WorldSkills competition is held in conjunction with ARBS, showcasing the skills of Australia’s best young refrigeration technicians from across the country.
Following a series of regional competitions throughout 2013, a total of 10 technicians have won the opportunity to advance to this month’s WorldSkills event at ARBS.
In addition to battling it out for the gold medal, they will also be vying for a coveted position to represent the country in the 2015 Team Australia Skillaroos.
The Skillaroos will be heading to Brazil to compete in the 43rd WorldSkills International Competition in Sao Paolo from August 11 to 16, 2015.
2013 Skillaroo Mitchell Barron competed in the 42nd WorldSkills International Competition in Leipzig, Germany in July last year where he was awarded the prestigious Medallion of Excellence.
Barron says he knows exactly how the 2014 national competitors are feeling right now because two years ago he was in the same position.
“I felt great competing internationally and although I didn’t win a medal it did bring out the best in me,” he says.
“I think it has instilled in me a determination to constantly try and better myself with extra training and courses, to set goals and work towards achieving them.”
Barron has also applied for one of the many scholarship pathways available to WorldSkills Australia competitors. The scholarship provides successful recipients with a chance to pursue further skill development through study, work experience, overseas travel or financial support.
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) has been a major sponsor of the refrigeration category since 1997. At an international level, RRA generously provides essential Skillaroo funding which assists with training, preparation and other costs associated with sending Australians overseas.
This is in addition to the long list of supporters that provide equipment, resources and tools to enable such a great event. WorldSkills Australia would like to thank ARBS, Heatcraft, Fluke, RACCA, BOC, Luve, Javac, RMIT and Box Hill Institute.
Australia has achieved great results in the refrigeration category at an international level including four gold medals, two silvers and five medallions of excellence.
The 2014 line-up to compete at ARBS includes:
Adrian Quan, Northern Territory (NT) – Charles Darwin University
Beau Kupris, Sydney West (NSW) – TAFE NSW South Western Sydney Institute
Jay Riddett, Hunter (NSW) – TAFE NSW Hunter Institute
Jordan Wallworth, Melbourne (VIC) – Box Hill Institute
Mark Young, Tasmania (TAS) – TasTAFE
Michael Arena, Canberra (ACT) – Canberra Institute of Technology
Michael Snook, Perth South (WA) – Polytechnic West
Michael Touloumdjian, Adelaide (SA) – TAFE SA
Nathan Stephens, Brisbane (QLD) – SkillsTech Australia
William Stewart, Perth North (WA) – Polytechnic West